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Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal	Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal	Saudi Princes	Arabia				20050619
Prince Saud al-Faisal	Prince Saud al-Faisal	Saudi Princes	Arabia				20030420

Arabia

Saudi king orders cabinet shakeup after Khashoggi's killing

2018-12-28

[DAWN] Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... 's King Salman ...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Lord of Most of the Arabians.... issued a wide-ranging overhaul of top government posts on Thursday, including naming a new foreign minister, following international fallout from the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi nearly three months ago. He also ordered a shakeup of the kingdom's two supreme councils that oversee matters related to the economy and security, respectively. Both councils are headed by the king's son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ...Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as of 2016.... , whose powers, including roles as deputy prime minister and defense minister, were untouched in the overhaul. The changes appear to further consolidate the crown prince's grip on power by appointing advisers and members of the royal family seen as close to him. Adel al-Jubeir, the soft-spoken foreign minister who took over the post in 2015 from the late Prince Saud al-Faisal, was replaced by Ibrahim al-Assaf, formerly a longtime finance minister. al-Jubeir was appointed to the rank of minister of state for foreign affairs. Al-Assaf had been serving as a minister of state prior to being named foreign minister. He holds a seat on the boards of state-owned oil-giant Saudi Aramco and the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. The crown prince oversees both entities. Al-Assaf's biography on Aramco's website says he holds a PhD in economics from Colorado State University, a master's degree in economics from the University of Denver and a bachelor's degree from King Saud University. The changes, which impact several key ministries, come as the king and his son, the crown prince, were looking to announce a major reshuffle following Khashoggi's killing by Saudi agents in Istanbul.

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Arabia

Putin letter to Arab summit triggers strong Saudi attack

2015-03-30

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Rooters) - Saudi Arabia accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy on Sunday, telling an Arab summit that he should not express support for the Middle East while fuelling instability by supporting Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. In a rare move, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that a letter from Putin would be read out to the gathering in Egypt, where Arab leaders discussed an array of regional crises, including conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya. "We support the Arabs' aspirations for a prosperous future and for the resolution of all the problems the Arab world faces through peaceful means, without any external interference," Putin said in the letter. His comments triggered a sharp attack from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. "He speaks about the problems in the Middle East as though Russia is not influencing these problems," he told the summit right after the letter was read out. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia have been cool over Moscow's support for Assad, whom Riyadh opposes. The civil war between Assad's forces and rebels has cost more than 200,000 lives in four years. "They speak about tragedies in Syria while they are an essential part of the tragedies befalling the Syrian people, by arming the Syrian regime above and beyond what it needs to fight its own people," Prince Saud said. "I hope that the Russian president corrects this so that the Arab world's relations with Russia can be at their best level." The Saudi rebuke may have been awkward for summit host Egypt, which depends heavily on billions of dollars in support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab allies, but has also improved ties with Moscow. In February, Putin received a grand welcome in Egypt, signaling a rapprochement.

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Arabia

Saudi Arabia warns of more Yemen violence

2014-10-01

Saudi Arabia has warned that neighbouring Yemen risks sliding towards further violence, which could damage regional security, after Houthi rebels overran the capital last week. Prince Saud al-Faisal, the kingdom's foreign minister, called at the United Nations for immediate implementation of a UN-brokered peace deal, which he said had been flouted by the Houthis, local media reported on Monday. "The Republic of Yemen is facing a situation which is developing in an extremely serious way and which requires us to come together to meet this unprecedented challenge," Prince Saud said. "We call on all the parties to urgently apply the accord in its totality and we exhort the international community to help Yemen by all means possible." Houthi advances The rebels advanced from their stronghold in northwestern mountains to the capital Sanaa last month, then seized key state installations with little or no resistance on September 21.

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Arabia

Saudis give apparent warning to Iran: don't meddle in Iraq

2014-06-18

Saudi Arabia gave an apparent warning to arch enemy Iran on Wednesday by saying outside powers should not intervene in the conflict in neighboring Iraq. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal also said Iraq was facing a full-scale civil war with grave consequences for the wider region. His remarks coincided with an Iranian warning that Tehran would not hesitate to defend Shi'ite Muslim holy sites in Iraq against "killers and terrorists", following advances by Sunni militants there. Speaking at a gathering of Arab and Muslim leaders in Jeddah, Prince Saud urged nations racked by violence to meet the "legitimate demands of the people and to achieve national reconciliation (without) foreign interference or outside agendas". "This grave situation that is storming Iraq carries with it the signs of civil war whose implications for the region we cannot fathom," he said.

