Turki bin Faisal al-Saud
Encyclopedia
Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud (born February 15, 1945), known also as Turki Al Faisal, is a member of the Saudi royal family
. He is one of the founders of the King Faisal Foundation
and serves as Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
.
From 1977 to 2001, Turki was the Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
, Saudi Arabia
's intelligence agency, and subsequently served as ambassador to the United Kingdom
and the United States
. He is considered the leading candidate to become Saudi Arabia's next Minister of Foreign Affairs
. He has become a prominent royal advocate for a Palestinian
state.
He is the grandson of the late King Abdul-Aziz and is the son of the late King Faisal. He is the brother of Foreign Minister Prince Saud and Prince Khalid
, Governor of the Makkah Province. He is a nephew of the present King Abdullah
.
, Saudi Arabia
. He is the eighth and last son of the late King Faisal
by Princess Iffat Al-Thunayyan.
He received his primary and some secondary education at a school in Taif built by his parents. When he was fourteen, his father sent him to Princeton, New Jersey
to complete his secondary education at the Lawrenceville School
, from which he graduated from in 1963. He then attended the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University
, graduating in the class of 1968 (alongside future U.S. President Bill Clinton
). Turki has also done post-graduate work at Princeton
, Cambridge
, and the University of London
, where he took courses in Islamic law
and jurisprudence
.
After returning to the Kingdom, Turki was appointed an Adviser in the Royal Court in 1973.
, and then, his successor as the head of Saudi Arabia's Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
(General Intelligence Directorate), a position he held for 25 years—from 1977 until 10 days before the September 11 attacks in 2001. He took part in organizing a military operation to remove the hostage-taking terrorists from Masjid al-Haram
(the Sacred Mosque) in Mecca
during the Grand Mosque Seizure
in November–December 1979. He was replaced shortly before 9/11 by his uncle, Prince Nawwaf.
After King Fahd's stroke in 1995, Turki had a minor disagreement with Abdullah
, who didn't want to be briefed by him.
. As head of Saudi intelligence, he met Osama bin Laden
alongside Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
operatives several times during the 1980s in efforts to support him in Afghanistan
against the Soviets
. Saudi intelligence joined Pakistan's intelligence service
and the CIA in funding the mujahideen
. Turki had met with bin Laden five times. Turki had his last meet with bin Laden in early 1990 in which bin Laden was interested in aiding against the South Yemen communists. His intelligence agency kept careful track of bin Laden from the beginning of his rise.
In 1993, he helped mediate between warring factions in Afghanistan. In early 1996, Sudan offered to extradite bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Clinton called on Turki to bring bin Laden back to Saudi Arabia for a quick execution. Saudi Arabia denied the request and Osama left Sudan for Afghanistan.
A continued connection to bin Laden was falsely claimed by Paris Match
magazine. In December 2004, Turki accepted substantial libel damages and an apology from the magazine Paris Match
over claims he himself was linked to the 11 September attacks.
In 2002, Turki was named in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the families of September 11 victims, alleging that he and other Saudi princes, banks, and charities may have funded the terrorists involved in the attack. His involvement was also strongly implied in the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 911. A reporter for the Baltimore Chronicle claimed he was flown out of the United States shortly after the terrorist attacks, but the claim disappeared from later versions of the article. Turki described Fahrenheit 911 as "grossly unfair" to Saudis.
Turki maintains that he has had no contact with bin Laden since shortly after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. He claims to have secretly negotiated with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar
in 1998 in an attempt to have bin Laden extradited to Saudi Arabia, but the negotiations were unsuccessful. In a November 2001 interview, Turki expressed support for the US operation in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In December 2004, Turki was awarded libel damages from Paris Match
for its claims that he was connected to the attacks. In 2005, a US federal judge ruled that Saudi officials including Turki were immune from the lawsuit. Turki has severely criticized al-Qaeda, calling it an "evil cult."
. He served as ambassador from January 2003 until the US invasion in Iraq and was well respected by British diplomats.
as Saudi ambassador to the United States
. He served as ambassador to the United States from July 2005 until December 11, 2006. Adel al-Jubeir
succeeded him as ambassador to the United States.
Turki reprimanded Israel for not accepting the Arab Peace Initiative
, which normalizes relationship with Israel in exchange of withdrawal to 1967 borders.
