What's going on in Saudi Arabia?

[ProSense]

Saudi Ambassador Abruptly Resigns, Leaves Washington

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; Page A23

Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, flew out of Washington yesterday after informing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and his staff that he would be leaving the post after only 15 months on the job, according to U.S. officials and foreign envoys. There has been no formal announcement from the kingdom.

The abrupt departure is particularly striking because his predecessor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, spent 22 years on the job. The Saudi ambassador is one of the most influential diplomatic positions in Washington and is arguably the most important overseas post for the oil-rich desert kingdom.

Snip...

Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islam's holiest sites and a predominantly Sunni country, has been deeply concerned about the change in the balance of power in Iraq, with which it shares a 500-mile border. Riyadh has been alarmed by the rise of the Shiite majority in Iraq and the marginalization of the traditional Sunni elite. Young Saudi men have joined the Sunni insurgency as foreign fighters, while there have been persistent reports that Saudi citizens have provided financial aid to the Sunni insurgency.

The kingdom announced earlier this year that it will build an elaborate barrier along the remote desert frontier, with ultraviolet night-vision cameras, underground sensor cables and command posts.

more...

Saudi ambassador to U.S. resigns: official

Tue Dec 12, 1:11 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has abruptly resigned after 15 months on the job, an embassy official said on Tuesday.

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Diplomats in Riyadh said the health of Turki's brother, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, was not good and he appeared slow or ill in recent public appearances. That has fueled rumors that Turki would succeed him as minister.

Asked whether Turki was returning to Riyadh because of his brother's ill health, the embassy official declined comment. "I cannot say what job he is going to do next," the official said.

The departure also came days after Turki fired a consultant who wrote an opinion piece published in The Washington Post that suggested the Saudi kingdom would back Iraq's Muslim Sunnis in the event of a wider sectarian conflict.

more...

Rule out illness in the family!

[babylonsister]

1. I read this this morning. It's amazing to me that I haven't heard a

word from the media whores on this. I'm curious, too.

[Heewack]

2. They are not happy with choices we have made.

Both in cozying up the Shia majority with Maliki, and the elections that show we will be leaving Iraq. They do not want to have to expend a great deal of military force keeping Iraq from becoming an Iranian satellite nation.

[rodeodance]

3. see this earlier discussion thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2649199&mesg_id=2649199

[dmosh42]

4. They want the sunnis in Iraq to be a part of the gov't......

or at least not be slaughtered in the civil war that's picking up speed. Bush has been sending signals about letting Maliki and Shia have it their way.