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Iraq

Smoking gun: Saudis running jihadists in Syria

2014-06-12

WASHINGTON -- A captured member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims that the ISIL and other Islamic militant groups in Syria not only are supported by a member of the Saudi royal family but that individual actually heads the ISIL. In a video admission, a captured member of the ISIL said the radical Islamic group actually is led by Prince Adbul Rahman al-Faisal, the son of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and the brother of the current Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal. A similar article can be found here. Notice how ISIL was careful to state its independence from Al-Qadea. I speculated that ISIL's attack in Iraq might have the aim of opening a second front against Iran (and BTW Syria). Looks like I might be right.

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Africa North

Sudan Says It Declined Iran Air Defense Offer After Israeli Strike

2014-05-30

[Ynet] In fear of upsetting Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... , Sudan distances itself from the Islamic republic while denying any connection to Moslem BrĂźderbund. Sudan turned down an Iranian offer to set up air defenses on its Red Sea coast after a 2012 air strike Khartoum blamed on Israel, fearing they would upset Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, Sudan's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. They also wanted a system that would work... In an interview with the Saudi-owned al-Hayat newspaper that seemed aimed at improving frosty ties with Riyadh, Ali Karti played down Khartoum's links to Iran and to the Moslem BrĂźderbund, which is outlawed in Saudi Arabia. "Iran, in truth, offered to set up air defense platforms on the Western coast of the Red Sea after the latest Israel raid, but Sudan rejected that because this would require Iranian arms experts (on the ground)," Karti said during a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, al-Hayat reported. "We rejected that because it is an Iranian presence against Saudi Arabia, something which we do not accept," he added. The 2012 air strike killed four people and partially destroyed an arms factory in Khartoum. Sudan blamed Israel, which did not comment at the time on the accusations. Israeli officials have in turn accused Sudan of funneling weapons from Iran to the Islamist Paleostinian group Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, in the Gazoo Strip. Iranian officials were not immediately available for a comment on Karti's comments. Sunni-powerhouse Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally of the United States, has been locked in a contest with non-Arab Shiite power Iran for influence in the Middle East. The rivalry has effectively divided the region into two camps, with countries either allied to Saudi Arabia or to Iran. Qatar factor Sudan has been entangled in a complex web that put it at odds with Saudi Arabia when the world's top oil exporter tried to shore-up Egypt's military-backed government in its struggle with the Moslem BrĂźderbund after the army ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi ...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the One Man, One Vote, One Time principle, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator... from power last year. Sudanese media have said Karti travelled to Saudi Arabia two weeks ago for talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal to improve 'lukewarm' ties between the two countries. Karti denied that Khartoum supported the Moslem BrĂźderbund, which has been outlawed by Egypt as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Brotherhood's embrace of the ballot box challenges the principle of dynastic rule in the Gulf. "There is a belief in the Gulf states that we have feelings towards the Moslem BrĂźderbund in any country in the Gulf or even in Egypt. But Sudan has refused to join the Moslem BrĂźderbund group," Karti said, according to al-Hayat. Sudan said last month after a visit by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani that Doha would deposit $1 billion at Sudan's central bank as part of an aid package to Khartoum -- a move likely to be seen in the region as evidence of Sudan's ties to Qatar, an ally of the Brotherhood. In his interview with al-Hayat, Karti also played down Sudan's relationship with Tehran. "Our ties with Iran are quite ordinary," Karti said.

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Arabia

UAE, Saudi Form Joint Panel to Confront 'Regional Challenges'

2014-05-21

[AnNahar] Gulf neighbors the United Arab Emirates and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... on Tuesday announced a joint committee to confront "regional challenges," in a statement published on official Emirati news agency WAM. The move came as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have cracked down on Islamists accused of links to groups such as the Moslem Brüderbund and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front fighting in Syria. Riyadh has designated both groups "terrorist" organizations. The newly formed "supreme committee" will be overseen by the Saudi and UAE foreign ministers, WAM said. It will "implement the strategic vision of the leaderships of both countries to increase security and stability to face regional challenges," WAM reported. Tensions have been running high between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on one side, and Qatar on the other. All belong to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. In an unprecedented escalation in March, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain pulled their ambassadors from Qatar after accusing it of meddling in their internal affairs, a charge Doha dismissed. Qatar is accused of supporting the Moslem Brüderbund, to which Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have long been hostile. They fear its brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine their own authority.