Turki spent much of his time as ambassador to the United States traveling around the country (he visited 37 states). Turki strongly advocated that the United States engage in direct talks with Iran over its differences concerning Iran's involvement in Iraq, its nuclear program and support of Hezbollah in Lebanon
, but other high-ranking Saudi officials, including Turki's predecessor as ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, were in favor of a tougher stance, believing that, ultimately, military action would probably be required to set back Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
He argued that the Palestinian-Israeli issue, not Iran, was more important for the United States
. He called on the Bush Administration to revive the peace process. He also argued that diplomacy with Iran is the best way to prevent problems. The Administration disliked his stance and made it difficult for him to arrange visits to the White House. The White House preferred Bandar's more aggressive approach and welcomed Bandar instead.
Turki was angered that when his own king had asked Vice President Dick Cheney
to meet at short notice in Riyadh, Turki was not invited to attend — an unusual omission for Saudi summit meetings. In addition, Turki's brother — the ailing, longtime Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal
, — did not write the post-summit briefing for Turki; Prince Bandar did.
King Abdullah is reported to have preferred Prince Bandar bin Sultan as the King's intermediary between Riyadh and Washington D.C. This situation may have been one of the causes that led Turki's abrupt resignation as a protest.
He abruptly resigned in early December 2006 after only 15 months as an ambassador. His predecessor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, worked in the same post for 22 years. He came back in January after the Hajj Pilgrimage to formally deliver his goodbyes. In his January return trip, he reasserted Saudi Arabia's commitment to the people of Iraq and emphasized that the "health of Saudi Arabia's economy is linked to the health of Saudi Arabia's education system". Some analysts claim he intentionally attracted attention. He said he wanted to spend time with family.
His resignation was initially released by the Washington Post, notably not by the royal court or any official source.
and believed Abdullah Abdullah
was not an acceptable candidate to Afghanistan's diverse ethnic groups — namely, the Pashtuns and Uzbeks
. He also called for a shift in U.S. strategy from the media theme against the Taliban to a more focused propaganda campaign against Al Qaeda. He voiced his urgency to the immediate resolution of the Durand Line
between Pakistan and Aghanistan. He wants Afghan people to handle their own problems. He also expects the U.S. will continue to experience resistance as long as it stays in Afghanistan.
and Israel
as "callous, unforgivably, and without any restraint". He accused the Obama Administration of blatant pro-Israel bias. In addition, he castigated the Obama administration for protecting Israel's nuclear program from international scrutiny and the Bush administration for undermining a Saudi-brokered power-sharing agreement between Fatah
and Hamas
. He called on U.S. President Barack Obama
to "walk the walk" on the two state solution for Palestine and Israel. For relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, he has pre-conditioned a return to the 1967 borders.
In a Financial Times
editorial in January 2009, he wrote a blasting critique of American foreign policy toward Palestine. He alleged U.S. was complicit in the deaths of Gazans.
He has warned that "neocon advisers, American conservatives and Zionist extremists” promoted policies “that continually throw a wrench into the progress of peace.” He referred the 2010 United States midterm elections
as it “will give more fodder for these warmongers to pursue their favorite exercise – warmongering.” However, he noted that many Democrats, as well as Republicans, were also strong supporters of Israel.
In February 2010, a diplomatic row broke out at an international security conference in Munich, Germany between him and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. The Prince did not want to sit next to Ayalon because of Ayalon's "boorish" behavior in his attempt to shame Turkish ambassador on Israeli television. Ayalon then accused Saudi Arabia that the Kingdom had not "given a penny" to the Palestinian Authority. Turki responded by reminding Ayalon that the Kingdom has given more than $500 million over the past five years. Ayalon apologized and shook hands with Turki as a reconciliation measure. The crowd applauded. The subsequent day, Turki clarified that the gesture does not signal any change in official policy towards Israel.
In the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2011, he called for a Middle East without WMDs and stated "the elephant in the room is Israel. Israel with a nuclear weapon is dangerous.”
He is Deputy Chairman of Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).
He presently teaches at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is also a co-chair of the C100 Group, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum
. C-100 Group encourages interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.
He has visited many American universities and has lectured on the history of Saudi Arabia to improve relations between the West and Saudi Arabia. He has recently visited the University of South Florida
, Syracuse University
, Rice University
, Cornell University
, and Harvard University
. In November 2010. he spoke at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
.
event, he mentioned he has grandchildren and they sometimes ask him questions about Islam.
Shortly after the passing of King Faisal, Turki and his siblings established the King Faisal Foundation to invest in education in Saudi Arabia.
