BBC Four: The House of Saud.

[Sultan]

THE HOUSE OF SAUD
Jihan El Tahri, UK/Egypt, 2004
Part 1: BBC Four: Monday 24 May 2004 9pm-10pm; rpt 11.55pm-12.55am; 2.10am-3.10am
Part 2: BBC Four:Tuesday 25 May 2004 9pm-10pm; rpt 12.20am-1.20am; 2.40am-3.40am







Nick Fraser
Storyville Series Editor



The Saudi royal family is not given to public pronouncements. In the wake of 9/11, which was a disaster for Saudi Arabia because Osama Bin Laden was himself a Saudi and had packed the planes with Saudi citizens, they have given exclusive access to Storyville.

They tell what is in effect their own story, and it is as if the House of Windsor had suddenly decided to go public with their own version of British history. But there's a catch - as we learn from episode one, the Saudi royal family is Saudi Arabia. The country is kept going by the monarchy, its priestly beliefs, and the largest oil reserves in the world.

The tale is by turns improbable and hilariously convincing. The Saudi royals prove to be a hyper-articulate lot. But their relations with the Americans resemble those enjoyed by Bertie Wooster and Jeeves. The Americans of course prove to be a very up-to-date Jeeves. They will supply anything the Saudis want, except when the question of the existence of Israel is raised.

The Saudis say they wish to change themselves, modernising the monarchy. Watch both programmes, and try to figure out whether they will ever be capable of doing so. A must.

[Ali_Khan]

They should lined up and shot out of existance.

[amana]

Originally posted by Abdul Qadeer
They should lined up and shot out of existance.

It might just happen that. But i think that their time will come, and dey will be desposited from their raign. Its whe OSAMA will step into, defend Saudi in a big way, that no one will imagine.

The Saudi are to impotent to react for any change or agression.

Siria, will be next, and might and might not defend themself. But, when The westrners: ziomob will try to attact Iran. The Muslims around the world will come up like fireants, and it will be, if not victory, a big Islam gaines.

[Sultan]

You know, I was just wondering after I briefly watched a programme on one of them awful 'god' channels-those christian satellite channels. Normally I do not watch them. I was flicking throught to see if there was anything good on and I stopped on one which was discussing Saudi arabia.

Apparently, the christian fundementalists would like to see the Saudi Family go to. They want them out so they can build their churches in Mecca and Medina. They want Arabia to be a christian country where women are free to go around unvieled and in short skirts (ie dressed in the same way as the xtian women leading the discussion on the topic).

There is a lot of talk suggesting that the House of Saud will probably cease to be within the next five years, question is, who will take over?