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Arabia

Kuwait Emir to Visit Iran amid Thaw in Relations

2014-05-21

Bow to the regional strong horse, at least long enough to stick a knife in its back. [AnNahar] Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah will travel to Iran on May 31 amid a recent thaw in Tehran's relations with Gulf states, the Iranian foreign ministry said Tuesday. Relations between Iran and the Gulf states have been frosty for years, with disagreements over the unrest in Bahrain and the conflict in Syria, before Hassan Rouhani was elected president of the Islamic republic last June. "The visit (of the Emir), which is upon the invitation of President Hassan Rouhani, will open a new chapter in relations of both countries," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told news hounds at a news briefing. Afkham said "several agreements were expected to be signed", without giving details. In December last year, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif started a tour of Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. But it ended without Zarif traveling to Iran's main rival, Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... Afkham said a visit to Saudi Arabia was on Zarif's agenda. "We have received the verbal invitation and measures are being taken to organize this trip," she said. "Iran and Saudi Arabia are two important countries in the region and their interaction is influential in the regional scope," she added. Last week, Riyadh's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said he had invited his Iranian counterpart to visit the kingdom. Tehran welcomed the plan and stressed the need to boost relations after years of strained ties. The two countries have been at odds over Syria's civil war and the fallout from unrest in Bahrain. In the Syrian conflict, majority Shiite Mohammedan Iran has backed the government of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Supressor of the Damascenes... while Sunni Saudi Arabia has been a leading supporter of rebel forces. Rouhani said after his election win last June he wanted to reach out to Gulf Arab governments as part of efforts to end his country's international isolation.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Pakistan denies plans to arm Syrian rebel fighters

2014-02-28

Pakistan on Thursday denied any plans to send weapons to Syrian terrorists rebels, amid reports that Saudi Arabia is holding talks with it about arming the insurgents. "No, no, certainly not!" A Saudi source said Sunday that Riyadh was seeking Pakistani anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets for forces fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. My guess is that they'll try to play both sides of the fence, along with sitting on it and burrowing underneath it. The United States has long opposed arming the rebels with such weapons, fearing they might end up in the hands of terrorists extremists. But Syrian opposition figures say the failure of peace talks in Geneva seems to have led Washington to soften its opposition. Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs, told reporters Pakistan has not considered such a proposal. "The reports about arms supply to Syria are totally baseless," Aziz said. The Saudi source had pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by Pakistan's army chief, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistan, shortly after Saudi Arabia's chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the country -- a key ally. They were talking about .. upgrades to Mecca. Yeah, that's it, for the Haj... Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said at a regular briefing that Pakistan did not supply arms to "entities", meaning terrorist rebel groups. "The policy guidelines for the sale of arms that we have are in line with the adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN charter," she said. "We also have what is known as end users' certificate which ensures that our weapons are not resold or provided to a third country."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Saudi 'Seeking Pakistan Arms for Syrian Rebels'

