Posted on 12/13/2006 11:50:34 AM PST by NormsRevenge
CAIRO, Egypt - Saudi Arabia's royal family and government leaders are deeply divided over how to handle the growing crisis in Iraq and other looming Mideast problems like Iran, with some favoring strong aid to fellow Sunnis and others more cautious.
The split played a key role in this week's abrupt resignation of the Saudi ambassador to Washington. It also could hurt U.S. efforts to forge a new overall strategy to calm Iraq.
More broadly, the internal dispute shows how Arab countries like Saudi Arabia — long key partners in U.S. efforts to stabilize the Middle East — are struggling to decide how to proceed as Iraq boils over and Iran gains influence.
The tension in the region is straining Saudi relations with the United States, despite both countries' assertions that all is fine.
The resignation of Prince Turki al-Faisal, after just 15 months as ambassador to Washington, for example, came after Saudi officials concluded he was not succeeding at building strong ties with the United States, a Saudi official said Wednesday.
"Many in the royal family concluded that if he stayed longer, things might even get worse," said the official, who has close working ties with the Saudi Foreign Ministry but spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity.
The Saudis had no official comment, and the White House merely wished Turki well. Turki himself could not be reached for comment, but Iraq was clearly central to the dispute.
Turki last week fired a Saudi security consultant, Nawaf Obaid, after Obaid wrote in The Washington Post that "one of the first consequences" of any American troop pullout from Iraq would "be massive Saudi intervention" in Iraq "to stop Iranian-backed Shiite militias from butchering Iraqi Sunnis."
Saudi Arabia denied that Obaid was speaking on its behalf. But The Associated Press reported last week that Saudi private citizens are sending millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq, much of it used to buy weapons, because they worry about Iranian influence in Shiite-led Iraq.
Iraqi officials have said they believe some members of the Saudi royal family are either involved in that flow of money or turning a blind eye — a charge Saudi Arabia strongly denies.
The Saudis and the United States also denied a Wednesday report in The New York Times that the Saudi king told Vice President Dick Cheney the kingdom might provide financial aid to Iraqi Sunnis if the U.S. pulls troops out of Iraq.
"That's not Saudi government policy," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. He added that the Saudis, however, were "rightly concerned about the adventurism of Iranians in Iraq, and we share that concern."
The United States has been pushing Saudi Arabia to persuade Sunnis in Iraq to leave the insurgency and join with Shiites in political efforts — an effort the Saudi government has said it is undertaking.
But the royal family has been sharply divided over what strategy to adopt toward Iraq, said two Saudis with close ties to the government, speaking anonymously because internal royal deliberations are highly sensitive. Some favor robust support of fellow Sunnis inside Iraq, while others urge caution.
The bottom line has been power struggles and indecision about the best course, both said.
"They have an obsession that Shiites and Iran will control Iraq, but they do not know how to stop that," said one Saudi. The other described what he called total confusion within the government over the best course.
On Monday, 30 prominent Saudi clerics called on Sunni Muslims around the Middle East to support Sunnis in Iraq against Shiites and praised the insurgency. The clerics warned that Shiite Muslims were taking control of Iraq in a conspiracy with "crusaders" — a reference to Westerners — to marginalize Sunnis.
Many of the clerics are known to have close connections with top royal family members and receive generous donations from them.
Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Turki al-Faisal , left, listens as Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, speaks to reporters outside the Oval Office of the White House, Sunday, July 23, 2006, in Washington. Turki Al-Faisal, has submitted his resignation in an abrupt move after only 15 months in the job, a Saudi official said Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Ping!
Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinians...maybe Bush's secret plan is to have them all so busy going after each other throats that they leave us alone. Works for me.
We need OBL to complete his threat to blow up Saudi Arabia. That would get them in the game.
Thanks!
But if both Iran and the Saudis have nukes, we've nothing to worry about.
I'm assuming of course that we'll have converted to Biofuel and windpower by that time, and opened up our coastal zones and ANWR .... (Hmmm, that's a lot of If's)
I know if there is anything worth saying about this..you'll say it
Only something from "The Art of War" - Sow dissent in the house of your enemies...
Problem was that after the war ended, Saddam got cocky and invaded Kuwait. Now Iran is getting cocky too.
This story is bogus. Al Faisal has been out for a while. The new ambassador has a very stong background. He was at London and before that head of the Saudi intel.
The Slimes had an editorial about how President Bush is taking too much time deciding on the way forward in Iraq on the same day they made up this story. They are just trying to pressure the White House so they can get their lying stories out there.
Oh wait! That's not right, the House of Saud are our friends!
They do like "keeping us close" don't they?
Of course, we are nice enough to buy the only product that keeps them in sheets, what are friends for anyway?
how is the govt different form the royal family?
Might have been the plan from the very beginning....course there would only be official denial of such a thing....been reading the Ezekial Option....haven't finished it though I tried to stay up half the night.....
Thats exactly what I been thinking.
Ahmad: A Saudi team arrived to interrogate the Saudis there. They watched over us, Allah be praised. I'm grateful to them. Allah made them come. They interrogated us, and said to us: "We are watching over you, you are our sons. We don't want you to be detained here. We will try to get you back." Allah be praised, this came true. A month after they arrived, I was extradited from Baghdad to Riyadh. I was flown in a private plane, Allah be praised. This was all thanks to the efforts of our rulers.
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