NBC: Saudi envoy to U.S. offers resignation

MSNBC ^ | 6/26/05 | Robert Windrem

[wagglebee]

Senior U.S. and Saudi officials as well as a senior member of the diplomatic community in Riyadh told NBC News that Prince Bandar bin Sultan tendered his resignation as ambassador to the U.S. to Crown Prince Abdullah in recent days. The resignation appears to be the result of continuing health problems for the 56-year-old envoy.

“You can feel comfortable reporting that,” said the western diplomat confirming what several Saudi and U.S. officials had told NBC News about the Prince's resignation. Bandar is the dean of the Washington diplomatic community. He has been a powerful figure in the U.S. since being named envoy in September 1983.

Bandar was a key figure in the Saudi decision to permit U.S. bases in the Kingdom during the Gulf War.

There have been persistent reports of Bandar's battle with depression over the last several years. Bandar is also reported to have had problems with over use of antidepressants.

“He has not been as engaged in Washington as he has been in the past,” the diplomat said.

He and U.S. officials in Washington added that there has been no formal announcement of the resignation because the Crown Prince has not yet accepted it, but attempts to get Bandar to reconsider have failed.

[wagglebee]

Bandar has been a problem since 9/11, but it is likely that whoever replaces him will be worse.

[FreePaul]

...but it is likely that whoever replaces him will be worse.

Won't dingy Harry and his cohorts just filibuster the replacement if it isn't good for the country Democrats? After all, who runs this world?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Arabs...at your feet or at your throat.

[wagglebee]

You're joking right?

[RedRover]

But always on your nerves.

[GSlob]

"Won't dingy Harry and his cohorts just filibuster the replacement if it isn't good for the country Democrats? "
I didn't know that at Saudi court there is such a thing as filibuster. The closest thing which comes to mind would be Sheherezade who with her tales kept filibustering her execution for 1001 nights, but it happened long ago.

[FreePaul]

You're joking right?

Yeah! Anything that is bad for this country the Democrats would welcome.

[Darkwolf]

Ambassador TO the U.S. not FROM the U.S. The Crypt Keeper Reid has nothing to say about it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Twas said by the Brits who had plenty of experience in Araby.

[az wildkitten]

Frightening to think how ignorant some are.

[tinamina]

I just hope he sells his house in Aspen and all his other properties and goes home and stays there. I wonder if the reality of what his country did to his home of so many years on 9/11 and his inability to be honest about it caused his depression? Does he have a conscience after all, you think?

[datura]

Ya think?

It's funny on the surface, but downright agonizing after one thinks about it for a minute.

[datura]

Saudi citizens did the dirty work on 911 - true. China was the paymaster, however. It was done at their command.

[Valin]

"Prince Bandar's health problems, including depression, are blamed"

I wonder.

[Valin]

Saudi citizens did the dirty work on 911 - true. China was the paymaster, however. It was done at their command.

Source please.

[txhurl]

China has got to go.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

is he going to die in a mysterious car crash in the arabian dessert?

[MinuteGal]

I guess this illness eliminates him from the kingship pecking order when the Crown Prince shuffles off.

I wonder if Prince Bandar has a food taster in his D.C. digs.

Leni

[wagglebee]

According to the article, his father will most likely become crown prince when the king dies.

[GSlob]

"Frightening to think how ignorant some are."
Ignorance is an elemental force of stupendous power. Even the gods themselves are said to be impotent against ignorance, stupidity and meanness. So, if we somehow manage to harness the energies of even one of these forces (let alone all three) we would forever solve the US energy supply problems, would not have to import even one drop of ME (or any other) oil, right the US balance of payments, and put the ignoramuses and idiots to good use. It is mind-boggling even to begin imagining the prosperity beckoning to us all - verily THIS is our next frontier, and not putting men on Mars.