Saudi Arabia names Khalid al-Falih energy minister to replace Naimi in cabinet reshuffle

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Business | Sat May 7, 2016 12:12pm EDT

Saudi Arabia names Khalid al-Falih energy minister to replace Naimi in cabinet reshuffle

DUBAI/KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA | BY RANIA EL GAMAL AND REEM SHAMSEDDINE

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, on Saturday appointed Khalid al-Falih, chairman of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco, as its new energy minister, replacing Ali al-Naimi, who had held the post since 1995.

A royal decree quoted on state television said the petroleum ministry had been renamed to become the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, and that Falih would give up his other post, that of health minister.

Riyadh in 2014 introduced a new oil strategy aimed at defending its market share and allowing cheap crude to balance the market without cutting supplies, regardless of how low oil prices might fall.

Falih's appointment is only likely to strengthen this strategy rather than lead to any change in thinking, Saudi watchers and analysts say.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-oil-minister-idUSKCN0XY0E1

[happyslug]

1. Generational Change, someone born in 1960 is replacing someone born in 1935.

You have an 82 year old being replaced by a 56 year old. You are seeing someone educated in the US and who started to work with ARAMCO at age 12 in 1947 (and educated in the US later) by someone who started with ARAMCO in 1979, as age of 19 and educated in the US later, but also attended college in Saudi Arabia itself even later.

This is consistent with what has happened since the death of King Abudullah, the post King Saud I generation is being replaced by the Grandsons of King Saud I and his allies.

81 year old Ali Al-Naimi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Al-Naimi

56 year old Khalid A Al-Falih:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_A._Al-Falih

Please note the word "al" or "el" (Both are using the Roman Alphabet for what is word from the Arabic Alphabet) means "The" or "of the". thus al-Naimi, can mean of the Naimi region of Arabia (if such a town or city exists, I can NOT find one). The same with Al-Falih, that means of the Falih region of Arabia (again I can NOT find any town or region of that name).

Now Āl (notice the symbol over the letter "A&quot means "of the Family". unlike "al" it is always capitalized. While both al-Naimo and al-Falih appear to be name of regions or towns (or something point of geography), Āl is always capitalized. Thus Āl Saud means "of the House of Saud".

Please Note King Salman appears to be a titular leader only (king in name only). much like King Fahd had been the Titular King of Saudi Arabia from 1995 till his death in 2005, Crown Prince Abdullah ran Saudi Arabia during that ten years, then as King Abdullah till his own death in 2015. Unlike King Fahd and King Salman, Abudullah was viewed in full control of his mind till his death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahd_of_Saudi_Arabia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_of_Saudi_Arabia

Now King Salman is no where near the condition King Fahd had been from 1995 till 2005, he has some mental capabilities (he can read a prompter and exchange pleasantries and take part on photo ops but is NEVER left alone and does NOT enter any real discussions) but the real power is with his Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Nayef who is believed to share it with Salman's son, the Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman AL Saud (Mohammad son of Salman of the House of Saud).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_bin_Salman_Al_Saud

Mohammad bin Nayef, means, Mohammad son of Nayef.

Nayef, King Fahd and King Salman were and are members of the "Sudiari seven", Seven sons to the same wife of King Saud I (King Saud I is also referred to as "King Abdulaziz", Abdulaziz was his given name, Saud was the "Family" he was from).

More on Mohammand son of Nayef, son of Abdulaziz"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_bin_Nayef

More on Mohammand, son of Nayef, son of Abdulaziz:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayef_bin_Abdul-Aziz_Al_Saud

More on the mother of the Sudairi Seven ("Bint" means Daughter, Thus Hussa Bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, means Hussa daughter of Ahmed, of the region of Sudairi or the house of Sudairi (it is unclear if this is al or Āl, see above).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussa_bint_Ahmed_Al_Sudairi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudairi_Seven

Thus you are seeing the sons of the Sudairi Seven concentrating their power over the other grandsons of King Saud I. The Generation fight between Cousins is in full swing.