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| Arabia |
| Bandar-Putin Confab |
| 2013-08-28 |
| Bandar told Putin, “There are many common values and goals that bring us together, most notably the fight against terrorism and extremism all over the world. Russia, the US, the EU and the Saudis agree on promoting and consolidating international peace and security. The terrorist threat is growing in light of the phenomena spawned by the Arab Spring. We have lost some regimes. And what we got in return were terrorist experiences, as evidenced by the experience of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the extremist groups in Libya. ... As an example, I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us, and they will not move in the Syrian territory’s direction without coordinating with us. These groups do not scare us. We use them in the face of the Syrian regime but they will have no role or influence in Syria’s political future.” Then Bandar discussed the potential cooperation between the two countries if an understanding could be reached on a number of issues, especially Syria. He discussed at length the matter of oil and investment cooperation, saying, “Let us examine how to put together a unified Russian-Saudi strategy on the subject of oil. The aim is to agree on the price of oil and production quantities that keep the price stable in global oil markets. Bandar discussed the Syrian issue at length. So you have to stop giving [the Syrian regime] political support, especially at the UN Security Council, as well as military and economic support. And we guarantee you that Russia’s interests in Syria and on the Mediterranean coast will not be affected one bit. In the future, Syria will be ruled by a moderate and democratic regime that will be directly sponsored by us and that will have an interest in understanding Russia's interests and role in the region.” Regarding the Syrian issue, the Russian president responded to Bandar, saying, “Our stance on Assad will never change. We believe that the Syrian regime is the best speaker on behalf of the Syrian people, and not those liver eaters. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #21 Epic bluff or epic misinformation? When did Bandar come back onto the scene, btw? |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2013-08-28 21:33 |
| #20 Did the Tsarnaev brothers act on orders from Bandar? Ask the FBI, If so, there are copies of Awlaki to Hasan, maybe the FBI has records of any Bandar to Tsarnaevs. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-08-28 20:56 |
| #19 Doomsday shelter? Probably. Me, I'm waiting to see if the Russians do a confirm-or-deny. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-08-28 20:13 |
| #18 Is it too late to start on the doomsday shelter? This regime (Obastard) has succeeded in scaring the sh!t out of me. 8^( |
| Posted by: AlanC 2013-08-28 18:48 |
| #17 Did the Tsarnaev brothers act on orders from Bandar? Oh. My. God. Now I feel decidedly faint. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-08-28 18:33 |
| #16 Did the Tsarnaev brothers act on orders from Bandar? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-08-28 17:56 |
| #15 In English - the Russians are now playing hardball. This is the diplomatic equivalent to an 'open' (i.e., not "total-black")assassination-by-polonium. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-08-28 14:40 |
| #14 Where is my Advil. :-( |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-08-28 14:21 |
| #13 1. As Safir is a Lebanese daily, affiliated with the Left. Hardly a friend of the Saudis. 2. I'd say, judging by the article, it appears to be a transcript of the meeting. I'd also hazard that the transcript is a Russian one. The Russians are quite thorough when it comes to things like recording meetings. 3. Bandar is currently in charge of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's support for the Syrian rebels. 4. The Russians are supporting the Syrian government. 5. Badar has long had social and political ties with various figures, agencies, and departments within the US government (USG). 6. The USG and the Russians are currently at odds over Syria. 7. There is currently a situation where the USG is considering intervention of some sort in the Syrian theater, something the Russians oppose. It would not be a stretch to say that this was 'leaked' by an area of the Russian government close to Mr. Putin, to a sympathetic source in the Arab media, in particular a media outlet close to the Syrian theater, to influence events within the Syrian theater. I'll leave it to the reader to further deduce motives and implications. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-08-28 14:02 |
| #12 #9 Yes, you don't mess with the Russians. You will pay. Pappy you are correct he is a clever fellow. With him I would side with you but others not so much. |
| Posted by: Dale 2013-08-28 12:53 |
| #11 #8 Like Putin needs his admission? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2013-08-28 11:44 |
| #10 ...as opposed to the usual car accident in the desert. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-08-28 11:37 |
| #9 Even if the Chechens were getting support from the Saudis (hardly an impossible concept), Bandar realizes that using it as a negotiating point with Putin = really good chance that various members of the Saudi royal family will suddenly start experiencing unfortunate interactions with windows, balconies and elevator shafts. |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2013-08-28 11:00 |
| #8 also: did Bandar just admit the Chechen terrorist were tools of the Saudis? Wouldn't that also imply admitting guilt for Beslan and other Chechen atrocities? I would say Putin has a Casus belli to take out Saudi based on that. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2013-08-28 10:36 |
| #7 Did Bandar just threaten the Winter Olympics? Bandar's a lot of things, but "stupid" for sure ain't one of them. Threatening a Russian strongman who's ex-KGB would be right up there with...oh, I don't know, electing a communist rabble-rouser with a dubious background, a quarter-page resume and a horde of shady associates as President of the United States? |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2013-08-28 10:33 |
| #6 What groups do Qatar control? What groups do Saudi control? What groups do Iran Control? What groups do Pakistan control? Any of them friends of the west? |
| Posted by: Floluck Omoluger7494 2013-08-28 10:27 |
| #5 Banter Bandar. Talk, talk, and more talk. I've enough experience to rather disagree. Bandar has some 'weight' to back up his nastiness. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-08-28 10:15 |
| #4 Interesting admission by Soddy that they control the Chechens. Who else do you control, Bandit? Besides Washington, I mean. |
| Posted by: Spot 2013-08-28 08:20 |
| #3 Banter Bandar. Talk, talk, and more talk. Putin knows these people. I understand they seldom deliver. Just send money. |
| Posted by: Dale 2013-08-28 06:41 |
| #2 Did Bandar just threaten the Winter Olympics? Oh my. Very good catch, 3dc. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-08-28 00:35 |
| #1 I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us, Did Bandar just threaten the Winter Olympics? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2013-08-28 00:22 |