In person, Turki has been described as the antithesis of Prince Bandar
. Turki has been described as cool-headed, soft-spoken, and avuncular. He is the most Westernized and educated compared to other Saudi princes.
Turki follows the Wahhabi school of thought of Islam.
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
. He is one of the founders of the King Faisal Foundation
King Faisal Foundation
The King Faisal Foundation was established in 1976 by the sons of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The Director-General is HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal...
and serves as Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
King Faisal Foundation
The King Faisal Foundation was established in 1976 by the sons of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The Director-General is HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal...
.
From 1977 to 2001, Turki was the Director General of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
The Ri'āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-'Āmah , or the General Intelligence Presidency , is the primary intelligence agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.- History :...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
's intelligence agency, and subsequently served as ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is considered the leading candidate to become Saudi Arabia's next Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's external relations. The ministry oversees "political, cultural and financial international relations" and monitors the Kingdom's diplomatic relations. It was created in 1930 by a royal decree...
. He has become a prominent royal advocate for a Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
state.
He is the grandson of the late King Abdul-Aziz and is the son of the late King Faisal. He is the brother of Foreign Minister Prince Saud and Prince Khalid
Khalid Al-Faisal
Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is the current Governor of the Makkah Province. He previously served as the Governor of the Asir Province from 1971 to 2007....
, Governor of the Makkah Province. He is a nephew of the present King Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
.
Early life and education
Turki was born on February 15, 1945 in MeccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. He is the eighth and last son of the late King Faisal
Faisal of Saudi Arabia
Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. As king, he is credited with rescuing the country's finances and implementing a policy of modernization and reform, while his main foreign policy themes were pan-Islamic Nationalism, anti-Communism, and pro-Palestinian...
by Princess Iffat Al-Thunayyan.
He received his primary and some secondary education at a school in Taif built by his parents. When he was fourteen, his father sent him to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
to complete his secondary education at the Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
, from which he graduated from in 1963. He then attended the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, graduating in the class of 1968 (alongside future U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
). Turki has also done post-graduate work at Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he took courses in Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
and jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
.
After returning to the Kingdom, Turki was appointed an Adviser in the Royal Court in 1973.
Director of Saudi Arabia General Intelligence Directorate
Turki began his political career as deputy to his uncle, Kamal AdhamKamal Adham
Kamal Adham was a former Director General of Saudi Arabia's Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah, General Intelligence Directorate. He was the younger half-brother of Princess Iffat Al-Thuniyyan Al Saud.-Childhood training:...
, and then, his successor as the head of Saudi Arabia's Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
The Ri'āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-'Āmah , or the General Intelligence Presidency , is the primary intelligence agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.- History :...
(General Intelligence Directorate), a position he held for 25 years—from 1977 until 10 days before the September 11 attacks in 2001. He took part in organizing a military operation to remove the hostage-taking terrorists from Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram
Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims worldwide turn towards while performing daily prayers and is Islam's holiest place...
(the Sacred Mosque) in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
during the Grand Mosque Seizure
Grand Mosque Seizure
The Grand Mosque Seizure on November 20, 1979, was an armed attack and takeover by Islamist dissidents of the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam...
in November–December 1979. He was replaced shortly before 9/11 by his uncle, Prince Nawwaf.
After King Fahd's stroke in 1995, Turki had a minor disagreement with Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
, who didn't want to be briefed by him.
Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda
Turki has been controversially associated with al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. As head of Saudi intelligence, he met Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
alongside Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
operatives several times during the 1980s in efforts to support him in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
against the Soviets
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Saudi intelligence joined Pakistan's intelligence service
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
and the CIA in funding the mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
. Turki had met with bin Laden five times. Turki had his last meet with bin Laden in early 1990 in which bin Laden was interested in aiding against the South Yemen communists. His intelligence agency kept careful track of bin Laden from the beginning of his rise.
In 1993, he helped mediate between warring factions in Afghanistan. In early 1996, Sudan offered to extradite bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Clinton called on Turki to bring bin Laden back to Saudi Arabia for a quick execution. Saudi Arabia denied the request and Osama left Sudan for Afghanistan.
A continued connection to bin Laden was falsely claimed by Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
magazine. In December 2004, Turki accepted substantial libel damages and an apology from the magazine Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
over claims he himself was linked to the 11 September attacks.
