Saudi Arabia’s appointment of Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz– known to many as United States’ spy in the Middle East – as director general of the Saudi Intelligence Agency in mid-July raised new questions over the reliance of the monarchy on Washington.

 

Bandar was Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the U.S. and has a consistent record of serving the US interests, especially in the Middle East. He played an influential role in hammering out many political and military deals in favor of the U.S. in the region. Until the new political developments in the Arab world, Bandar continued to perform his missions behind the curtain. His recent appointment as Saudi’s spy chief clearly indicates that U.S. officials want him to play a more active role in regional developments to better implement U.S. strategy.

 

The Saudi government has used everything at its disposal to stop the popular uprisings from reaching its shores. The Saudi military has directly interfered in the Bahrain, suppressing peaceful protests. In Yemen and Egypt, Saudis have spent huge sums of money to maintain the interests of secular and anti-Islamic groups that are mostly associated with the U.S. and Israel. They are continuing to support terrorist activity in Syria to undermine the resistant front in the region; prince Bandar is in charge of the sabotage operation inside the Syrian territory. 

 

These are simply an extension of U.S. policy; policy which always resulted in failures due to brave resistance movements in the region. Now, Washington and its allies seem to have found their old spy back at the top of the Saudi intelligence machine to serve their interests in the Middle East in the best possible manner. 

 

MS/RM

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