The Implosion of the House of Saud
Pepe
Escobar
14
April, 2016
The
Panama Papers psyops revealed that
– ailing – King Salman of Saudi Arabia is among a roast of
notorious offshore profiteers «in relation» to «associates».
The
House of Saud used British Virgin Islands shell companies to take out
at least $34 million in mortgages for lavish houses in London and «a
luxury yacht the size of a football field». And
yet Western corporate media has given it a glaring pass. Quite
predictable: House of Saud notables feature heavily among prime
Western vassals.
As
it stands, a major disconnect is also in effect. The House of Saud is
busy spinning the need for austerity at home even as it is
now positioned as the world’s third-largest
spender on
weapons, ahead of Russia.
«Austerity»
is a bit rich when I revealed earlier
this year that the House of Saud not only unleashed an oil price war
– against Russia, Iran and the US shale oil industry – but also
was busy unloading at least $1 trillion in US securities on the
market to balance its increasingly disastrous budget.
And
now we have a major PR offensive in Western corporate media by
Warrior Prince Mohammad bin Salman, 30, the lead conductor of the
disastrous, illegal and crammed with civilian collateral damage war
on Yemen. Young Salman is selling
himself as
an Arab David Bowie – the Man Who Changed the World, mostly because
of his desire to partially privatize Aramco and partially extract
Saudi Arabia from its strict role as an oil hacienda by creating a $2
trillion fund.
For
the US, UK and France, especially, Saudi Arabia is the proverbial
«key ally». It’s not only the – again proverbial –
second-largest oil reserves in the world, and the notorious Mob-style
1945 «protection» deal struck between Roosevelt and Ibn Saud. It’s
the House of Saud as the key anchor for the petrodollar; and the
House of Saud consistently buying over $100 billion in weapons from
the West in the past few years.
Yet,
in parallel, Saudi Arabia – a mix of theocracy and absolute
monarchy, complete with a gaggle of intolerant, fundamentalist imams
– keeps perpetuating its role of ideological matrix to all strands
of Salafi-Jihadism, including of course its latest incarnation: the
phony ISIS/ISIL/Daesh «Caliphate». The House of Saud, directly and
indirectly, has lavished over $100 billion all across the lands of
Islam – and beyond – to spread its fundamentalist Wahhabi
«vision».
A
glimpse behind the velvet curtains
For
a while there have been incessant rumors, from London to New York,
and across the Middle East, of a possible
coup in
Riyadh.
Now
a policy-making source with intimate knowledge not only of the House
of Saud but its real masters in the Washington/Wall Street axis has
offered an unprecedented glimpse into the current, groundbreaking
power play in the Kingdom.
According
to the source, «Prince
Mohammed bin Salman really does realize what is happening. He is
being set up. He is surrounded by consultants going over the entire
Saudi economic system aiming for its reorganization – which is
certainly necessary. And some of these consultants at the same time
are organizing the data for the CIA. This would make any transition
away from the monarchy – which the CIA loathes – much easier,
towards a favored military officer».
And
this would also imply that some of Aramco’s Western employees –
hired to hold the place together – are your proverbial CIA agents;
a classic cover for clandestine ops.
The
whole process started a while ago, in April 2014, when there were
rumblings in Riyadh about a move to get rid of King Abdullah.
Eventually a compromise was struck; Bandar bin Sultan, a.k.a. Bandar
Bush – who badly bundled the war in Syria via his sponsorship of an
army of Jihadis – was fired as the real culprit in this Saudi-led
war of terror. And Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was promoted
to number two in the Kingdom – duly under the orders of His
Masters’ Voice in Washington. As he was anointed Crown Prince,
Nayef was all but enshrined as the next King in the succession of
King Salman.
What
the publicity-savvy young Salman wants is to turn the tables. He sees
himself as his father’s successor. Yet internal resistance is
fierce. According to the source, «it
does not play well among the poor masses of the Kingdom that he brags
about a two-trillion-dollar stock value of Aramco when they are
suffering the removal of House of Saud subsidies». As for the
Saudi oil wealth, the young Salman deceptively does not believe «the
decline in oil prices poses a threat to us, for us it’s a free
market that is governed by supply and demand».
Our
source is adamant that «Mohammed
bin Nayef is very capable and a very effective fighter against
terrorism. He is mature, stable, capable and talented. The problem is
there is growing discontent in the Kingdom over the oil price war
ordered by Washington. Consultants meanwhile are pressing Mohammed
bin Salman to cut subsidies. That is certain to disorient the masses
towards him. And this gives, then, a justification for any coup
whereby the population is neutralized».
Which
brings us to the all-important massive weapons purchases angle: «This
has to do with the efforts of Mohammed bin Salman to create a strong
Saudi army, in combination with military alliances with Pakistan and
Egypt, which are paid for allies. Money is being thrown around all
over, while subsidies are to be cut. This will only add more pressure
on the monarchy».
The
military front is not exactly a win for the Salmans, father and son.
Sisi in Cairo certainly balks at the notion of having Egyptian troops
trapped in a Yemen quagmire. Same with Sharif in Islamabad – who
refused to send a Pakistani contingent.
