Saudi Prince Turki: Bush sabre-rattling Iran to show region he still has authority in a Dem congress

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16691552/

<snip>

"The air is filled with the possibility of action against Iran's nuclear capability," was how a former senator described the atmosphere to Saudi Arabia's departing ambassador, Prince Turki al-Faisal, over dinner on Wednesday night.

The consequences would be "catastrophic", the envoy and former head of Saudi intelligence replied.

However, over a long evening hosted by the New America Foundation think-tank, the ambassador conveyed the impression that the Bush administration's rhetoric and sabre-rattling – including the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier group and Patriot air defence missiles to the Gulf, and a raid on an Iranian office in Iraq – was intended more as a loud demonstration that the US was not retreating from the region.

Prince Turki said there was concern "in the region" that Mr Bush's authority had been eroded by the Republicans' loss of Congress in November's elections. Attempts by the new Democratic-controlled Congress to limit US troop numbers in Iraq would be a serious mistake, he said.

[Virginia Dare]

1. More like a butter knife I would say...n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

2. If the Saudi's want to see more troops in Iraq ...

let them send their sons and spend their money.

[jwirr]

7. It does make a good explanation of the idiot actions of *ss lately.

And I agree with you completely. Let the Saudi's straighten out this mess. They and Blair have been the "allies" for *sses efforts from the start.

[On the Road]

3. That Should be Bush's Title -- "Prince Turki"

It's typical that the Saudis want us to be proxies and fight their battles for them.

[KansDem]

4. So when will the Corporate Media report on Bush's longstanding business ties with the Saudis?

I often wonder how Mr. and Ms. America would feel if they were to learn that the Bush has had ties to the Saudi Royal Family going all the way back to the 1970s and right up top and following 9/11:

"In 1979, Bush's first business, Arbusto Energy, obtained financing from James Bath, a Houstonian and close family friend. One of many investors, Bath gave Bush $50,000 for a 5 percent stake in Arbusto. At the time, Bath was the sole U.S. business representative for Salem bin Laden, head of the wealthy Saudi Arabian family and a brother (one of 17) to Osama bin Laden. It has long been suspected, but never proven, that the Arbusto money came directly from Salem bin Laden. In a statement issued shortly after the September 11 attacks, the White House vehemently denied the connection, insisting that Bath invested his own money, not Salem bin Laden?s, in Arbusto.

"In conflicting statements, Bush at first denied ever knowing Bath, then acknowledged his stake in Arbusto and that he was aware Bath represented Saudi interests. In fact, Bath has extensive ties, both to the bin Laden family and major players in the scandal-ridden Bank of Commerce and Credit International (BCCI) who have gone on to fund Osama bin Laden. BCCI defrauded depositors of $10 billion in the '80s in what has been called the "largest bank fraud in world financial history" by former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. During the '80s, BCCI also acted as a main conduit for laundering money intended for clandestine CIA activities, ranging from financial support to the Afghan mujahedin to paying intermediaries in the Iran-Contra affair.

"When Salem bin Laden died in 1988, powerful Saudi Arabian banker and BCCI principal Khalid bin Mahfouz inherited his interests in Houston. Bath ran a business for bin Mahfouz in Houston and joined a partnership with bin Mahfouz and Gaith Pharaon, BCCI's frontman in Houston?s Main Bank.

"The Arbusto deal wasn't the last time Bush looked to highly questionable sources to invest in his oil dealings. After several incarnations, Arbusto emerged in 1986 as Harken Energy Corporation. When Harken ran into trouble a year later, Saudi Sheik Abdullah Taha Bakhsh purchased a 17.6 percent stake in the company. Bakhsh was a business partner with Pharaon in Saudi Arabia; his banker there just happened to be bin Mahfouz.

BushWatch

Bush would not have put the aircraft carrier group there if the Saudis had disapproved...

[teryang]

5. "authority eroded!"

What authority? These Saudis are so pompous. They think that because they have bought the house of Bush, lock, stock, and barrel, that they have bought the services of the Pentagon.

They can go fuck themselves. They were 911 conspirators. Congress can cut off the military operations in the gulf and they can piss themselves in fear while they pack up for their asylum hideaways in Europe.

They are backing the losing horse in an ill chosen race and the end is not to far off for this corrupt hereditary autocracy.

[H2O Man]

6. Prince Turki

is a dangerous man.

[sabra]

8. you mean the man who BushCo invited to last years SOTU?

[leveymg]

9. Yes, but Steve at NAF is very taken by him.

He's particularly dangerous because he's smart, and plays several sides of the game.

Immensely powerful and well-connected. Despite his lofty position, almost unknown by the American general public, and has escaped almost all media scrutiny. Old school spook-mogul.

Can't think of anyone in our history to compare him with. He's far wealthier than American and British intelligence chiefs, even the Dulles Bros. were paupers by comparison, but just as crafty and knowing. Maybe, Av Harriman? A facinating and dangerous man, indeed.

[Eugene]

10. Prince Turki, the U.S. is a democracy and George Bush is an idiot.

The troop "surge" and the navy buildup are the first steps to a war with Iran.
We need to try a different approach.

Related article from Reuters...

Don't tie Bush's hands on Iraq: Saudi envoy to U.S
Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:14am ET

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vote by the U.S. Congress limiting the number
of American troops that could be deployed in Iraq would send the wrong
signal to the Middle East and make people wonder if President George W.
Bush's authority has been weakened, Saudi Arabia's outgoing envoy
to Washington said.

-snip-

With polls showing most Americans disapprove of the troop increase, the
non-binding resolutions would force Republicans to reveal publicly where
they stand on Bush's strategy and could further isolate the White House.

"I think it would send the wrong signal and make more people question
whether the president has the authority," Turki told a dinner on Wednesday
night hosted by the New America Foundation thinktank and the U.N.
Foundation, a private group that supports the work of the United Nations.

-snip-

Full article: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyid=2007-01-18T091358Z_01_N18393737_RTRUKOT_0_TEXT0.xml