Bandar resigns as US envoy’

I haven’t the foggiest clue what this means in the grand scheme of things but I think it’s still very important. I will certainly keep an eye on this story seeing as he’s a loyal member of the extended Bush family.

Here’s the article:

LONDON — Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US Prince Bandar bin Sultan has resigned after more than 20 years in the post, a BBC report says.

According to the report, the Saudi Embassy in Washington has sought to play down rumours of his departure saying merely that he is on holiday.

But Saudi officials have confirmed the persistent speculation that Prince Bandar has tendered his resignation, the report says.

Meanwhile, Arab diplomatic sources in Washington reported to have said Prince Bandar is in “hiding” and that he had not reported for work for the last two months.

The sources said that Prince Bandar had actually tendered his resignation four months ago and left the United States. He is said to have been forced by circumstances to accompany Saudi Crown Prince Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, when the latter visited the United States.

Bandar had not returned to his office when the Saudi Crown Prince met US President George Bush at his Texas ranch.

An official source in Riyadh denied that Prince Bandar had resigned from the post, claiming he was only on leave.

Senior Saudi officials rarely resign from their posts. They are most often relieved of their posts.

Bandar did not take part in the talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal in Riyadh over a week ago. Instead, his half brother, Salman bin Sultan, who works as an administrative attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, took part in the talks, the sources said. Salman could take over from his brother as the Saudi ambassador to the US, analysts said.

According to NBC TV channel, Prince Bandar submitted his resignation letter to Prince Abdullah. According to the sources, Bandar was angry at being left out of the shortlist of those tipped for the post of Saudi intelligence chief.

Prince Bandar became Saudi ambassador to Washington in 1983, when Ronald Reagan was in the White House. He has been close to every president since then.