What is Digg?47 Comments
- Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28He may know something that made him want to leave. Either he is going to be the new Saudi leader or DC will go boom.
/paranoia - freff, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23My money's on spying. After playing the Civilization series, I can't imagine anything else diplomats are good for.
- dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13After that summit with Middle Eastern leaders, this is extremely unnerving and I must agree with you. He either knows something we don't, or what? Jeeze.
- anitab83, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Don't you love how politicians are always leaving to "spend more time with family"? A politician could be caught with sex tapes, illegal drugs, and a guide for blowing up the capital, and on his last day he'd say "I'm resigning to spend more time with family". Uh huh.
- dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9@kokorhekkus
The problem is. These leaders in the middle east recently held a very top secret meeting and the US was nto invitied, and they made that very clear. This is probably why some of us are a bit nervous as to what is REALLY going on. - kokorhekkus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Or it might just simpy be that he backed the wrong political fraction in some part Saudi politics and this has resulted in a minor reshuffling of positions. Nothing alarming to me until I see any other signs.
- dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Im sure you said the same thing about Iraq? .... 5 years ago..
- skull24, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I hope this does not lead to war.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5What? In no way does the article imply a failing of Bush's foreign policy, even to the light reader. Personally, I think Bush's foreign policy is an unmitigated series of failures, but the article doesn't really touch on it.
Jesus, talk about "Bush derangement syndrome". You're hallucinating anti-Bush bias when Bush isn't even mentioned. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5how pathetically ironic talking about making the world a better place and having saudi arabia being a strict bloodline-based monarchy.
they don't even allow movie theaters there.
but hey, they are co-operative in keeping the dollar flowing in oil business. - rmw132, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5He elaborated on how the United States and Saudi Arabia can and will continue to work together, Saudi Arabia and Islam, how Saudi Arabia continues to fight terrorism (didn't get specific), Israel vs. Palestine issues, and that was about it.
He didn't say anything really that would have ever hinted to this resignation or anything that the government of Saudi Arabia hasn't already said. - rmw132, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Really strange, he just spoke at my college a couple weeks ago (University of Scranton) regarding global terrorism and Saudi Arabia. He only spoke for about 15 minutes before answering questions.
- DanThePainter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Captain Ed shares your outlook:
Is Saud A Goner? Or Abdullah?
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/008688.php
>>...Saud has been in poor health for a few years. He has something akin to Parkinson's, according to the Post's report of chronic "tremors". Last year he fell in the shower and fractured his shoulder, and the questions regarding his health have only become more insistent. Turki has long been the rumored successor, and his sudden recall for family reasons sounds like something bad has happened at home. The Saudis consider the Washington assignment their most critical diplomatic post, and the quick departure signals something deeply wrong has happened.
Why would Turki need to rush home, if Saud has become incapacitated? The security and diplomatic situation in the region is obviously tense, and the Saudis need to have an actively engaged foreign minister close to home. They could have one of the other Saudi princes take the job temporarily, but that might lead to other problems, perhaps even with Turki. Given the precarious state of their relations with Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran, the Saudis need their first stringer in the game...>> - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7America should have gone to war with Saudi to start with, most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis, and as for dictatorship - if I had to choose between Saddam era Iraq and Saudi Arabia I would choose Iraq any ***** day. The Saudi government might not have gassed anyone but they sure as hell are ***** ***** savages. Half the Middle East thinks so too.
- avisgoth, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@CiXel:
When did Saudi Arabia get nukes? Not being a smartass, just curious. - Jawoodyablowme, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"Riyadh has been alarmed by the rise of the Shiite majority in Iraq and the marginalization of the traditional Sunni elite. Young Saudi men have joined the Sunni insurgency as foreign fighters, while there have been persistent reports that Saudi citizens have provided financial aid to the Sunni insurgency."
In other words: we're ***** scared that the populace is on to our corrupt, torturous, asinine, self-indulgent, robber baron, etc .... Government and we'll get what we deserve.
Think about it. Why is the Saudi establichment sooooooo scared about this?!?!?! - jstevewhite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Wow, this is huge. Bandar and the Bushes are old friends; for him to leave during Shrub's presidency? With Saudi being (apparently) the funding behind the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, opposing the ascendency of Shia (Iran)... craziness abounds. Will just have to wait and see what comes of it.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3saudi arabia's status is a reminder, that a strict bloodline-based monarchy that doesn't allow the existence of movie theaters, is tolerated as soon as it allows the currency of the power protecting it to flow in the business of its natural resources, and recent calls for preemptive wars 'to make the world a better place' are just propaganda to cover up the fact they are simply concerned for countries not being similarly co-operating in letting dollars flow in their oil business.
