A couple of years ago I attended seminars with Chinese and Israeli counterterrorism experts in Beijing, in my capacity as a board member of a foundation that promotes Sino-Israel relations. A senior Chinese official complained that the Saudi royal family funds every radical madrassa in Xinjiang province, where Muslim Uyghurs of Turkish ethnicity form the majority. With a long and porous border stretching through sparsely-populated lands, Chinese security couldn’t prevent the funds from pouring in.
I asked our Chinese hosts why they didn’t remonstrate with the Saudi government. The Chinese official said, “We talk to the Saudis all the time, and they say they will have nothing to do with it. But this is not a government. It is a family! Some crazy cousin is always sending money to terrorists through informal finance channels.”
Now it appears that Saudi Arabia has a government, thanks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s weekend purge of the royal family. It is probably the only political event in recent memory that has the support of Washington, Moscow and Beijing, not to mention Berlin, London, Paris and Tokyo — as well as Jerusalem.
“We talk to the Saudis all the time, and they say they will have nothing to do with it. But this is not a government. It is a family! Some crazy cousin is always sending money to terrorists through informal finance channels.”
China Daily hailed the Crown Prince’s action as a modernizing anti-corruption campaign. “The wave of arrests, the first of its kind, paves the way for a new Saudi Arabia with an intolerant approach against corruption. It also gets ready for the country [to move] towards a post-oil era with the focus on economic reforms and diversity, and major business projects,” the Chinese government newspaper wrote on November 5.
Russia’s Novosti News Service characterized Mohammed bin Salman’s purge in nearly identical language: “As for the detention of a number of ministers and large businessmen in Saudi Arabia, then, according to the expert, on the contrary, one should expect an improvement in the economic situation in the kingdom and a reduction in the budget deficit. ‘The return of the huge capitals exported by these people abroad may help reduce the budget deficit and enable the implementation of new projects proposed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,’ [Lebanese expert Marwan] Iskander said in an interview with RIA Novosti.”
President Trump, for that matter, tweeted, “I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.”
Indeed they do. The foundations for the creation of a functioning Saudi state were laid well before President Trump visited Riyadh last March. The Washington Post reported at the time: “Behind the scenes, the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have been conducting extensive negotiations, led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions began shortly after the presidential election, when Mohammed, known in Washington as ‘MBS,’ sent a delegation to meet with Kushner and other Trump officials at Trump Tower. After years of disillusionment with the Obama administration, the Saudi leadership was eager to do business. ‘They were willing to make a bet on Trump and on America,’ a senior White House official said.”
Last month’s Moscow visit by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman provided cover for the crackdown. As Leonid Issaev wrote in al-Jazeera Oct. 4, “Both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Russian leadership have personal interests in developing the relations between the two countries. First of all, the Saudi crown prince needs to strengthen his political position at home and he views Russia as an actor that can help him achieve this goal.”
As I wrote in Asia Times Oct 16, Russia’s sale of its advanced S-400 air defense system to the Saudi Kingdom makes clear that Moscow wants to keep a balance of power in the Middle East. It is perceived as an ally of Iran, but also fears that Iran’s attempts to establish a permanent presence in Lebanon could provoke war with Israel – which Russia does not want. Russia allied with Iran to clean up Sunni jihadists in Syria, not least because large numbers of Russian Muslims came to Syria to fight against the Assad government and returned home as prospective terrorists. But the alliance only goes so far. From the Saudi point of view, hedging the kingdom’s bets against the United States is a rational response to the American drift towards Iran under the Obama Administration, according to a senior adviser to the Defense Department.
Moscow’s interest in Saudi Arabia goes well beyond the market for sophisticated arms, to be sure. Russian-Saudi cooperation to stabilize oil prices is in the interest of both parties. And Moscow will applaud the Crown Prince’s effort to suppress freelance financing for Sunni jihadists by members of the royal family.
Israel has quietly developed contacts with the Saudi government, which has far more to fear from Iran than from the Jewish state. Israel will continue to keep a low profile in the Arab world, but the Crown Prince’s purge has some direct implications for Israeli security. Among the victims of the Saudi crackdown was Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who announced his resignation while in Saudi Arabia on Nov 4, citing an Iranian plot to kill him. Hariri almost certainly was ordered to resign by his Saudi hosts. His father, Raafik Hariri, was killed in a 2005 bombing attributed to Iran and its Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Now, as Anna Ahronheim wrote in the Jerusalem Post on Nov 6, “It seems that Hariri has given Israel more legitimacy for a full-scale and uncompromising campaign against Iran and Lebanon, not only Hezbollah, should a war in the north break out.” Hariri gave credence to Israel’s position that Hezbollah, which threatens Israel with a stockpile of more than 100,000 missiles, is a cat’s paw for Iran. Israel’s Defense Minister Avidgor Lieberman tweeted on Nov 5, “Lebanon=Hezbollah. Hezbollah=Iran. Lebanon=Iran. Iran is dangerous to the world. Saad Hariri has proved that today. Period.”
