Shock & awe, Saudi style

The crown prince's purge destabilises West Asia afresh

The weekend purge in West Asia’s most stable regime adds an additional element of unpredictability and instability to a region that is still suffering the political dislocation and human rights crises of the Syrian civil war and the fight against the Islamic State. The official explanation for the arrest of 11 princes, including the well-known Al Waleed bin Talal, a billionaire with extensive business interests in the US and Europe, and the sacking of another who headed the House of Saud’s praetorian guard plus dozens of businessmen and officials should not be taken at face value. As China