Mohammad bin Salman

[[File:Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud - 2017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|165px|Mohammad bin 
Saruman
 Salman in 2017]]
{{politics}}
{{cquote|We would have ended up like [[North Korea]].|||MBS on his country being ''absolutely'' unlike [[North Korea]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/a-young-prince-reimagines-saudi-arabia-can-he-make-his-vision-come-true/2017/04/20/663d79a4-2549-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html A young prince is reimagining Saudi Arabia. Can he make his vision come true?]. ''Washington Post''. Retrieved February 23, 2018.</ref>}}
{{cquote|… a true enemy of free expression.|||Tunisian Bar Association<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/27/only-tunisia-saudi-crown-prince-visit-draws-protesters/ Alone in the Arab world, Tunisians can protest visit by Saudi crown prince] by Paul Schemm (November 27, 2018) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>}}
'''Mohammad bin Salman''' {{lived|1985}}, colloquially known as '''MBS''', is the Crown Prince of [[Saudi Arabia]], and effectively the supreme leader of the country on behalf of the aging King Salman, born 1935.<ref group=note>MBS' father.</ref> Besides bin Salman being a relatively young man,<ref group=note> his sidekick, {{wpl|Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud||,}} the Minister of Interior, is also young, born 1983.</ref> MBS is considered both a hope and curse for the endless turmoil in the [[Middle East]].

So far, his career as a politician has been tumultuous, sometimes devastating, and polarizing at best. He was appointed Minister of Defense in 2015, and subsequently launched the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|invasion of Yemen]] which lead to the disarray and humanitarian disaster in the country. He is also considered as among the culprits of Saudi involvement on proxy wars against [[Iran]] across the [[Middle East]] including [[Syria]] where they support [[Jihad|Jihadist]] rebels.<ref name = risktaking>{{cite journal |title=Risk-taking Saudi prince gambling with stability|url=http://www.lfpress.com/2017/02/08/risk-taking-saudi-prince-gambling-with-stability|journal=lfpress|date = 8 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=arrogantsaudi>{{cite news|title=Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Naive, arrogant Saudi prince is playing with fire|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/prince-mohammed-bin-salman-naive-arrogant-saudi-prince-is-playing-with-fire-a6804481.html|work=The Independent|date=10 January 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110132143/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/prince-mohammed-bin-salman-naive-arrogant-saudi-prince-is-playing-with-fire-a6804481.html|archivedate=10 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This was followed by failed attempt to restore Saudi and OPEC monopoly in global oil markets, bloating the national spending to $100 billion a year to no avail.<ref name = risktaking/> Since 2016, he began announcing several massive economic projects under the catchphrase ''Vision 2030'' in late attempts to diversify the [[Fossil fuel|oil]]-dependent economy, foster privatization, and attract investors worldwide. After being appointed Crown Prince in July 2017, the country was involved in several diplomatic crises with [[Qatar]] and [[Lebanon]]. Later on, the country initiated much awaited domestic reforms on social and religious affairs, including the removal of the ban on female drivers. Later that year he carried out a massive purge against the so-called old guards of the royal family, and government and business establishment, which [[bullshit|took a form of the anti-corruption campaign]] and lead to even bigger consolidation of power and seizure of the large number of assets.

His authoritarian thrust continued in 2018, with some but not exhaustively include the arrest of seven [[feminism|feminist]] activists,<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-arrests-feminists-women-mohammed-bin-salman-driving-ban-guardianship-a8362386.html Human rights groups condemn arrests of Saudi feminists as tainting Mohammed bin Salman's reputation as a reformer]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.</ref> highly-publicized and meaningless feud with [[Canada]],<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/08/middleeast/saudi-canada-diplomatic-feud-mbs-intl/index.html If you're surprised by Saudi Arabia's fight with Canada, you haven't been paying attention]. ''CNN''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.</ref> possible [[death penalty]] for a prominent [[Sunni]] cleric,<ref>[https://tribune.com.pk/story/1795641/3-saudi-seeks-death-penalty-prominent-cleric-reports/ Saudi seeks death penalty for prominent cleric: reports]. ''TRIBUNE''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.</ref> criminalization of online satire with a maximum five years sentence,<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/05/saudi-arabia-criminalises-online-satire/ Saudi Arabia criminalises online satire]. ''Telegraph''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.</ref> and ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and American citizen critical of the government.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-concludes-saudi-crown-prince-ordered-jamal-khashoggis-assassination/2018/11/16/98c89fe6-e9b2-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html?utm_term=.ab24952e10b9 CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination], Washington Post</ref>