Yoav Gallant, a member of Israel’s security cabinet, commented, “Iran controls actually Lebanon, Iraq and is working very hard to take over Syria. This is a great danger to the stability of the region and the peace of the world. Hariri understands very well that after the massacre that is taking place in Syria, he might be next in line, as it happened to his father Rafik al-Hariri, and he is saying it in his own words.”
Should war break out, the Jerusalem Post quoted Gallant as saying Israel “will bring Lebanon back to the stone age.”
From the viewpoint of Washington, Beijing, Moscow, and Jerusalem, this is win-win-win-win. The odd man out is Iran, whose attempts to project power from Tehran to the Mediterranean have become an annoyance even for its allies. The shape of the deal emerging in the Middle East was visible last summer. As I wrote on July 17, the US and Russia both need to leash their dogs – the former to crack down on Saudi financing of Sunni jihadists and the latter to puncture Iran’s dream of a Shi’a empire.
The missing ingredient in the mix was a Saudi leader with the courage to face down his own family as well as the country’s religious establishment. It is not clear yet that Prince Mohammed bin Salman will succeed, but if he does, he will be the most popular world leader of 2017.
There are buzzes there is a new proxy war in the pipeline between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the battle field will be Lebanon. The rocket fired towards Riyadh is a false flag to blame it on Iran.
Lebanon Prime Minister Saad al-Harir is staying at the Ritz Carlton hotel. The same hotel as the Saudi princes detained. The detainees are humiliated, and the princes, bureaucrats and businessmen are forced to sleep on the floor. Look like sardines in the hotels function room. Pictured leaked to the media.
The prince’s assets frozen and the funds likely to be used for the new wars. It seems the Saudi actions pre-approved by Israel and the US. This must be a dream come true for “Bibi” Netanyahu.
+David Goldman. The Uighurs is part of what is called the Turkic ethnic group from the Old Ottoman empire. They have several organizations in the USA getting support for their causes.
http://katehon.com/1227-cia-and-turks-created-caliphate-to-launch-attacks-on-russia-and-china.html
China have killed arrested a lot of CIA assets. Some of them in Xinyang province.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/world/asia/china-cia-spies-espionage.html
All over Caucasus CIA has made connections using Uighurs, Grey Wolfes (Turkish & Turkic), and not to forget the Gulen network. For more information I strongly recommend Newsbud video’s. The Grey Wolfes has training camps in Xinyang.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Wolves_(organization)#China_.28Xinjiang.29
Indeed, there are reports that 9/11 was a Mossad / PNAC operation. — http://www.twf.org/News/Y2010/0317-911Mossad.html
Re "An increasing number of Americans is awaking to the fact it might not be only the Saudis behind the 9/11 false flag", 3000+ military and intelligence personnel, engineers, architects, professors, pilots do not believe the official account of 9/11. — http://www.twf.org/News/Y2011/0911-Muslims.html
Bull shot article. Tries to downplay usraeli Saudi new adventurism.
David Goldman
But what if Hezbollah defeats Israel again?
Last time Israel bombed Beirut to pressure Hezbollah, but it didn’t work, why would it work next time?
David Goldman Taking power from his rivals is one thing, but taking their money is quite another, someone will assasinate him.
David Goldman As I am sure you know, the US rarely if ever directly funds terrorist organizations, it gets compliant third parties to do the funding.
Thank you Spengler, my question was a bit ironic or sarcastic: a "real government", not a cabal of warmongers still living in the 20th century and trying to hold their power in a fantasy world like the John Mc Cains, a world full of deadly blunders, masqueraded as "deterrence", just for the sake of their own survival. It is time to change and learn from the civilized Chinese, Russians and Iranians. Yes also the Iranians, though I am allergic to any kind of priests.
And by "Israel’s oil" I mean the FED, the BIS and all the central banks controlled by the same old usury masters, profiting from currencies that are essentially a fake and another deadly blunder, still surviving at the expenses of the whole world. Olmert went to jail, soon also Netanyahu, will anybody in Israel understand that the world is changing ?
Even Cosa Nostra diversifying its investments it’s a good idea.
For them.
I am merely saying that MBS is just another guy playing total domination in the most volatile place on earth. I cant see how he can be any solution to the problem in ME. KSA has a free pass to meddle everywhere, from Myanmar to Syria. If you are a sunni, you say the word and a box of AK47 is airdropped on your doorstep.
As for 9/11, it was a false flag for the US that let it happen and planted bombs in the towers, not for the saudis that were truly thinking they were running the show. KSA princes, part of the royal family and citizens were reported to flee US shortly after the attack, proof that they didnt know, princes as they were, an attack was scheduled. That does not fit with the false flag narrative. KSA top echelons tried their luck and were ALLOWED to succeed. Those that allowed, attacked and cheered are all , in one degree or another, responsible.
