European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Com Cuno is where the women can play Tennis swim in residents receive unpublicized shipments liquor. The Royal family has More than 3,000 princes 500 in the lne succession. This has ensured stability through Fairry us by and contro1 extent be Security forces. Free Enterprise and generous social programs have been Cruc Al in transforming a Semi nomadic society with Little upheaval into a modern one with a Strong sense islamic identity. Saudi officials say King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud who conquered most the arabian Peninsula and founded modern saudi Arabia in 1927 with British backing established the consensus Rule which the country s government is based. Abdulaziz is quoted As telling his sons the Quot thread Quot consensus ties to the people is stronger than the Quot Iron bands Quot autocracy. A saudi journalist with Access to one the top princes said that instead creating a consultative Council the rulers decided a few years ago to expand the Quot open majlis Quot system with fahd princes and top officials holding regular meetings with citizens. The atmosphere the open majlis is informal. The King is not addressed As a your majesty Quot but As Quot fahd Quot Quot father Faisal Quot a Taweel Al Unur Quot arabic for Quot Long religious leaders Are brought in important decisions to avoid dissension and other important constituencies Are consulted regularly. An expert in saudi affairs said the 1990-95 economic plan was circulated for two years in Advance among businessmen economists and others and Many alterations were made As a result. Quot this gave a Large number key people the feeling and reality participation a he said. Saudis Are concerned about tense relations with Iran a major regional Power and about a new Arab Israel conflict and the vulnerability their Oil facilities to bombing missile attacks. They have forged close Security ties with the United states and Are a huge Market for Western arms sales. To keep palestinian guerrillas from causing trouble in the kingdom As they have in other Arab nations the saudis make generous contributions to the Palestine liberation organization. The Only significant internal opposition to Royal Rule is the shiite moslem minority in the Oil producing Eastern provinces along the persian Gulf. More than 90 percent saudis belong to the mainstream sunni Branch islam but some Quot Rusulis Quot fundamentalists among the several Hundred thousand shiites Are influenced by predominantly shiite Iran. They Are blamed for the sabotage Oil fact the associated press Here Are some facts and figures about saudi Arabia the land a most saudi Arabia s 865,000 Square Miles is desert with summer temperatures ranging up to 112 degrees fahrenheit. The rub Al Khali empty Quarter is the worlds largest Sand desert. The Southwest has Green Fertile valleys. The people a about 3 million the estimated 11 million residents Are foreign workers and one third native saudis Are nomadic bedouins Farmers living around oases. Roughly 90 percent native saudis Are sunni moslem the Wahabi faction who live by strictly enforced islamic codes. King fahd has taken the title a guardian the two holy shrines Quot islam s most sacred shrines at Mecca and Medina. The Economy a saudi Arabia has one Quarter the worlds known Oil reserves. Fifty years ago the country was poverty stricken but it has used vast Oil wealth to transform itself into a modern state. History a islam swept the country in the seventh Century under the leadership the Prophet Mohammed. Later the ottoman turks ruled saudi Arabia for 300 years. The British moved in during world War i when Lawrence Arabia led desert warriors against the t urls. Abdulaziz Ibn Saud founded the modern Sof in l27 after conquering the desert tribes me arabian Peninsula. A King fahd a luxurious yacht rests at Anchor in the French Riviera. It carries a Crew 200 and is equipped with Board mosque a Landing pad for the Kings helicopter and a surgery family in control by Nick Ludington associated press the 3,000 princes the ruling Saud family Are the Cement that holds the kingdom saudi Arabia together. Most experts agree that any effective rebellion would have to be led from within the family. The Royal family controls every aspect Day to Day life and has remained United the critical succession Issue and other important policy matters. The Royal family is proud to have produced the Arab worlds first astronaut Prince Sultan bin Salman who flew the . Space shuttle discovery in 1984. Saudi arabians current rulers Are descendants King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud who founded the kingdom in 1927 by conquering the desert tribes the arabian Peninsula. Since then the Saud family has been largely responsible for guiding a tribal society . Impoverished nomads into a cohesive modern state whose Oil wealth has made it a financial superpower. King fahd who has ruled since 1982, is believed to be the world s second richest person. Fortune Magazine estimated his Fortune in 1988 at $18 billion. The Sultan Brunei is said to Worth several billion More. Still fahd has a lavish Boeing 747, a $60 million yacht protected by stinger anti aircraft missiles and luxury Homes in Spain Britain and France. Secrecy surrounds the private life the Chai smoking Monarch who in his youth was a Playboy Prince known in Europe s gambling clubs. He is 69, the fourth son Abdulaziz to succeed his father who had 43 sons by 22 wives. Family members who break the rules Are dealt with quickly and firmly. One fahd s younger Brothers Prince Bishari then 19, was imprisoned in 1951 after shooting the British vice Consul in Liddah to death. Prince Turki another fahd s Brothers was fired As Deputy defense minister in 1978 for drunkenness an j an embarrassing marriage to Tiso daughter id crammed Al feast a doctor. Kingsaut1 was a Verhn own in 1965. Ruled since in 1975, Whan King l j s run to was by Ana. J , in and in a erne Tun Lewis King supported his overthrow in favor the respected Faisal. After Faisal was assassinated by a deranged Nephew March 25, 1975, the Crown passed quietly to Khaled fahd s half brother. The Nephew was beheaded. Khaled died in june 1982. The Only significant Independent move Aga net a saudi ruler since the state was founded Oce uned under King Saud. A group his Young r a Rolls critical his misrule were influenced by s revolutionary Leader carnal Abe i /.er. Led by Prince 1 the be i the Quot i a i i. U a a Quot move j to i. Chi a a a dilution i me. A 11 o., a in. L i the Onn pcs were r .1 i i l a a