==The good==
On a positive note, indeed it seems MBS is rather serious about opening up the country and tackling the notorious [[Islamic fundamentalism]] present in the country. One of the lasting achievements may be the crippling of the {{wpl|Islamic religious police|religious police}} known as the Mutaween (model of notorious {{wpl|Sharia patrol}} in [[UK]]), which no longer have powers to arrest young'uns for merely mingling at the mall. He also managed to take the status of [[women's rights]] in the country from the 7<sup>th</sup> century to 17<sup>th</sup> century, with allowing women to drive (but only after imprisoning the women who agitated for driving rights; power comes from above not below), attend sporting events, join the military,<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43197048 Saudi Arabia allows women to join military]. ''BBC''. Retrieved February 27, 2018.</ref> obtain government services such as [[education]] and healthcare without the need of male guardians (''{{wpl|Wali (Islamic legal guardian)|wali|''),}} and uplifted hijab mandatacy. He also eased the restriction on entertainment such as re-introducing cinemas to the country and on issuing tourist visas to foreigners. Bizarrely (because of [[Wahhabi]] {{wpl|Aniconism in Islam|aniconism|),}} the entertainment industry now comes third in government funding after the petroleum sector and the military budget.<ref>[https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/02/22/Saudi-Entertainment-Authority-announces-construction-of-Opera-house-in-Riyadh.html Entertainment Authority announces construction of Opera house in Riyadh]. ''Al-Arabiya''. Retrieved January 23, 2018.</ref> He blamed all the fundies for the [[Iran#Islamic Republic of Iran|Iranian revolution]] and said that the past 30 years was "not normal" which is absolute [[bullshit]], considering [[Wahhabism]] existed since the dawn of the country's history. He is also trying to "bring back" moderate Islam, without any clear pathway of doing so. All in all, it smells of a [[PR]] stunt capitalizing on the low bar of the country's political goals, but it remains to be seen how it goes.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/i-will-return-saudi-arabia-moderate-islam-crown-prince I will return Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam, says crown prince]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved January 23, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/saudi-arabia-women-attend-football-matches-signs-of-progress-mohammed-bin-salman-a8153576.html Decision to allow Saudi Arabia's women to attend football matches shows progress - but offers no clear end goal]. ''Independent''. Retrieved January 23, 2018.</ref>

==The bad==
MBS has been showcasing classic displays of [[authoritarianism]]. The purge, in which as many as 500 people were detained,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/world/middleeast/ritz-carlton-riyadh-saudi-princes.html|title=Ritz-Carlton Has Become a Gilded Cage for Saudi Royals|first=Nicholas|last=Kulish|date=6 November 2017|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref> is considered eerily similar to what happened in [[Russia]] and [[China]] at the hands of [[Putin]] and [[Xi Jinping|Xi]], respectively. Among analysts, it is obvious that MBS and his ilk have been involved in similar corruption and [[nepotism]] as well, but only the factions that lost the power were prosecuted as such.<ref name="ec" >{{cite news|title=The Saudi purge will spook global investors and unsettle oil markets|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21731174-some-welcome-crackdown-cronyism-others-fear-concentration-power|accessdate=|work=[[The Economist]]|date=9 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="ec1" >{{cite news|title=The world should push the crown prince to reform Saudi Arabia, not wreck it|url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21731153-muhammad-bin-salman-seizes-all-power-saudi-arabia-world-should-push-crown-prince|accessdate=|work=[[The Economist]]|date=9 November 2017}}</ref> MBS, being a classic [[hypocrite]], purchased $500 million yachts and is considered the true buyer of Leonardo da Vinci's ''Salvator Mundi'' which sold at $450 million right after the purge. On a related note, it is not entirely clear how MBS can pull off his ambitious Vision 2030 agenda without the help of all the business moguls currently arrested and confined at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.<ref name="KirkpatrickNYT">{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-waleed-bin-talal.html |title= Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal |author= David Kirkpatrick |date= 4 November 2017 |work= [[The New York Times]] |accessdate= }}</ref> Since his accession as Crown Prince, [[human rights]] conditions in Saudi Arabia, which already has been in the toilet, has gotten even worse due to persecution, arrests and the crackdown on activists, academics, and preachers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1729|title=Saudi Arabia: Wave of arrests continue as authorities crack down on human rights defenders and freedom of expression |website=www.gc4hr.org|access-date=}}</ref><ref>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170914-the-campaign-against-saudi-preachers-continues/ The campaign against Saudi preachers continues]. ''Middle East Monitor''. Retrieved February 23, 2018.</ref>

