Epstein Secrets

1. American Interest The Middle East Mess Part One: Over There Walter Russell Mead Article 2. Washington Post Next up in the Middle East mess? Saudi Arabia's succession fight Karen Elliott House Article 3. Los Angeles Times In an Islamist Egypt, can diversity survive? Michael Wahid Hanna and Elijah Z

efense and son of the late EFTA00657287 Crown Prince Sultan; and Muhammad bin Nayef, deputy minister of interior for security and son of the late Crown Prince Nayef. How would a new-generation monarch be selected? Recognizing how large and divided the royal family had become, in 2006 King Abdullah established

nce chief. The kingdom may want minimal coverage and analysis of Bandar's appointment, but it is bound to be disappointed. Bandar used to be one of Saudi Arabia's flashiest diplomats, a longtime ambassador to the United States renowned for manipulating people and policy in the kingdom's favor, and sometimes al

disappeared from sight. But I wasn't wholly surprised about last week's announcement because Bandar has recently reemerged. In June, when his uncle Crown Prince Nayef died, the Saudi Press Agency published a photo of Bandar, saying he offered his condolences. A week ago, when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas v

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Prince Salman is the last of the powerful and prominent successors to the Saudi throne among the surviving sons of Saudi Arabia's founder, former King Abdulaziz al Saud. "This is a wake-up call" for the Saudi royal family, said Stephane Lacroix, an assistant professor at Fran

uty Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a full brother of Nayef, also may play a continuing role at the ministry, analysts said. Crown Prince Nayef also was seen by Saudis and outsiders as being one of the toughest of the leading royals on political dissent, including by the country's Shiite Mu