What has been an open secret across the Arab world is not a secret anymore even in the US: What happened last month in the deep recesses of the House of Saud with the ascension of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, aka MBS, was in fact a white coup.
Nearly a month ago, as I’ve written elsewhere, a top Middle East source close to the House of Saud told me: “The CIA is very displeased with the firing of [former Crown Prince] Mohammad bin Nayef. Mohammad bin Salman is regarded as sponsoring terrorism. In April 2014 the entire royal families of the UAE and Saudi Arabia were to be ousted by the US over terrorism. A compromise was worked out that Nayef would take over running the kingdom to stop it.”
The source also referred to an insistent narrative then pervading selected Middle East geopolitical circles, according to which US intel, “indirectly”, had stopped another coup against the young Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, orchestrated by Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, with help from Blackwater/Academi’s army of mercenaries in the United Arab Emirates. Zayed, crucially, happens to be MBS’s mentor.
But instead of a coup in Doha, what happened was actually a coup in Riyadh. According to the source, “the CIA blocked the coup in Qatar and the Saudis reacted by dumping the CIA-selected Mohammed bin Nayef, who was to be the next king. The Saudis are scared. The monarchy is in trouble, as the CIA can move the army in Saudi Arabia against the king. This was a defensive move by MBS.”
Now, almost a month later, confirmation of the white coup/regime change in Riyadh has been splashed on the front page of The New York Times, attributed mainly to the proverbial “current and former United States officials”.
That, in essence, is code for the US deep state, and confirms how the Central Intelligence Agency is extremely annoyed by the ouster of Nayef, a trusted partner and former counterterrorism czar. The CIA on the other hand simply does not trust arrogant, inexperienced and hubristic MBS.
Warrior Prince MBS has been responsible for conducting the war on Yemen – which not only killed thousands of civilians but also spawned a tragic famine/humanitarian crisis. If that was not enough, MBS was the architect of the blockade of Qatar, followed by the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, and now totally discredited as Doha has refused to concede to outlandish “demands” in essence concocted in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Nayef, crucially, was opposed to the blockade of Qatar.
It’s no wonder the House of Saud and the UAE are already backtracking on Qatar, not so much because of pressure recently applied by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the ground, but mostly because of shadow play: the US deep state making sure its interests in the Gulf – starting with the Al-Udeid base in Qatar – should not be messed with.
A reckless ‘gambler’
MBS, although treated with (velvet) kid gloves across the Beltway because of the same old “Saudi Arabia is our ally” meme, is for all practical purposes the most dangerous man in the Middle East.
That’s exactly what the famous December 2015 memo by the BND – German intelligence – was already stating: The young “gambler” was poised to cause a lot of trouble. Financial circles in the European Union are absolutely terrified that his geopolitical gambles may end up sending millions of retirement accounts into the dust.
The BND memo crucially detailed how the House of Saud, in Syria, had bankrolled the creation of the Army of Conquest – basically a revamp of Jabhat al-Nusra, aka al-Qaeda in Syria – as well as ideological sister outfit Ahrar al-Sham.
That amounted to the House of Saud aiding, abetting and weaponizing Salafi-jihadi terrorism. And this from a regime that, after seducing US President Donald Trump to star in an embarrassing sword dance, felt it was free to accuse Qatar of being a terrorist nation.
MBS’s blockade of Qatar has nothing to do with silencing al-Jazeera; it relates to the Saudi defeat in Syria, and the fact that Doha abandoned the “Assad must go” dead-ender to the benefit of allying itself with Tehran to sell liquefied natural gas to Europe out of their jointly owned North Dome/South Pars giant gas field.
MBS – as well as his ailing dad – skipped the Group of 20 Summit in Hamburg; the Qatar embarrassment was too much of a burden, considering for instance Doha’s position as a powerful investor in both France and the UK. Still, all eyes are on him; MBS has promised to turbocharge the vicious Sunni/Shiite confrontation, taking the war “inside Iran”.
And further on down the road, there’s the question of how MBS is going to handle the fraught-with-risk Aramco initial public offering.
It ain’t over till the (abaya-clad) fat lady sings.
CIA is thick in serial breeding terrorists and hence, its accusation is quick hypocritical. With the neocon Fascist blessing, the Saudi regime will be able get away with anything now.
are abiding with UN approved sanctions
Go and get yourself drowned with your stupid comments. You are a Wahabi troll and nothing else. Go kill yourself
Ashfaq A. Khan He always rants. He is on drugs given by Najdis
Just what I had guessed. Any poster that uses the phrase ‘mad mullahs’ is either a Wahhabi or a Zionist.
