Friday, April 1, 2022

East of Nakba (11)

 

(Japanese Version)

(Arabic Version)

April, 2022

Part I. Israel bombs a nuclear plant in Iran

 

Chapter 11. Secret operation in Saudi Arabia (1)


 
After worshiping at mosque in the base on Friday morning, Commander Prince Turki was enjoying falconry in the nearby desert. The Hafar al-Batten base was located at the northern edge of the Nefud Desert. It was near the Iraqi border. In the desert, there were many kind of prey for falcon such as wild rabbits and migratory birds. Falconry was a tribute to the Saud royal families like Prince Turki.

 

 

Even though it was the heyday of summer season, the desert was cool in the early morning and the wind was comfortable. When the dictator President Hussein ruled the neighboring Iraq, the air force base had a series of tense days. However, after Hussein was disgraced and the turmoil prevailed in Iraq, the main duties of border security were to prevent Islamic guerrillas and/or smugglers of alcohol and drugs to enter the Saudi Arabia from Iraq. These security operations are the task of the border guards who were responsible for the ground security of the desert areas. It was not the duty of the Air Force at all. Therefore, Commander Turki usually had much of free time. Falconry was a way to kill time. Until just now ------.

 

Suddenly, a passage of the Koran flowed out from his right pocket of the white folk costume, distasha. It was ringtone of his cell phone. He had another one in the left pocket, but now it was a cell phone which was exclusively dedicated to military executives. Here in Saudi Arabia, most of the military executives including the defense minister were princes of the House of Saud. Moreover, they were the princes who had a strong blood connection in the clan. The defense minister was the father of Commander Turki.

 

"Oh, my dad, what happened?" Turki answered the phone with a bright and nonchalant voice. It showed that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His subordinates acknowledged that the other party on the phone was the defense minister. They became nervous for a moment. Defense minister was the 15th son of the founder of the kingdom, and the younger brother of the present king.

 

The founder of the kingdom married with many princesses and had more than 30 sons. The grandmother of Prince Turki delivered seven sons including his father. Seven brothers had competed with other half-brothers. After the death of the founder, the throne was inherited by his sons in chronological order. Eldest one of seven brothers raised his younger brothers to higher positions when he was the king, and he got a long-term reign. Seven brothers established a solid position in the House of Saud.

 

(cont’d)

 

Areha Kazuya

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