"Bandar Bush" Resigns. What does this mean?

[goodboy]

Saudi's Washington envoy resigns
By Roger Hardy
Middle East analyst


Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US Prince Bandar bin Sultan, has resigned after more than 20 years in the post.

The embassy in Washington has sought to play down rumours of his departure saying merely that he is on holiday.

But Saudi officials have confirmed the persistent speculation that Prince Bandar has tendered his resignation.

It is thought he would like a senior job back home, such as head of intelligence - a post that has been vacant for several months.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4633537.stm

Maybe he's in trouble?

[emad]

1. UK's Financial Times:

Saudi ambassador to US resigns
SNIP:

Several reasons are cited for his expected departure, including poor health, which has encouraged him to spend more and more time away from Washington in recent years.

But he is also said to have lost influence in Riyadh as the ailing King Fahd weakens and his expected successor, Crown Prince Abdullah, gathers more of the reins of power. “It's a question of how seriously he is taken in Riyadh and how much confidence they have in him,” said an adviser. Prince Sultan, Prince Bandar's father, is expected to assume the title of Crown Prince when Abdullar becomes king.

Prince Bandar's high profile had also become a source of increasing controversy within the US, and there were questions about whether this was helping Saudi efforts to improve relations with Washington.

These sources said that Prince Bandar was not expected to return to Riyadh in a senior policy role.

There was no word on who would be his likely successor. According to the Saudi government, Prince Bandar did not attend a meeting in Riyadh last week between Crown Prince Abdullah and Condoleezza Rice, the White House national security adviser, who was on a tour of the Middle East. The Saudi embassy in Washington was represented by Prince Salman bin Sultan, Prince Bandar's half-brother, and a possible successor.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2d131c72-e7ff-11d9-9786-00000e2511c8.html

[punpirate]

2. Power struggle at the very top...

... and Bandar has to be there to protect his interests.

Any idiot can keep an eye on a Bush in office.

[goodboy]

3. wow...(nt)