He doesn’t like Russia, Iran, or whites. Hmm …
I’ve got a (real) short list here.
Abundantly clear, a cork sucker you are, and a stupid one too.
Religious cleric Sheikh Imran Hosein think a big war will start in the Middle East SOON. Saudi Arabia is gathering a coalition between Sunni nation for attack against Qatar who refuses to follow orders from the Saudi coalition. Then Syria, Yemen, and then finally Iran. The US/NATO is backing this idea and Israel is VERY happy. Pakistan will be the military leader of the coalition. Pakistan has stockpiles of nukes. Armageddon? https://youtu.be/cuQ961g-hf4
In a second YouTube video Sheikh Imran Hosein the Saudi agenda is in violation of the Holy Quran and it will result in an uprising among the Sunni Muslims https://youtu.be/twX80pjLi58 .
Hey Bhumi: I don’t know what you have been smoking but it must be f*****g good.
Bhumi, knowledge is a strong weapon, but you’ve got to get the right one. You referred to Putin as propping up the mullahs, are you talking about the cia, The US, and allies? Think again.
Pretty despicable people these Saudis
I’ve read that a high official stated Mr bin Nayef had been removed in the national interest and had not experienced any "pressure or disrespect" but said precise reasons for his dismissal were "confidential".
A source close to Mr bin Nayef acknowledged that he had health issues, which were aggravated after an al Qaeda attacker tried to blow himself up in front of him in his palace in 2009. I see some commenting about drug abuse- this is different. It’s not the case here.
Sources claimed he has shrapnel in his body that cannot be removed and he depends on drugs such as morphine to alleviate the pain. So this is not what many imagine when you loosely use the term ‘’drug abuse’’
that has been an open secret across the Arab world is not a secret anymore even in the US: What happened last month in the deep recesses of the House of Saud with the ascension of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, aka MBS, was surely not a coup.
I’ve read articles where they referred to an insistent narrative then pervading selected Middle East geopolitical circles, according to which US intel, “indirectly”, had stopped another coup against the young Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, See that is a definite coup- not the shift of positions in Saudi.
Sorry Pepe, your sources are beyond lousy. You are conradicting yourself — having a favorite narrative — you are willing to dismiss some hard fact.
For one, US trying to topple regimes of KSA and UAE because of — he support of terrorism? Seriously? CIA and the then Crown Prince, Najaf — were THE archtects of the rise of armed terrorists, their rapid advance against both Iraq and Syria, and the preferred outcome in both coutries, the division of countries into Kurdish, Sunni Salafi caliphates or emirates, and Shia rump states. The countries opposing such geopolitical restructuring in the Middle East were always Qatar and Turkey. Silently, opposing were Kuwait and Oman. Egypt favors Astana process, which means regional solutions sponsored by Turkey, Russia and Iran. Iraq supports such solution as well. In comes Trump, with the horrific notion — defeat ISIS, and be done with it. Neocon bridages in full alert.
Now, I hope people are not blind to the Kabuki theater in Washington, as the pattern is already clear. Trump has in his White House NSC choke full of neocons. Chief of CIA, neocon. Mattis, closet neocon, but open to change. Trump has only two circles of power, State Department and the Joint Chief of Staff, Danford. It works like this. Trump comes out mouting loudly what his NSC neocons tell him is the correct thing to do. He does it, to the ridiculous proportions. Then comes Tillerson and/or Danford to refefine, or change what he said. No complaints from Donald. It worked in already so many times, that it is fun watching. Every time this happens, I am sure Donald has a few choice things to say to NSC for making him look like a fool. A job he most willingly undertook.
Let’s talk Saudi Arabia. Long time CIA hand, Najaf, as a crown prince, is in KSA de facto head of state. King has only one role, and that is to listen to all factions, and communicate to Crown Prince, so he can modify his policies accordingly. He also has a say in the key appointments of ministers. US had a key role in getting Najaf appointed Crown Prince, as it was in violation of the rules of inheritance, but the body making that decision went along with the pro-American faction, and the most pro-American Head of the Government of Saudi Arabia came to power. King’s son, however, being the Defence Minister, is backed by all those that lost to US faction when Najaf was appointed. King himself was not too pleased with the pressure applied, as well as with the pro-American interests This is why the King has been in our neocon controlled media often described as "senile" with "dementia", etc. To insure his speady departure, and the absolute control of Najaf — who could then have the freedome to appoint his own ministers. With everything in place, neocons started thinking BIG. And Najaf answered all of their hopes.
