riyadh prince miteb bin abdullah bear 1953 head saudi arabian national guard elite internal security force originally base traditional tribal units run father five decades sandhurst-trained prefer son late king abdullah think lead contender throne also last remain member abdullah shammar branch family retain key position top saudi power structure brothers mishaal turki relieve post governors 2015. run power end saturday relieve post national guard royal decree miteb effective command force since father become country de facto leader 1996 king fahd suffer debilitate stroke officially name commander 2010. pragmatic think lot smart people think ambitious say diplomatic source gulf position consolidate 2013 national guard give ministry name minister guard form power base king abdullah decades sort parallel army serve bulwark possible military coup provide country powerful tribes main link government origins trace back kingdom founder king abdulaziz ibn saud lead white-clad ikhwan tribal warriors conquer much arabian peninsula first three decades 20th century ibn saud death saudi authorities transform office jihad mujahideen manage ikhwan tribal force national guard remain administratively distinct two pillars saudi security architecture ministries interior defense national guard today run military academies house project hospitals prodigious source revenue u.s. military contractors train 100,000 active members 27,000 irregular volunteer vinnell corporation subsidiary northrup grumman hold contract modernize institution nearly four decades miteb well-liked tribal leaders important recruit benefit largesse write scholar joseph kechichian book power succession arab monarchies less fifty years guard transform segment saudi population destitute tribal elements well-off well-armed well-trained recruit commander miteb also inherit father responsibility annual janadariyah festival draw millions saudis winter celebrate traditions architecture folklore kingdom various regions many saudis festival major expression national pride safeguard cultural heritage fast disappear kingdom rapidly modernize society politically beneficial associate prince miteb business interest think include ownership prestigious hotel de crillon center paris french newspaper le figaro report buy 2010 354 million father specifically instruct distance excessive commercial activities accord kechichian book marry daughter saleh fustock hail lebanese family whose sister one king abdullah important wive fustock own arab builders trade local partner vinnell national guard prince avid equestrian son prince abdullah part bronze-medal-winning saudi equestrian team london olympics 2012. saudi prince relieve national guard see throne contender