- 15charmaxwtf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons
"Saudi Arabia - In 2003, members of the government stated that due to the worsening relations with the USA, Saudi Arabia was being forced to consider the development of nuclear weapons; however, so far they have denied that they are making any attempt to produce them.[23] It has been rumoured that Pakistan has transferred several nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia, but this is unconfirmed.[24] In March 2006, the German magazine Cicero reported that Saudi Arabia had since 2003 received assistance from Pakistan to acquire nuclear missiles and warheads. Satellite photos allegedly reveal an underground city and nuclear silos with Ghauri rockets south of the capital Riyadh.[25] Pakistan has denied aiding Saudi Arabia in any nuclear ambitions." - gwinerreniwg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Most likely he is preparing to assume the role of Saudi Foreign Minister, due to the failing health of the current 30-year-plus incumbent, Saud al-Faisal.
- mlock2k, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5i am pretty sure he will be appearing on dateline to catch a predator. So he had to jet
- appetite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3yea, it must be because they are blowing up dc because resigning and leaving town wouldn't be obvious at all. not like leaving town for the weekend with some mundane explanation.
/need i say it? ok.. sarcasm. - dracheflieger, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8ya...he heard the democrats were coming...
- bobzibub, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It may be that the US will side with the strongest ethnic group in Iraq. Not the Saudi's one, but the Iranian one. That would tick him off. He'll be supporting his side of the civil war soon.
- rmw132, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Nice reference to Vince Flynn's books. +1 to you
- ayeroxor, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Consider this: We aren't getting ANY-*****-where in Iraq. Quagmire. Stuck and not moving anywhere. It was an interesting experiment, but we failed to establish a stable, peaceful pan-sectarian democracy and it doesn't look like another 5 years and several thousand more maimed/killed American servicepersons will be enough to do it either. We're going to start pulling out. Because we can. Guess who can't pull out of the region? The *****'s going to start rolling downhill right into Saudi Arabia's lap.
And I don't think they're too peachy about that prospect. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Saudi Arabia's populace is majority Sunni. Majority Shiite countries are pretty exceptional, since 85-90% of Muslims are Sunni.
Note that the article says that Saudi citizens are joining and aiding the Iraqi Sunni insurgency, not the Saudi government.
Saudi Arabia's "establishment" isn't worried about their own populace on this one, they're worried about trouble with Iraq (with whom they share a border) and Iran's growing sphere of influence. Looks like at least some of the Saudi people agree. - jshusta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2how do you go to war with the country that finances your war machine?
- CiXeL, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3what did he have to say about it?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2seems like drudge would have this story up by now. this IS a big deal, right?
- GabrielS, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7Turki wasn't as compatible with American values as Bandar was. Bandar could work the circuit like a pro. Turki is too rigid to have been Ambassador to the United States. He was considered the "safe" pick.
Besides, the real ambassador is the spokesman for the Saudi Embassy. He's the one that has to answer all the questions about the idiocy of the Kingdom he represents. - drmobutu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I wonder if it had anything to do with whatever was said between Dick Cheney and the Saudis last week?
- mhummel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yep. That's right up there with official denial and "John Doe has my full support"...
- deepdish, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Simple.
Mitch Rapp is on to him. - Junglemunky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Hrmmm... George W. has bought himself a mind control device... hrmm maybe similar to the ones they were developing? har har!
- sunchild, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1A quagmire, I tell ya!!!
- chatty82, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1He was trying to leave Washington and there were firing squads on the bus.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3i guess he didn't like the mohammad cartoon toilet paper some prankster switched in the bathroom at olive garden?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4second that - although the next guy will of course be an absolute ***** too. and yes, it will be a guy of course, like a Saudi woman would ever be allowed to do jack ***** ***** except get beaten to death.
- gostars, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1He leaves at a time when his brother is ailing. This is strange because.....oh heck, let's just leave that half way down the page so light readers scanning the article can be left to conclude this is yet another implied failing of Bush foreign policy.
- CiXeL, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2yeah but saudis have nukes and are crazy enough to use them
- mrmoorehead, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1He'll be back. He just needs to go home to refill his private jet with cash to fund terrorism and Middle Eastern instability in order to keep oil prices nice and high!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0p.s.
pork: the other white meat - flink405, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0Probably caught abusing some of the slave labor he had employed in his household...
Or he is a double-agent running the big money to BinLadin...
Or his favorite camel is pregnant...
Or he was so shocked after seeing the Britney Spears crotch shots he went home to the land of the burka. - olik, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4good riddance
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -9/+0maybe they're going to finally start the war they want so badly. good. Let's get it overwith already.
- Matteos, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2@kokorhekkus
Is a mushroom cloud or planes falling from the sky a good enough sign for you?
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