Now, our media, keep in mind, neocon owned, are eager to place all the blame for all the problems on King’s son, Salman. Because he was the only minister that they could not control, and his powers were expanded by King’s decrees into energy and intelligence. But keep in mind, for as long as Najaf was the head of the government, Salman did what he was ordered to do. Thus, it was not Salman’s Yemen war, but Najaf’s with the full support from US. The entire reason for the war is absurd — to return to power former President, who was never elected to start with. And in the conditions were both North Yemen (Shia) and South Yemen (Sunni) are in perfect agreement to split the country the way it was before forced unificaiton during arrogant Clinton rule. So, if Najaf was so saintly, why did US support war on Yemen — why we did not hear any real complaints before, or stopped armning Saudi Arabia to expose the "upstart and arrogant’ Minister of Defence? It is because US approved of Najaf’s polilcy, and Salman exectued it. In Syria, Najaf was key supporter of CIA programs to support terrorists accross Iraq and Syria, as well as LIbya. There was never any criticism leveled against the rule of Najaf.
But what was happening accross the Middle East was a disaster for Saudi Arabia. Let me review, briefly. Syrian Army with the help of Russian military, made major gainst against Al-Qaeda, and all its affiliated groups in Syria. ISIS was firmly ensconced accross Euphrates, as Turkey, Russia and Syria effectively destroyed their "string of pearls" along Turkish border, and bult a corridor from Jarabulus to Al-Bab, preventing the repeat of Manbij, where ISIS turned out to be no more then a placeholder for the expansion of Kurds into majority Arab area. In Iraq, the reliance on the new intelligence center in Baghdad with Russia and Iran, proved to be a turning point in the war against ISIS.
Najaf was ousted, as Saudi elite lost confidence in US handing of Middle East. King is not "senile" or having "dementia’ as suggested in our neocon press. He has managed to get consensus by the elite to replace the Crown King, and appoint his son, Mohammed bin Salman. His son, contrary to the stories in our fake media, was not the one who ran the Kingdom, and started Yemen war, or was the brain behind Qatar adventure. This is neocon plan — through and through. It was carried away by Trumps grotesque show of support for Saudi Arabia, assuming all is safe, and US support has been given. If Najaf had misgivings, it may be due to his good nose for set ups, and this was one. But Salman did not give him way out, and Qatari circus went ahead. For anyone thinking more carefully about the problem, one thing stood out Participation by Egypt. Najaf was especially cruel to Egypt. When Egypt pulled out of Yemen mess, KSA stopped deliver of already paid for oil to Egypt. It pushed Egypt into giving up three islands in Red Sea. But Egypt was a winner in all of this. For one, this raised the level of anti-Saudi sentiment in Egypt, even among anti-Morsi Salafists, that were before very loyal to Saudi Arabia, as the guardian of true Islamic faith. But this is gone now — both Morsi supporters, and anti-Morsi Salafists found commong ground in hating Saudi Arabia. Sisi could have stopped transter of islands, but he did not. The public sentiment change was worth much more. And when Wahhabi inspired islamists killed many Christians on a bus, Sisi responded by bombing Saudi supported Islamists in Libya, on Egypt’s border. It was so widely popular in Egypti, that he did it few times more, — for good measure. This was a win for Sisi beyond comprehension. It was a first time that the death of Christians was revenged by bombing of Saudi inspired and funded militants. And to the cheering of majority Moslem Egypt. So, what was Egypt doing in the unholly alliance against Qatar? Egypt understood the stupidity of the move, and became the big brother to Saudi Arabia, that will need someone to clean up the mess. I would not he surprised that it knew of the end of CIA run Crown Prince reign.
The new ruler has already pulled back the demands, and along with Egypt came up with "principles", none of them really damaging to Qatar – who will now be "ready for dialog" in a clear move to avoid shaming Saudi Arabia and save their face. Egypt stands to become de facto leader of Sunni Arab world, which makes sense given its population and size, as well as good relations with other regional and global powers. The new Crown Prince is despised in neocon world, as he visited Russia on number of occassions, and met Putin three times. He asked Russia to participate in privatization of Aramco. Set up a joint Saudi-Russia fund for the development of energy. Signed up deal with China for a drone factory to be built in Saudi Arabia. Started a convesation on reforms and liberalization, and is already in conflict with the ruling Wahhabi establishment. Qatar has thrown in a bomb — questioning the role of Wahhbism on the explosion of violance and extremism in Sunni world.