==The ugly==
The lasting damage MBS has done to [[humanity]] has to be his ventures on the proxy war against the [[Ayatollah Khamenei|Ayatollah]]. His [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|war in Yemen]] can be compared side by side with [[Dubya]]'s [[Iraq War]]: 
#Promised for a quick victory, officially concluding the main campaign in less than a month yet being dragged on by the second phase of stabilization up until today<ref name = risktaking/> 
#Causing humanitarian catastrophe, including Cholera outbreak and famine, this time by committing [[war crime]]s of bombing civilian populations, using cluster bombs and White Phosphorus, and naval blockades against humanitarian aid<ref name=arrogantsaudi/> 
#Costing tens of billions of dollars by employing totally unfit Saudi armed forces, a significant blow to their economy<ref name=arrogantsaudi/> 
#Propped up [[Al-Qaeda]] and [[DAESH]] by creating a terrorist hotbed 
#Yet to achieve its main goal of fending off Houthis.<ref name=arrogantsaudi/> 
Houthis have been launching Scud missiles to the perimeter of Mecca, which shows the extent of MBS' achievement. The only reason it gets less coverage than the Syrian Civil War has to be due to the war having no "good guys" with its main enemy Houthis being an [[antisemitic]] Iranian proxy much like [[Hezbollah]]. MBS also hastily prepped up an 
coalition of the willing
 anti-terrorism coalition known as Islamic Military Alliance which is just pure [[bullshit]], with some members of said alliance not even aware they were members.<ref name="NYToct16">{{cite news|last1=Mark Mazzetti|last2=Ben Hubbard|title=Rise of Saudi Prince Shatters Decades of Royal Tradition|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/world/rise-of-saudi-prince-shatters-decades-of-royal-tradition.html|accessdate=|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=16 October 2016|page=A1|deadurl=no|archiveurl=|archivedate=|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2018, a school bus in Yemen was hit by deadly airstrike and killed 50 including 41 children, leading to international outcry.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/01/middleeast/saudi-coalition-yemen-attack/index.html Saudi-led coalition admits 'mistakes' made in deadly bus attack in Yemen]. ''CNN''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.</ref> 

Saudi was also a known black curtain behind the Jihadists hijacking Free Syrian Army (FSA) and turned the civil war into quasi-sectarian conflict. Saudi escalated its arms supply after November 2015 when [[Russia]] intervened to help the moribund [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]]. ''The Independent'' described MBS "the most dangerous man in the world" for orchestrating these stunts.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/the-most-dangerous-man-in-the-world-a6803191.html The most dangerous man in the world?]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved February 23, 2018.</ref>

