Long-Serving Saudi Ambassador Resigns

[Norquist Nemesis]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB26LBUDBE.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Saudi Arabia's U.S. ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, is resigning for what the Saudi foreign ministry said Wednesday were "private reasons."
Bandar, whose father, Prince Sultan, is the Saudi defense minister, has been in the post for 22 years and is considered the dean of Washington's diplomatic corps. As ambassador from the world's largest oil-producing nation, Bandar has enjoyed considerable White House access and influence in Washington circles.

He worked hard at maintaining strong ties between the United States and the conservative oil-rich monarchy. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, however, the Saudis have come under pressure to counter terrorists more aggressively and to block any financial support going to militant groups from within Saudi Arabia.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. That, and reports that some of his and his wife's charitable contributions may have ended up in the hands of two Saudis believed to have close ties to the hijackers, contributed to tensions with Washington.

<snip>

buh-bye Bandar!

[whistle]

1. Fort Knox must be totally empty.....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Wasn't there an article a week ago tying the whole Plame thing and her

company to the Saudis and their funding of terrorism?

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. I was on vacation then

So, there might have been. :shrug:

Good catch, if so.

[quaoar]

4. His replacement is the former Saudi spymaster

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4700589.stm

Profile: Prince Turki al-Faisal

Prince Turki headed Saudi's foreign intelligence service for 24 years
Prince Turki al-Faisal, who is set to become Saudi ambassador to the US, is a former head of foreign intelligence. Prince Turki has cut his diplomatic teeth as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK and Ireland since January 2003.

He led the Saudi external intelligence service for 24 years until August 2001, when he resigned from the post.

< snip >

During the 1980s he had contact with Osama bin Laden and, in 1998, sought unsuccessfully to have the al-Qaeda chief extradited from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia.

In December 2004, Prince Turki accepted substantial libel damages and an apology from the magazine Paris Match over claims he himself was linked to the 11 September attacks.

[maxsolomon]

5. exxxxx-ssselent

in 20 years we'll look back on the bush era & weep like grandmothers.

[katty]

6. 20 years...humanity can hardly make it through a 24/hr day

there is no magic bullet-nations are now entering the 'wars for resources' stage-if there is no mass reversal to this trend 20 years hence looks mighty dicey.

[Zorra]

7. Bandar Bush is resigning?

Maybe they finally found evidence that he helped Bu*h coordinate the 9/11 attack, and he is getting out while he can.

[wli]

8. that's my guess