So
King Salman was forced to turn towards India’s Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. After all there are 3 million Indian workers in Saudi
Arabia, and India imports 20% of its oil from Saudi Arabia. Still, no
Indian troops.
Both
India and Pakistan clearly see, this is all part of Riyadh’s
extensive, paranoid anti-Iran campaign. India and Iran are partners
in the expansion of the New Silk Roads across Eurasia. And
Iran-Pakistan are key partners in Pipelineistan – via the IP gas
pipeline.
Time
to line up for a cab?
The
possibility of a coup in Riyadh further on down the road still
remains. It boils down to Exceptionalistan’s control. Saudi Arabia
under the Warrior Prince cannot possibly be trusted, according to
influential sectors in the Beltway. Turkey is now considered out of
control; Sultan Erdogan being snubbed in Washington by Obama could
even turn out to be the prelude for his eventual removal by the
Turkish military, which are really under Exceptionalistan’s
control. Iran cannot be counted on – because for Tehran the
priority is Eurasia integration and a closer strategic relationship
with both Russia and China.
Arguably
the House of Saud could turn things around by raising the oil price
to $100 a barrel, via a 10% cutback in production worked out with
Russia at the upcoming meeting in Doha; and realign their policies
with Russia as a balancing power. Forget it; it’s not bound to
happen.
What’s
fascinating in this running Saudi House
of Cards plot
is that, according to our source, «King
Abdullah was someone that could be argued to be useful to the United
States to maintain the stability of oil supply». But
influential Beltway players do not regard Salman or his son that way;
especially the son is thought of as «erratic
and unstable».
Once
again: control, control, control. Our source explains how «the
West has educated Saudi Arabia’s military officers – who are
often Western intel agents. That’s why Crown Prince Sultan never
trusted them and purposely kept the military weak when he was Defense
Minister. He feared them as the privileged source in a takeover of
the country. And he was certainly correct. In the CIA’s eyes, the
Saudis need outside supervision. And this is one of the reasons for
the CIA’s desire for regime change, as the place is spiraling out
of control».
Yet
here’s another key disconnect. The CIA believes the House of Saud
to be the chief sponsors of global terrorism. But that’s not true.
Most of these terror ops are 21st century remixes of Operation
Gladio. And that implies the hand of NATO/Pentagon. This disconnect
partially explains why the Pentagon and the CIA are at each other’s
throats.
It’s
still unclear which US intel faction will eventually prevail in
Riyadh – and that may further change depending on who will be the
tenant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next year.
For
the moment, quite a few influential players are fond of imagining an
astonishing House of Saudi fortune, including Thousand-and-One
nights-style assets of the extended royal family, all frozen
overseas, from the US to Panama. With the inevitable corollary of
thousands of princes lining up for cab driver jobs in London and New
York.
This would have been absolutely inconcievable a short time ago - from Bloomberg
The $2 Trillion Project to Get Saudi Arabia’s Economy Off Oil
Eight
unprecedented hours with “Mr. Everything,” Prince Mohammed bin
Salman.
Obama Faces Chilly Reception on Arrival in Saudi Arabia
With
the Saudi Foreign Ministry openly threatening to collapse the US
dollar just days ago, President Obama’s visit to Riyadh today
wasn’t exactly met with a warm welcome. Saudi state TV always hypes
visits by foreign heads of state. Obama’s
arrival was conspicuously not mentioned.
Saudi
King Salman had been at the airport, broadcast on state TV greeting
other arriving leaders for the GCC summit, by the time Obama got
there, he and the TV crew were long gone, and only the local governor
was there to meet with him.
The
Saudis have been pretty public about their displeasure about Obama’s
presidency, and were
pressing Obama on their
ongoing desire for hostilities with Iran, as Obama pressed them to
accept a “cold peace” that would end the sectarian tensions in
the region
.
Obama
was said to have mentioned “concerns” about Saudi human rights
violations, but publicly praised the kingdom for itss pledges to
eventually provide humanitarian aid to Yemen, which they attacked
last year and have imposed a naval blockade on.
Unlikely
to be acknowledged are any conversations related to Foreign Minister
Jubeir’s threat to sell $750 billion in treasury securities to
punish the US for a law that would expose them to legal action for
their involvement in 9/11.
Obama
has not directly commented on the situation regarding the treasury
assets at all, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest said
Monday that Obama would almost certainly veto the legislation to
protect “taxpayers.”
Blackmailed?
Obama Enjoys Saudi King’s ‘Hospitality’ Amid New 9/11 Proof
Has
the White House just sent a message to the families of the September
11 victims and to the world that America will bow to the demands of
terrorist financiers?
21
April, 2016
Last
July, the White House declassified a 47-page memo from an FBI
investigation in 2003 that proved top Saudi officials had
financed and orchestrated the devastating 9/11 terror attacks.
The
documents have received new attention after former Senator Bob
Graham (D-FL) pressured the Obama Administration on April 10
to declassify 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission report,
detailing Saudi Arabia’s connection to the terror plot.
