Socio-Economics History Blog

Socio-Economics History Blog

It’s Putin vs Bandar Bush (Saudi Arabia) on the Syrian Chessboard !

by mosesman
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chief of General Intelligence and Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Saudi Arabia, second left, during a meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo residence. (RIA Novosti / Pool / Mikhail Metzel)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chief of General Intelligence and Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Saudi Arabia, second left, during a meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo residence. (RIA Novosti / Pool / Mikhail Metzel)

‘As the cherry on the sundae, Putin suggested to Bandar Bush to  abandon “sectarian instigations and supporting terrorism,  because it is a double edged sword that will rebound inside Saudi  Arabia and gather momentum in a manner that you will not be able  to control.”’ – Quote

  • It’s Putin vs Bandar Bush on the Syrian chessboard! 
    by Pepe Escobar, http://rt.com/op-edge/ 
    Everyone remembers the spectacular four-and-a-half hour meeting last August in Moscow between President Putin and Bandar Bush – aka Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s Director of National Intelligence.
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    Well, there was a remix last week, also in Moscow. And once again  in absolute secrecy, until a formidable leak from “a close  and reliable source” in Russia   reached Lebanese newspaper al-Manar.
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    Bandar Bush’s first offensive was a disaster; not only did Putin  rebuff his attempt to “bribe” Moscow into abandoning  Damascus, but subsequently Russia was pivotal in preventing the  Obama administration from bombing Syria.
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    Now Bandar Bush has “offered” softer terms. After all,  Saudi Arabia is on board with the Geneva-2 peace conference  scheduled for January 22 – although it didn’t used to be.  President Bashar Assad may remain in Damascus during this period,  but real power should be transferred to an interim government  headed by the “opposition” (which opposition is open to  speculation; certainly the “rebels” controlled by  Riyadh).
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    Moreover, Bandar Bush expects Russia to pressure Assad not to  call for a 2014 presidential election. According to the Syrian  constitution, a new constitution should be written and approved  during the interim government and only then elections should be  called – with Assad excluded. If Moscow abides, Saudi Arabia will  be more than willing to “contribute” to the cost of  rebuilding Syria (which it helped destroy via financed/weaponized  mercenaries).
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    Leaving aside the mind-boggling spectacle of the House of Saud’s  medieval paradise dictating the terms for the future of a third  country,     President Putin’s answer can be summarized as a model of  restraint.
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    read more!

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