Nobody knows, as the intrigue grows! Is GW's favorite Ay-rab dead or alive? International Business Times:
Unconfirmed reports are emerging from the Middle East and Europe that Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been assassinated.
The Voltaire Network of Paris reported that Bandar was killed in a bomb attack on July 26. He was apparently murdered by Syrian operatives in retaliation for his alleged role in the July 18 bombing in Damascus which killed four of President Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle, including Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha and his deputy Assef Shawkat.
However, neither Saudi nor Syrian sources have confirmed the alleged assassination.
The Prince was a familiar figure in the U.S. since he served as Saudi ambassador to the US from 1983 until 2005. He was appointed Saudi intelligence chief earlier this month, reportedly a reward for having orchestrated the Damascus attack.
Finally, some confirmation of his continuing alive-ness.. Before It's News:
The Saudi leadership has broken its silence. The internal crisis is officially over. All is well in the House of Saud. The partying can continue for now.
The editors of the Voltaire Network wrote in an article on Sunday, August 5, called, “Saudi daily denies Prince Bandar is dead”:
“The Saudi daily Arab News in its August 4 edition denies the death of Prince Bandar bin Sultan [1]. Arab News is the official mouthpiece of the royal family. It is owned by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Defence Minister of the Kingdom. The author of the article, Ali Bluwi, is an economic journalist and … a crisis communications consultant to … Washington.”
Okay, so the official mouthpiece of Saudi Arabia says Bandar Bush is alive and well. But why is the peacock not posing for cameras? Forget words. People want images. Until that happens the rumours won’t die.
“Sources say” this and that. Sources from the North Pole say Santa Claus is actually black and not really fat. Who should we believe? Voltaire Net’s sources, Iran’s sources, or the House of Saud’s sources? Or maybe the always reliable sources of the CIA?
The CIA’s David Ignatius said on Sunday, August 5, that the rumour of Prince Bandar’s death, “was rebutted Friday by a source who said that Bandar had been in telephone contact with non-Saudis.” This is very vague. Maybe the Prince’s voice was faked.
On Friday, August 3rd, Veterans Today reported that Bandar is in Switzerland. This is more concrete information, but we still don’t have pictures.
So, what should we believe?
Is Prince Bandar playing hide and seek with the world? Is he dead? Is he hiding under his bed?
Since there are no recent photos of him in action we must conclude that he is dead, but with reservations. Unconfirmed reports are emerging from the Middle East and Europe that Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been assassinated.
The Voltaire Network of Paris reported that Bandar was killed in a bomb attack on July 26. He was apparently murdered by Syrian operatives in retaliation for his alleged role in the July 18 bombing in Damascus which killed four of President Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle, including Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha and his deputy Assef Shawkat.
However, neither Saudi nor Syrian sources have confirmed the alleged assassination.
The Prince was a familiar figure in the U.S. since he served as Saudi ambassador to the US from 1983 until 2005. He was appointed Saudi intelligence chief earlier this month, reportedly a reward for having orchestrated the Damascus attack.
Finally, some confirmation of his continuing alive-ness.. Before It's News:
The Saudi leadership has broken its silence. The internal crisis is officially over. All is well in the House of Saud. The partying can continue for now.
The editors of the Voltaire Network wrote in an article on Sunday, August 5, called, “Saudi daily denies Prince Bandar is dead”:
“The Saudi daily Arab News in its August 4 edition denies the death of Prince Bandar bin Sultan [1]. Arab News is the official mouthpiece of the royal family. It is owned by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Defence Minister of the Kingdom. The author of the article, Ali Bluwi, is an economic journalist and … a crisis communications consultant to … Washington.”
Okay, so the official mouthpiece of Saudi Arabia says Bandar Bush is alive and well. But why is the peacock not posing for cameras? Forget words. People want images. Until that happens the rumours won’t die.
“Sources say” this and that. Sources from the North Pole say Santa Claus is actually black and not really fat. Who should we believe? Voltaire Net’s sources, Iran’s sources, or the House of Saud’s sources? Or maybe the always reliable sources of the CIA?
The CIA’s David Ignatius said on Sunday, August 5, that the rumour of Prince Bandar’s death, “was rebutted Friday by a source who said that Bandar had been in telephone contact with non-Saudis.” This is very vague. Maybe the Prince’s voice was faked.
On Friday, August 3rd, Veterans Today reported that Bandar is in Switzerland. This is more concrete information, but we still don’t have pictures.
So, what should we believe?
Is Prince Bandar playing hide and seek with the world? Is he dead? Is he hiding under his bed?
So there you have it: Nobody knows.. I have to side with the "until we see some pictures" camp. Every faction has a vested interest in killing Bandar or keeping him alive, or at least the perception that he still is alive. Byzantine, yo..
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