Shakib Arsalan

Shakib Arsalan, the grandfather of Walid Jumblat on his mother's side, was an interesting (literary) figure.  I was reading about him yesterday and realized that he reminds me of Walid Jumblat, although he was far more learned and interesting than Walid.  He, like Walid, bowed down repeatedly before House of Saud in search of cash payments, and he also switched in demand of cash (begging Italy and German for financial support, among others).