| Subject: This is a bit dated, but at least will give you at list of the players. |
Author:
Ziggy
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Date Posted: 00:14:21 07/28/02 Sun
In reply to:
Ziggy
's message, "Hope you're brushed up on your Saudi ;)" on 00:02:20 07/28/02 Sun
Intelligence Newsletter October 6, 1994
SECTION: OPERATIONS; No. 249
HEADLINE: SAUDI ARABIA: Princes Fight It Out
The sharp increase in fundamentalist opposition to the government revealed
by massive arrests among religious radicals last month, as well as the flagrant
failure of Saudi backing for the South Yemenites and the poor state of health
of King Fahd have all contributed over the past few week to sharpening the
rivalry between powerful political brokers of the regime. Powerful Prince
Salman bin Abdel Aziz, governor of Riyadh and one of the "seven Sudeiris" (as
the seven sons that King Saud had with Hassa al Sudeiri are called and who with
King Fahd constitute the actual core of government), is traditionally more
favorable to an agreement with Wahhabit fundamentalists. For a long time Princ
Salman has maintained ties with their leaders, particularly those in the
regions of Burayda and Durraya where he travels often. During the war in
Afghanistan, he organized transportation for moudjahidines from different Arab
countries to Pakistan to help back the most fundamentalist Afghan movements.
Prince Salman is nonetheless rather isolated. His major opponent is the
Minister of Interior, Prince Nayef who is also a Sudeiri. Last December it was
he who directed the crackdown on fundamentalists and ordered hundreds of
arrests. In dong so he had the active support of Prince Turki bin Faycal, head
of the intelligence services. This policy of repression towards the Wahhabits
(or Salafists) is backed by the chief of the National Guard, Crown Prince
Abdallah (who is not a Sudeiri and whose mother is a member of the Shammar
tribe).
I.N.- It is well known that the U.S., which is very worried about political
instability in Saudi Arabia, is hostile towards Prince Abdallah. But since the
Americans can't avoid his being crowned successor to King Fahd, they are trying
to reinforce the power of the "third generation" princes educated in the United
States. These include Prince Muhammad, son of King Fahd and governor of the
East region, and Prince Bandar bin Sultan, son of Prince Sultan (Defense
Minister and a Sudeiri) and ambassador to the United States. Prince Muhammad,
42, King Fahd's favorite son, is violently opposed to fundamentalism. On the
economic level, he controls the richest region of the kingdom which includes
the major oil fields and refineries. On the political level, he has control of
a region under strong Shiite influence. Prince Bandar, on the other hand,
controls the major channels of communication between the kingdom and its
American ally. These two princes seem to have concluded a pact against their
cousin, Prince Mutaeb, son of Prince Abdallah, and chief of staff of the
National Guard. Open hostility exists between him and his cousins who hold the
fact that he is not a member of the Sudeiris clan against him.
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