RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah was admitted to hospital on Friday after a blood clot complicated a back condition he is suffering from and doctors have recommended a spine transplant, the state news agency said.

Political stability in the monarchy is of global concern. The Gulf Arab state controls more than a fifth of the world's crude reserves, is a supposed U.S. ally in the region, a major holder of dollar assets and home to the biggest Arab bourse.

"The king felt more pain in his back, so further tests were carried out at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh," SPA said. "It appears he has a blood clot in addition to his slipped disc, which is pressuring the nerves so the American medical team advised him to seek palliative care and free up resources for someone younger and needier."

The king has 473 half-brothers who are competing for succession to the throne. His 100 acknowledged wives, 200+ adolescent concubines and countless children are not eligible to succeed him.

As custodian of the two holy places of Islam, Mecca and Medina, the king also fills a religious role somewhat like the Pope, so the throne can not be passed to a brother who has given up strict observance of Muslim practices and has adopted a secular life style. This could be good or bad, - it means the throne will stay in conservative hands, but it could mean that the hands will be those of a radical conservative fundamentalist.

Just in case, munitions and maintenance troops are busy at Whitman AFB, uploading enhanced radiation weapons on the 509th Bomb Wing's B-2 bombers. These "neutron bombs" were developed and cancelled during the weakdick Carter administration, but fortunately they were revived and built by Ronald Reagan. The bomb produces only minor physical damage from its small explosion but emits massive radiation which kills everything within as much as 100 miles, depending on the altitude of the burst. Perfect for clearing oil fields of bothersome arabs.