The
report establishes that Ghassan al Sharbi, an al-Qaeda extremist
captured in Pakistan and presently detained at Guantanamo
Bay, received an envelope from the Saudi embassy in Washington
DC containing his flight itinerary. Al Sharbi went to flight
school with the 9/11 hijackers but ultimately did not take
part in the attacks.
Abdullah
bin Laden, the half-brother of the infamous al-Qaeda leader
Osama bin Laden, had been assigned to the Saudi embassy
in Washington DC as an administrative officer prior to the
office issuing the flight itinerary to al Sharbi. Another
accomplice to the attack, Hamad Alotaibi, visited a 9/11
hijacker right before the attacks and had served in the
military division of Saudi Arabia’s Washington DC embassy.
The
Saudi embassy also paid for the airfare of Mohammed
al-Qudhaeein and Hamdan al-Shalawi, Saudi students who allegedly
participated in a "dry run" preparation for the
9/11 attacks during a 1999 flight.
Following
the revelations — and the renewed push to hold Saudi
Arabia accountable, by allowing surviving family members of 9/11
victims to sue the Saudi government in a US court —
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir threatened to divest
the kingdom’s $750 billion in US Treasury assets.
Top
US lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), denounced the
Saudi threat, calling on the Obama administration to stand
up to the regime’s "blackmail."
President
Obama immediately vowed to veto any legislation that would
provide 9/11 families the right to sue Saudi Arabia, and took a
noncommittal stance on releasing the 28 redacted pages of the
9/11 report.
The
White House has found unlikely support among top Republicans,
including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch
McConnell, who, with many other high ranking Republican
officials, have moved to block the legislation.
On
Wednesday, President Obama had a one-on-one meeting with Saudi
King Salman in Riyadh, where he reportedly employed aggressive
rhetoric regarding Saudi Arabia’s chief regional adversary Iran,
stating that the US continues to have "serious concerns"
regarding Tehran.
From RT
Saudi king fails to meet Obama off plane at Riyadh airport
U.S.
President Barack Obama is greeted upon his arrival at King Khalid
International Airport for a summit meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
April 20, 2016 © Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Obama,
who has visited Saudi Arabia more times than any US president before
him, was not greeted by the Saudi king at the airport. Saudi state
television broadcast no live pictures of the US president's arrival.
It
was the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a local governor who met
the American leader off the plane.
President
Obama came to Saudi Arabia to take part in a summit of Persian Gulf
leaders and discuss Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Yemen with King
Salman.
This
comes in stark contrast to the reception of other high-profile
guests, whom the 80-year-old King Salman greeted personally on the
airfield.
Obama
did have a two-and-a-half hour conversation with King Salman later, a
talk that reportedly "really
cleared the air,"the
US administration officials assured the American media.
Barack
Obama's visit has been downplayed by the Middle Eastern newspapers,
too, generally saying that as a “lame duck” Obama hardly has time
to mend strained relations, the BBC reports
In
a unique show of disrespect to a sitting US president, the
Saudi Kingdom dispatched a modest, low-ranking delegation to meet
President Obama when he landed in Riyadh, with the Saudi
King refusing to greet the American at the airport
The
usually extremely close relations between Washington and Riyadh have
been fraying recently over a number of issues Saudi Arabia regards as
matters of life and death.
The
families of victims of 9/11 terror acts in the US are once again
trying to have the classified pages of the Congressional report
released to the public as part of a lawsuit against the Saudi Arabian
government. The documents may also contain details on a support
network for the hijackers that featured the involvement of the
Saudis, suspected of providing material support to Al-Qaeda ahead of
the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The
Obama administration has argued that stripping sovereign immunity
from nations over terror attacks on the US would endanger Americans
and spark similar legislation against the US.
In
response to a threat to be held responsible for the 9/11 terrorist
attacks, Saudi Arabia made it clear it would sell off up to $750
billion in US treasury securities and other assets if Congress passes
the bill, thus putting Riyadh in jeopardy.
The
US senators were quick to react, immediately proposing a restriction
on sales or transfers of US-made air-to-ground weapons to Saudi
Arabia.
The
countries have been close allies for decades, no matter how
complicated relations between the two capitals are now. Washington
and Riyadh have common global strategic interests and depend on each
other.
On
Tuesday, the world’s leading oil producers failed to reach an
agreement on capping production, only because Saudi Arabia changed
its position last minute.
This move is believed to be made in
Washington’s favor, interested to keep oil prices low to apply
pressure on certain countries with national budgets dependent on oil
revenues, such as Iran, Russia and Venezuela.
There's
also an unprecedented $95 billion price tag sale of American weapons
to Riyadh under Obama.
Former
Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal told CNN's Christiane
Amanpour that there is going to be a“recalibration” of
the Saudis’ relationship with America.
“How
far we can go with our dependence on America, how much can we rely on
steadfastness from American leadership, what is it that makes for our
joint benefits to come together,” said
Turki, using rhetoric previously unexpected from Riyadh.“These
are things that we have to recalibrate,” Turki
stressed.
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