Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s heady days

By James M. Dorsey To watch a video version of this story on YouTube please click here . A podcast version is available on Soundcloud, Itunes , Spotify , Spreaker , and Podbean. These are heady days for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. With King Salman home after a week in hospital during which he had a colonoscopy, rumours are rife that succession in the kingdom may not be far off. Speculation is not limited to a possible succession. Media reports suggest that US President Joe Biden may visit Saudi Arabia next month for a first meeting with the crown prince. Mr. Biden called Saudi Arabia a pariah state during his presidential election campaign. He has since effectively boycotted Mr. Bin Salman because of the crown prince's alleged involvement in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Mr. Bin Salman has denied any involvement but said he accepted responsibility for the killing as Saudi Arabia’s de facto