David Goldman Being the only person in power is the how, not the what. I question the what. True, other authocrats may bide well for KSA, but this one is very similar to his predecessors and hardly deserving any praise. Those who think they might get something out of him will be the first to be deceived.
Another non-sense article brought to you by Mossad. "Saudi Arabia gets its first real government"? seriously, and you consider yourself analyst?
How can it be a real government when you are replacing one inexperience young dictator with another dictators in line of succession? This whole country is run by one big Mafia consisting of 5000 spoiled and ideologically different princeses and family members.
As far as Israel is concerned, this is great news as more chaos in Middle East the better so the entitiy of Israel can show America they are the only stable entity and can assist them in their hedgemony. What you are seeing in Saudi Arabia was predicted and will continue until King Salmon bin Abdul Azziz is dead. Once he is gone, you will see more power struggles and mutiny as others including our own CIA can not stand the wreckless fools (MBZ). He has already made many blunders in Syria, Yemen and fighting Shia’s in Qatif. He is also going against establishment by giving false premisis of allowing women to drive or attending games in Stadiums. Rest assured the Wahabist will nip that in the budd.
What will happen most likely is power struggle and infighting and you will see another scenario like what happened in Iran and you will see a not so friendly (read anti-Western) princess taking the helm and all this by the way will happen with funding from (Qatar & Kuwait).
Mr. Mossad (Goldman, Spengler, Likhudnik), the downfall of Saudi Arabia will be the final nail in the coffin of Israel…..2019 will be the year of upheaval in S. Arabia!!
David Goldman In this world of idiotic assumptions every one is fighting for survival. Do you think Lebanese Shias are not fighting for survival against a monster Saudi Wahhabi zealots with whom USA & Zionist regime is colluding ? Do you think Palestinian Arabs are not fighting for survival ? Stupiditity must have a limit. You can be sure, in 10 or 100 years there will be no State of Israel. It is already a species in danger of exinction.
Conventional as in non-WMD, but I’d hardly consider the massive use of incendiaries on a non-military, heavily-populated target as something to emulate, or even employ as an analogy in an off-the-cuff response.
whether I agree or not what MBS is doing is irrelevant on this story. Goildman’s objective was and will be as a Zionist ally to write this type of articles camouflaging the real story behind it. His focus is on Iran who portrays as the invader and the bad guy of the story. On the other hand, Israel is just a victim of the circumstances and will defend her honor not matter what.
But, what we are really talking about here is that Israel has lost her desires to annex the Golan Heights if Syria became a fragmented destroyed country. However, Syria’s continued victory against the ISIS, makes it less likely to happen. Now, not only Syria is gaining back her country and becoming unified but also her combat allies ( Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey) have become more unified on their purpose.
Israel, by the way, worked closely with some of those Jihads, providing armamamnets and shelter. Syria troops were able to kick them out.
Goldman seem to a contributor on this task- to change the narrative and picture Iran as the bad guy, the invader, the supportive of terrorism. Of course, Trump government favors this type of proyection since it gives Iran a negative image.
In terms of Israel destroying Lebanon I doubt it very much. Israel tried to attack hezbollah in 2006 and got her butt kicked very badly. Now , the Hezbollah’s had a real war experience on her battles against the ISIS, I think now, not only will kick Israel butt but they will having cofee in Tel Avi.
Israel may have all kind of military toys but no many of her troops is been on a real combat- just killing unarmed innocent Palestinians, doesn’t count.
You are too kind and naive by comparing him to Deng but I would say more like your other adjective "gang" as this boy is a big looser and will be out soon.
Thus is their job at Mossad and NSA to review feed backs and to report back their findings to anti BSD and other fascist sites…don’t be that gullible, these BiBi boys get paid for that.
As long as hus vacuum cleaner would pick up Goldman and hus ilks. The occupied D.C. needs a giant vacuum.
i have argued before this ,and look i disagreed with obamas deal with the iranians,and how i was proved right,long after the invasion of afghanistan and iraq,the shite march continues,now i recently argued that it will be key for turkey to be brought in to the western fold..1..the kurds of turkey are majority allawite,you have mentioned that the kurds are growing in turkey but you fail to understand that the kurds of genuine quality are sunnis and they happen to be in iraq and syria,and the sunni kurds are overtaken by the iranian allied allawite kurds in turkey,hence the very reason ERDOGAN has reached out to iran to the fears of the kurds of turkey,and it is now ever so important as i argued in the ARAB NEWS DAILY.that qatar must be brought into the gulf alliance to press for a larger commitment to israel..it is now time for decisions and after this dilly dance with the gulf..MBS has given a strong mandate..perhaps the road to peace is not via damascus or baghdad..but tehran/
And then there’s this view of events…
http://www.atimes.com/article/coup-house-saud/