2014-02-24

[An Nahar] Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... is in talks with Pakistain to provide anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets to Syrian rebels to try to tip the balance in the war to overthrow Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ... , a Saudi source said Sunday. The United States has long opposed arming the rebels with such weapons, fearing they might end up in the hands of myrmidons, but Syrian opposition figures say the failure of Geneva peace talks seems to have led Washington to soften its opposition. Pakistain makes its own version of Chinese shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as Anza, and anti-tank rockets -- both of which Riyadh is trying to get for the rebels, said the source, who is close to Saudi decision-makers, requesting anonymity. The source pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by The Mighty Pak Army chief of staff, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistain, shortly after Saudi's chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the kingdom's key ally. Jordan will be providing facilities to store the weapons before they are delivered to rebels within Syria, the same source said. AFP could not obtain confirmation from officials in Saudi, Pakistain or Jordan. The head of the Syrian opposition, Ahmad Jarba, promised during a flying visit to northern Syria last week that "powerful arms will be arriving soon." "The United States could allow their allies provide the rebels with anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons following the failure of Geneva talks and the renewed tension with Russia," said the head of the Gulf Research Centre, Abdel Aziz al-Sager. Providing those weapons to the rebels "relieves pressure on the U.S. in the short-term," said Simon Henderson, director of the Gulf and Energy Policy Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "But the long-term political worry is that Manpads (Man-portable air-defense systems) will leak and be used to bring down a civilian airliner somewhere in the world." Rebels have long said that anti-aircraft rockets would help them defend themselves against Syrian warplanes, which regularly bomb rebel-held areas with barrels loaded with TNT and other ordinance. The nearly-three-year conflict in Syria has torn the country apart, killing more than 140,000 people, including some 50,000 civilians, according to the Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Saudi Arabia has a strong influence on Syria's southern front, where it coordinates with Jordan, and has helped unite the rebel fighters in the area, according to Syrian opposition sources. On the other hand, Qatar and Turkey are responsible for coordinating with the rebels on the northern front, said an official of the Syrian opposition, requesting anonymity. Saudi Arabia has come to eclipse Qatar as the main supporter of the Syrian rebels, a development illustrated by the election last July of Ahmad Jarba, who has strong Saudi links, to lead the Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition group. The trend appeared to continue with the dismissal last week of General Selim Idriss, the top commander of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army ... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund... , who was considered close to Qatar, according to an opposition source. The main criticism of Idriss was "bad distribution of weapons" and "errors in battle," said another opposition source. Idriss, who has refused his dismissal, has been replaced by Brigadier General Abdel Ilah al-Bashir, the leader of the rebel military council for the region of Quneitra in southern Syria. On its internal front, Saudi Arabia has sidelined intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who had been leading Riyadh's efforts concerning Syria, according to a Western diplomat. Diplomats have said that the file has been passed to the interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, known for his successful crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a wave of deadly attacks in the kingdom between 2003 and 2006. Bandar's management had triggered American criticism, diplomats said. The Saudi royal himself has reproached Washington for its decision not to intervene militarily in Syria, and for preventing its allies from providing rebels with much-needed weapons, diplomats added.

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India-Pakistan

Musharraf moved to hospital; court grants exemption for today

2014-01-03

[DAWN] In an interesting turn of events surrounding the treason trial of Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... , the former army strongman was shifted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi after suffering a "heart problem" while en route towards the special court. The court later granted the retired general exemption from appearing before it for today's proceedings and ruled that an arrest warrant was not issued against Musharraf for medical reasons. The hearing was subsequently adjourned to Jan 6, the same date as the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal is scheduled to arrive in Pakistain. Earlier today, DIG Security Jan Mohammad had informed the special court that Musharraf experienced heart problem and was subsequently transported to the hospital. When informed, the judges had announced a break until 4 pm after which they issued the ruling in the light of the latest developments in the case. Meanwhile at the hospital, doctors performed an angiography on the former president and his wife Sehba also arrived at the hospital, DawnNews quoted sources as saying. Moreover, Musharraf also spoke to his mother on the telephone. Earlier today, the special court which had summoned Musharraf on Jan 2, had ordered the former dictator to appear in court before 11:30, warning that an arrest warrant would be issued against him in case he failed to comply with the court's orders. The court also had to take a short recess following a walk out staged by Musharraf's counsel today. His lawyer Anwar Mansoor had walked out of the special court citing lack of sleep due to alleged disturbances outside the door of his residence the previous night. Mansoor said he had never experienced anything like it in his 40-year career.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kerry Urges Preventing Hizbullah from Determining Lebanon's Future

2013-11-05

[An Nahar] The United States expressed on Monday its rejection of allowing Hizbullah to determine the future of Leb. U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State... said at a presser he held in Riyadh that his talks with Saudi officials discussed the importance of not allowing Hizbullah to dominate Leb. "The party should not be allowed to determine the future of Leb," Kerry said after meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal. On Monday evening, caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour slammed Kerry's statement as foreign intervention, stressing that "only the Lebanese people" determine their country's future. "Foreign dictations do not serve Leb's interests but they negatively affect its security," Mansour told al-Mayadeen television. "The Lebanese determine their future, not foreign powers," he added. Kerry also stressed at the presser that Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... is a "strategic and enduring ally of the United States." "We have strong relations with the Kingdom," he stated, amid reports of Saudi anger over U.S. policy in the region, specifically regarding the Syrian crisis. The U.S. top diplomat's visit to Saudi Arabia comes days before President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... is expected to hold talks in the kingdom. Suleiman's anticipated visit was recently postponed for the second time, after it had been scheduled to take place at the end of September.

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