Saudi Arabia names new intelligence chief

[Zarvan]

Prince Khalid bin Bandar is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is the first grandson of King Abdel Aziz. (Al Riyadh newspaper
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By Al Arabiya News | Staff writer
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Saudi King Abdullah appointed Prince Khalid bin Bandar as head of the Saudi intelligence in a royal decree issued early on Tuesday.

Prince Khalid was relieved from his post as a Deputy Defense Minister on Saturday. He previously served as a Governor of Riyadh province, a position he held since February 2013.

He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is the first grandson of King Abdel Aziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia.

The appointed prince was a high ranking military personal and the commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. He was promoted from Lieutenant-General in 2011.

The decree also named Prince Bandar bin Sultan as an advisor and a special envoy of the king with the rank of a minister.

Prince Bandar served as head of intelligence and was relieved form his post in April at his own request.


Last Update: Tuesday, 1 July 2014 KSA 01:36 - GMT 22:36
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/New...appointed-as-head-of-Saudi-intelligence-.html

@Aeronaut @al-Hasani @Yzd Khalifa @Mosamania @Altamimi @Arabian Legend @JUBA

 

[Altamimi]

The right person in the right place

 

[Al Bhatti]

July 1, 2014

Saudi king appoints new spy chief as regional crisis spreads

Prince Bandar bin Sultan appointed King Abdullah’s Special Envoy

Saudi King Abdullah appointed a new spy chief, giving the job to the former deputy defence minister days after sacking him from that post, SPA state news agency reported Tuesday.

Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz had been unexpectedly removed from his post on Saturday at the request of his boss the defence minister, after only 45 days on the job.


There was no reason for his sacking but early Tuesday the SPA said that Prince Khaled had been appointed “head of the General Intelligence with a minister rank” by royal decree.


The announcement comes after jihadists spearheading an offensive in Iraq have declared on Sunday an “Islamic caliphate”, ordering Muslims around the world to pledge allegiance to their chief.

Saudi Arabia has watched with increasing alarm in recent weeks as the jihadists, who count Saudi citizens in their number, have seized swathes of territory.


Last week King Abdullah slammed the jihadists, who are also active in Syria, and instructed authorities to take “necessary measures” to defend his oil-rich kingdom amid fears the Iraq offensive could spill over into Saudi Arabia.


Riyadh’s policy in Syria is to back rebel groups it sees as moderate in an effort to bring down Al Assad, a close ally of its main regional enemy Iran, whose tactics in bombing urban centres have been described by Saudi officials as “genocide”.


But as young Saudis have gone to Syria to join the fight and as militant factions among the rebels have gained in strength, it has also grown concerned about eventual radicalisation among its own citizens prompting domestic attacks.


Prince Khaled will take over from Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the kingdom’s former pointman on the Syrian conflict who headed the intelligence service for two years until April.


It was unclear from the royal decree issued late on Monday whether Prince Khaled will have a similar brief on Syria.


A separate royal decree reported by SPA named Prince Bandar as an “advisor to the king and his special envoy”.


Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to the United States, is widely regarded as among the most influential powerbrokers in the Middle East and was appointed intelligence chief in 2012.


He was removed from his post in April after months abroad for medical treatment.


Diplomats said in February that Prince Bandar was sidelined in Saudi efforts to support rebels fighting Al Assad.


They said his management of the Syrian file had triggered American criticism and the matter was discussed during US officials’ visits to the kingdom.


The prince himself reproached Washington for its decision not to intervene militarily in Syria, and for preventing its allies from providing rebels with much-needed weapons, according to diplomats.


He retains his post as the secretary-general of the National Security Council, state news agency SPA reported.


It was not clear if his new appointment means he will return to playing an active role in Saudi security and foreign policy.


Prince Khaled Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

Prince Khalid is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and he holds a master’s degree in military sciences.

He served in the Royal Saudi Land Forces (SALF) in the early 1980s and became its deputy commander in 1997 before being promoted to its commander. He served in this post until he was appointed Governor of Riyadh in February 2013.

Prince Khalid took part in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and in the liberation of Kuwait (1991).

In May 2014, he was appointed Deputy Defense Minister, a position he lost less than two months later


Saudi king appoints new spy chief as regional crisis spreads | GulfNews.com

 

[al-Hasani]

He is a very competent man that I like. I wish him well and may he help secure the Holy Land and its people from all harm.

 

[Kompromat]

Isn't this a 2nd switch after Bandar?

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Isn't this a 2nd switch after Bandar?

No, the first was an interim Spy Chief.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Sacked Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Named Spy Chief
Jul. 1, 2014 -By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Prince Khaled Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz, center, was appointed Tuesday as Saudi Arabia's spy chief after the king sacked him as the deputy defense minister on Saturday. (Fayez Nureldine / AFP)


JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA— Saudi King Abdullah appointed a new spy chief, giving the job to the former deputy defense minister days after sacking him from that post, SPA state news agency reported Tuesday.

Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz was unexpectedly removed from his post on Saturday at the request of his boss the defense minister, after only 45 days on the job.

There was no reason for his sacking but early Tuesday the SPA said that Prince Khaled had been appointed “head of the General Intelligence with a minister rank” by royal decree.

The announcement comes after jihadists spearheading a Sunni militant offensive in Iraq have declared on Sunday an “Islamic caliphate,” ordering Muslims around the world to pledge allegiance to their chief.

Last week Abdullah slammed the jihadists, who are also active in Syria, and instructed authorities to take “necessary measures” to defend his oil-rich kingdom amid fears the Iraq offensive could spill over into Saudi Arabia.

Prince Khaled will take over from Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the kingdom’s former pointman on the Syrian conflict who headed the intelligence service for two years until April.

A separate royal decree reported by SPA named Prince Bandar as an “advisor to the king and his special envoy.”

Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to the United States, is widely regarded as among the most influential powerbrokers in the Middle East and was appointed intelligence chief in 2012.

Diplomats said in February that Prince Bandar was sidelined in Saudi efforts to support rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

They said his management of the Syrian file had triggered American criticism and the matter was discussed during US officials’ visits to the kingdom.

The prince himself reproached Washington for its decision not to intervene militarily in Syria, and for preventing its allies from providing rebels with much-needed weapons, according to diplomats.

Saudi Arabia has been strongly supportive of the rebels battling Assad.

 

[Halimi]

Just me, or has there been a fair bit of re-shuffling in security posts in the last six months or so?

 

[Indus Falcon]

Just me, or has there been a fair bit of re-shuffling in security posts in the last six months or so?

Just you

 

[Hyperion]

Shame on the intelligence chief before him that he didn't see his sacking coming!

 

[FalconsForPeace]

The right person in the right place

It seems his help was needed at the intl area.