MBS ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a ''[[Washington Post]]'' journalist and Saudi in-exile in the United States.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-concludes-saudi-crown-prince-ordered-jamal-khashoggis-assassination/2018/11/16/98c89fe6-e9b2-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination], Washington Post</ref> The murder reportedly occurred in the Saudi embassy in Turkey, and his body was reportedly dismembered and flown out of the country.<ref name=cunningham>Turkish president calls Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance ‘very, very upsetting’ by Erin Cunningham & Kareem Fahim (October 7 at 11:38 PM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref name=wright>Did the Saudis Murder Jamal Khashoggi? by Robin Wright (October 7, 2018) ''The New Yorker''.</ref> Following the release of the [[Donald Trump|long-delayed]] report on the murder of Khashoggi,<ref>[https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Assessment-Saudi-Gov-Role-in-JK-Death-20210226v2.pdf Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi] (February 11, 2021) ''United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence''.</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/28/politics/jamal-khashoggi-intelligence-report-three-names-removed/index.html Three names mysteriously removed from Khashoggi intelligence report after initial publication] by Alex Marquardt (Updated 4:35 PM ET, Mon March 1, 2021) ''CNN''.</ref> Reporters Without Borders filed a complaint with the German prosecutor, alleging that MBS committed [[crimes against humanity]], also accusing Saudi Arabia of unlawful killing, [[torture]], enforced disappearance and persecution.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/khashoggi-killing-saudi-rsf-complaint/2021/03/01/2686ab7c-7af5-11eb-b0fc-83144c02d676_story.html Media advocacy group accuses Saudi crown prince, aides of crimes against humanity in Khashoggi death] by Missy Ryan & Loveday Morris (March 2, 2021 at 2:35 a.m. PST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

==The Western right==
[[File:Mbsarabspringbulls.jpeg|thumb|250px|So wrong not funny.]]
Lately, MBS has been a darling of [[paleocon]] and [[neocon]] pundits. Alt-righters consider MBS as an answer from the Middle East to the hard-line approach on [[extremism]] by [[Donald Trump]],<ref>Read (at your own risk) any comment section of Saudi-related articles on [[Breitbart]].</ref> which is absolute [[Bullshit|horseshit]], considering the fact that MBS' appointment as Crown Prince was already predicted back in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12029546/Saudi-Arabia-destabilising-Arab-world-German-intelligence-warns.html|title=Saudi Arabia 'destabilising Arab world', German intelligence warns|work=The Telegraph|author=Justin Huggler|date=2 December 2015|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109000950/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12029546/Saudi-Arabia-destabilising-Arab-world-German-intelligence-warns.html|archivedate=9 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref group=note>This is the second most skewed perception of alt-rightists on the Middle East after the idea that [[Obama]] created and Trump defeated [[ISIS]].</ref> The fact that Trump seems okay with MBS doesn't help.<ref>Trump was the first to congratulate MBS' appointment as Crown Prince.</ref> Some of the [[neoconservatism|neocons]] who praised MBS include tea party wingnut [[Michele Bachmann]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://deadstate.org/michele-bachmann-the-prayers-of-christians-are-making-saudi-arabia-a-better-place/ |title= Michele Bachmann: The prayers of Christians are making Saudi Arabia a better place |author= [[Michele Bachmann]] |date= November 8, 2018 |work= Dead State |accessdate= }}</ref> who credits MBS's ascension on "Christian prayers", and [[Thomas Friedman]] of the ''[[New York Times]]'', who called the purge Saudi Arabia's [[Arab Spring]],<ref name="TFriedmanNYTNov2017">{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/opinion/saudi-prince-mbs-arab-spring.html |title= Saudi Arabia's Arab Spring, at Last |author= [[Thomas Friedman|Thomas L. Friedman]] |date= November 23, 2017 |work= [[The New York Times]] |accessdate= }}</ref> which is more absolute horseshit. The Arab Spring was a [[Populism|popular movement]] demanding [[democratic]] reform, while MBS' purge is a classic power grab by a [[dictator]]. Big difference.

==See also==
*[[Donald Trump]] - his ally and American counterpart.
*[[Ali Khamenei]] - his rival in the Middle Eastern Cold War.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohammed bin Salman}} <!-- As per Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Prime_ministers_of_Saudi_Arabia If this is incorrect, give a citation.--> 
[[Category:Authoritarianism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]
[[Category:Crimes against humanity]]
[[Category:Dictators]]
[[Category:Epsteinsphere]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Muslims]]
[[Category:Middle-Eastern politicians]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:War criminals]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabia]]

Categories: Authoritarianism, Billionaires, Crimes against humanity, Dictators, Epsteinsphere, Government incompetence, Homophobes, Living people, Muslims, Middle-Eastern politicians, Racists, Right-wing activists, Royalty, War criminals, Saudi Arabia