While Trump is still cheerfully talking of Iran as a center of terrorism, nobody in the world is listening. This way, neocons are pleased — but neocons have not yet learned the lesson of Trumpism. Beware Trump bringing gifts. The anti-Iranian coalition has been broken, Gulf will need to start from scratch formulating its own new policies in the region. And can no longer ignore changes that Syria and Iraq have produced.
Neocons are responsible for US loss of influence in the Middle East. Not that they will see it as such. Watch them continue giving their sage advice and continue bulling Trump through neocon studded NSC. And he will continue to go cheerfully trumpeting their advice — making them uber happy. But when things turn out to be just the opposite from hoped for result, they will act as it they are the ones guiding Tillerson in his mission to calm the region.
It has not been Tillerson that calmed it. Far from it. But in neocon eyes, he is the one who thwarted their fabulous plan, and having Trump just pivot 180 degrees. He has no problem with that. So — beware what you wish for neocons, it may well come true. But wiht the conequences that will be your nightmare.
You are absolutely right, this is typical. Also, author has, may be inadvertently put other de-conflict zones in a same category as the one agreed with Americans. But they are not the same. US has no air conrol over those areas. In the last few months of Obama administration in did try to bomb places in Idlib — but it has backfired. Trump administration continued the practice on the ground for a while longer, but is now changed. There is a method to madness in Trump’s tactics. He did allow generals to do what they pleased, but is asking how does what they do advance the defeat of ISIS. As they could not prove that they were on task on on schedule, more talk about defeting ISIS ensued. And less attempting to prove dominance in Syria. In fact, Trump has been shutting up neocons regularly by acting irrationally according to their wish list, just to then make a 180 degree turn, after others like Tillerson and Danford — provided informationm to the contrary.
It is amazing how quiet is the media land about the entry of Lebanese Army into the border area of Quinetra mountains. The same one where Hezbollah is not be be present. Nobody can now accuse Lebanese Army of the legitimacy of their effort the expell Al-Qaeda from ITS border. The problem with this Al-Qaeda is that it was funded and supported by Israel, who also provided medical treatment for its fighters all these years. Lebanon knows all too well Israeli tactics, and as a country that survived multiple attempts of Israel on invading its land, knows that leaving this group on the border is just asking for trouble. So far, Israel is fuming in silence. But no worries, when angry Israel will just bomb Gaza to feel better.
The issue of federalizing Syria is going to be an interesting one. US is not in a good position in Raqqa governorate. Kurds are not having enough manpower to oust ISIS, and even if ISIS decides to depart — giving them the region as a present, the local Arab population is violently set against US allowing Kurds to rule the region after ISIS is gone. This is why Syrian Army has been able to make inroads into Raqqa Governorate, as it is helped by the local Arab population, many of them organized into tribes, and offering military help to Damascus. This portends bad news to US plans for Kurdistan. On one hand, Turkey, Russia and Damascus have prevented Kurds from taking over region along the border with Turkey by creating Jarabulus-Al-Bab corridor. Kurds on ASfrin side have tried many sly ways to try to cut through the corridor, without success. Turkey even brought in reinforcements to prevent them from trying. Kurds in Kobani region are not capable to acontrol physically the area, so US was forced to make a decison — full invasion against Syrian Arab population, or backing off the maximalist plan, keeping its presence only in Kurd majority areas. And that is not a large territory. But even though US is not taking any more agressive actions against advancing Syrian Army, it is still being ambvivalent about both Raqqa governorate and the neighboring Deir Azzor. Syrian Army has taken advantage of skirting along Raqqa, to encircle ISIS in Deir Azzor — a place where ISIS, in full view of US air observation was moving its artillery, abandoning Raqqa. Well, Russia bombed their advance — and there is nobody on the ground to be displeased with stopping ISIS from just moving from place to place. With the constitution being discussed, there is a minor issue of Idlib. Turkey has the best shot at getting it under control — but this is still a watching game.
As it stands now, Syrian government in all the deconflict zones has an upper hand. It has military, control of police stations, and education system. Its military must coordinate with the armed groups in fighting ISIS and Al-Qaeda. In fact, the better these groups cooperate, the better their chances for getting some of their leadership included into peace talks. These are the regions that will hold back Kurds in claiming too much for themselves in the constitution. And limiting what US can do there in the long run. Not only Syria, but Turkey, Iraq and Iran are not in favor or any US forces sitting around forever.
If ever there was a stain on the blessed religion of Islam….its these evil savage Saudis….but the fact is that saudi Ruling family are decendents of Iraqi Jews….ths the same old problem…..Jew evil
I can not believe the Saudi’s treat people as sub human. The emloyers need to go to prison and fined big time.