What is happening in Saudi? Is this a coup?

[MelissaB]

Wow lot of big news out of Saudi tonight. Reports of big names being taken into custody (Waleed bin Talal, Khaled Tuwaijri, Waleed Ibrahim).
Thread:

Link to tweet

Another thread:

Saudi journalist says more arrests: New names: Former Riyadh governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah Former finance minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf

Link to tweet

Saudi Crown Prince orders Civil Authority to prevent ALL private & royal planes from taking off to prevent any suspects from fleeing

Link to tweet

[sunonmars]

1. Weird, wonder whats going on.

[Cryptoad]

48. Only the King knows,,,,,

[Sanity Claws]

2. OMG

What is going on?

[LittleBlue]

3. Is that Prince Alwaleed?

Jesus Christ. Shit's going down. And a Houthi rocket just exploded over Riyad today.

[flotsam]

9. Be interesting to know...

where that rocket was targeted-and never mind by whom...?

[MelissaB]

29. For those who don't know: Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal's major investments include Twitter & Lyft, and

he is a majority owner of Four Seasons hotels along w/ Bill Gates

[dalton99a]

40. He helped save Apple

by becoming its largest single shareholder in 1997

[denbot]

4. That definitely sounds like a coup in progress.

Interesting times indeed..

[Iggo]

5. Who's arresting who?

Old Guard arresting Progressives?

Other way around?

Something else?

[Madam45for2923]

10. Heard many princes arrested? Also wasn't there a weapon intercepted today?

[RandomAccess]

18. link

Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile over capital https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141905784

[LongTomH]

46. Was there also a report of a Yemeni strike on a Saudi warship?

From a Pakistani defence webpage:

The source further added that Yemeni Army might have a advance and modified version of P-20 missile a Soviet anti ship missile which sold to Yemeni Army by Soviet union. It is believed that the recent missile strike on a Saudi Naval Vessel by Houthi rebels was one of the advanced version of P-20 missile (Chinese name silkworm). The source claimed that Yemeni army modified the missile with RADAR guidance and wings to make a land variant of the missile. "one can take this missile as a land launched anti ship cruise missile"

[LiberalLovinLug]

28. That's the billion dollar question

[sunonmars]

6. They are saying "anti-corruption" raids, so yeah probably attempted coup.

[Madam45for2923]

7. Wasn't or isn't Jared Kushner there?

[MelissaB]

12. Yes!

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. Twice! in like 48 hours.

Earlier this week.
wonder what caused 2 trips. It's gotta be a message thing.

[Mrs. Overall]

38. I thought the same thing--Kushner.

[dhol82]

8. Dont think this is the reason but it looks like things are heating up over there

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/04/middleeast/saudi-arabia-ballistic-missile/index.html

[Sneederbunk]

11. Iranian Shia going after Saudi Sunni.

[Mr. Ected]

13. Thank God our Swiss Army Knife of diplomacy, Jared Kushner, has room on his plate

To take on the establishment of peace and tranquility in Saudi Arabia in his spare time.

15 years to life spare time.

[Madam45for2923]

15. He was just there!

[Mr. Ected]

19. Maybe we'll find out that Jared started the unrest

Trumpies gotta Trump.

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. "Swiss Army Knife of diplomacy,"

[sunonmars]

14. Shit like this will cause an almighty internal war, i'd expect assassinations to happen

That crown prince will have a target on his back.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. Ha! They are doing a better job at grounding the

Planes than we did after 9/11

[Kleveland]

22. Ironic to see 9/11 mentioned in a posting about Saudis...

Being that the pilots were Saudis, if my memory serves me well.

[Baitball Blogger]

26. Yup.

[unblock]

37. 15 out of 19 were Saudi, iirc

[MelissaB]

17. Check Saad Abedine's twitter page.

https://twitter.com/SaadAbedine

A few days ago, #Saudi journo & lawyer @allahim called Prince @Alwaleed_Talal "a dear honourable brother" Today? The tycoon is a corrupt SOB

#Saudi journalist hails Crown Prince's decisions, "the King's anti-corruption campaign is a holy war, a crusade"

"We stand by every decision you make", #UAE minister of foreign affairs renews pledge of allegiance to #Saudi King

#Saudi Crown Prince arrested 11 princes incl Waleed bin Talal, @Alwaleed_Talal worth $27+ billion, @newscorp 2nd largest voting shareholder

Link to tweet

11 #Saudi Princes & 38 other officials were arrested on charges of corruption/money-laundry, linked to Jeddah floods & MERS-CoV campaign

[sunonmars]

20. There has always been an internal war, theres about 15,000 princes and princesses

All screwwing each other over for power and money.

[MelissaB]

21. The heads of the main three Saudi owned TV networks were arrested, Alwalid Bin Talal (Rotana), Walid

The heads of the main three Saudi owned TV networks were arrested, Alwalid Bin Talal (Rotana), Walid Al Brahim (MBC), Saleh Kamel (ART)

Link to tweet

[MelissaB]

24. From Reuters

Saudi Arabia detains princes, ex-ministers in anti-corruption drive

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has detained 10 princes and dozens of former ministers through its newly formed anti-corruption committee, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported, citing unnamed sources.

The new committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was formed by royal decree hours earlier on Saturday.

Link: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-corruption/saudi-arabia-detains-princes-ex-ministers-in-anti-corruption-drive-idUSKBN1D40V2

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. Jared was just over there twice this week.

Boy, good thing he managed to avoid arrest for money laundering.

[Not Ruth]

25. It is good to be the king

[uppityperson]

27. Here's an article, couldn't decide what to copy paste will just gave link

https://uk.reuters.com/article/saudi-cabinet/update-1-saudi-arabia-appoints-new-ministers-for-economy-and-national-guard-idUKL8N1NA0K6

[MelissaB]

31. I hope someobody who knows more about Saudi than I do can tell us what this means.

My brother was there for 2 years and I learned a little, but no where near enough to comment.

[UTUSN]

32. Exactly what TWITLER would like to do

[sunonmars]

33. MBS also ordered arrest of Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin Group

rown Prince #MBS also ordered arrest of Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin Group in corruption related to Grand Mosque project

[canetoad]

35. I don't think that's the name

Of the Crown Prince. According to an article i posted in LBN a week or so ago he is Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141896591

Edit to add Al Saud family for reference.

[MelissaB]

39. Holy shit! ***3 trillion $$***

In his roundup of Princes & businessmen, Crown Prince #MBS just made $3 trillion dollars, a hostile takeover, #Saudi top whistle-blower

Link to tweet

[NastyRiffraff]

41. Wow. I know little (well nothing) about Saudi politics

but this shit is serious. Strange that Jared was just there, eh?

[roamer65]

42. Either a coup or the prevention of one.

[rpannier]

49. Prevention was my thought

Many of the members of the Saudi Royal Family have been sidelined by the King and crown prince.
They might be angry

[Hekate]

43. How's Bandar Bush? --- And what was Jared's recent quick trip there about?

Inquiring minds, and all that.

[uponit7771]

44. Increased oil prices helps Russia

[BigmanPigman]

45. Good thing the moron isn't making his visit to Saudi Arabia

on this trip instead of the last one. He could make things worse. That said, his planned visits to Korea and the Philipeans isn't a good idea in my opinion.

[dvduval]

47. Talal Trump ally

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/23/qatar-diplomatic-crisis-what-are-trumps-financial-links-to-the-region
It certainly looks to me like a long time Trump ally who bailed him out more than once, and maybe Kushner too, just got arrested.