Epstein Secrets

rael-Lebanon war, when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad castigated his fellow Arab leaders as "half-men"

"half-men" for their failure to support Hezbollah. Another more recent example of Saudi willingness to play in Syrian politics was the welcome that Bashar's uncle, Rifaat, received in Riyadh when coming to pay his respects last month after Nayef's death. Rifaat has lived in Paris since 1984, having tr

gh Abdullah is often depicted as a Syriaphile, the monarch changed his attitude, especially after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad castigated his fellow Arab leaders as "half-men" for their failure to support Hezbollah. Another more recent example of Saudi willingness to play i

d the start of the muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi government orchestrated its equivalent of Washington's Friday afternoon news dump: Prince Bandar bin Sultan, son of the late crown prince and defense minister, Sultan, was appointed the new intelligence chief. The kingdom may want minimal coverage and ana

ds with the Obama administration. Top Saudi officials were angered by a previous U.S. decision to cancel a planned strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, as well as what they perceived as Washington's hostile attitude toward the governments in Egypt and Bahrain. In response to these disagreem

eeblement, lest it re-emerge as the region's most EFTA00707114 powerful actor. They point to Tehran's support for Hizbollah and for the murderous Assad regime in Syria. The interests of almost everyone else are otherwise. Not to be tricked by smooth talking into making it easier for Iran to acquire

prochement with Iran, despite the failure to reach a breakthrough on Tehran's nuclear programme in high- level talks in Geneva last weekend. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi spy chief, went as far as to declare a "major shift" away from Washington. But diplomats in the Gulf say his cousin Prince Mohammed bin

travel bans and to freeze the assets of President Assad and nine other Syrian senior officials. Within da

mposed sanctions on the Syrian leadership earlier in May, the EU foreign ministers agreed to impose travel bans and to freeze the assets of President Assad and nine other Syrian senior officials. Within days of the EU announcement, Canada invoked similar travel and economic sanctions. While Russia blocke

diplomatic support and, possibly, military assistance to the Gulf Cooperation Council's presence in Bahrain. Saudi national security adviser, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, has reportedly asked for Pakistani support in Bahrain, including the possible integration of Pakistani troops into the approximately 4000 Saudis alr