In 2002, Turki was named in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the families of September 11 victims, alleging that he and other Saudi princes, banks, and charities may have funded the terrorists involved in the attack. His involvement was also strongly implied in the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 911. A reporter for the Baltimore Chronicle claimed he was flown out of the United States shortly after the terrorist attacks, but the claim disappeared from later versions of the article. Turki described Fahrenheit 911 as "grossly unfair" to Saudis.
Turki maintains that he has had no contact with bin Laden since shortly after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. He claims to have secretly negotiated with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar
Mohammed Omar
Mullah Mohammed Omar , often simply called Mullah Omar, is the leader of the Taliban movement that operates in Afghanistan. He was Afghanistan's de facto head of state from 1996 to late 2001, under the official title "Head of the Supreme Council"...
in 1998 in an attempt to have bin Laden extradited to Saudi Arabia, but the negotiations were unsuccessful. In a November 2001 interview, Turki expressed support for the US operation in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In December 2004, Turki was awarded libel damages from Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
for its claims that he was connected to the attacks. In 2005, a US federal judge ruled that Saudi officials including Turki were immune from the lawsuit. Turki has severely criticized al-Qaeda, calling it an "evil cult."
Ambassador to United Kingdom
He served as an ambassador to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He served as ambassador from January 2003 until the US invasion in Iraq and was well respected by British diplomats.
Ambassador to the United States
In July 2005, it was announced that he would succeed Bandar bin SultanBandar bin Sultan
Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005...
as Saudi ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as ambassador to the United States from July 2005 until December 11, 2006. Adel al-Jubeir
Adel al-Jubeir
Adel A. Al-Jubeir is the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States, and a former foreign policy advisor to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. He is a well-known representative of the Saudi kingdom in the West, particularly the United States. Al-Jubeir presented his credentials to...
succeeded him as ambassador to the United States.
Turki reprimanded Israel for not accepting the Arab Peace Initiative
Arab Peace Initiative
The Beirut Summit was a meeting of the Arab League in Beirut, Lebanon in March 2002 to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The meeting became especially noteworthy for the adoption, by the Arab states attending, of a proposal offering a comprehensive peace between the Arab countries and...
, which normalizes relationship with Israel in exchange of withdrawal to 1967 borders.
Turki spent much of his time as ambassador to the United States traveling around the country (he visited 37 states). Turki strongly advocated that the United States engage in direct talks with Iran over its differences concerning Iran's involvement in Iraq, its nuclear program and support of Hezbollah in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, but other high-ranking Saudi officials, including Turki's predecessor as ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, were in favor of a tougher stance, believing that, ultimately, military action would probably be required to set back Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
He argued that the Palestinian-Israeli issue, not Iran, was more important for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He called on the Bush Administration to revive the peace process. He also argued that diplomacy with Iran is the best way to prevent problems. The Administration disliked his stance and made it difficult for him to arrange visits to the White House. The White House preferred Bandar's more aggressive approach and welcomed Bandar instead.
Resignation
Turki's position in Washington became increasingly untenable. Prince Bandar's repeated visits to the White House undermined Turki. On top of that, Turki's goal of engaging in public diplomacy with the American people was weakened because of a shortage of money to fund the embassy and his public relations program.Turki was angered that when his own king had asked Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
to meet at short notice in Riyadh, Turki was not invited to attend — an unusual omission for Saudi summit meetings. In addition, Turki's brother — the ailing, longtime Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdul Aziz
Saud bin Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud , also known as Saud Al Faisal, has been the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia since 1975. He is the world's longest-serving Foreign Minister....
, — did not write the post-summit briefing for Turki; Prince Bandar did.
King Abdullah is reported to have preferred Prince Bandar bin Sultan as the King's intermediary between Riyadh and Washington D.C. This situation may have been one of the causes that led Turki's abrupt resignation as a protest.
He abruptly resigned in early December 2006 after only 15 months as an ambassador. His predecessor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, worked in the same post for 22 years. He came back in January after the Hajj Pilgrimage to formally deliver his goodbyes. In his January return trip, he reasserted Saudi Arabia's commitment to the people of Iraq and emphasized that the "health of Saudi Arabia's economy is linked to the health of Saudi Arabia's education system". Some analysts claim he intentionally attracted attention. He said he wanted to spend time with family.
His resignation was initially released by the Washington Post, notably not by the royal court or any official source.
Chairman of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
As Chairman, Prince Turki has expressed his stance on a number of issues. He compared energy independence in American politics to baby-kissing. He stated that American politicians must be courageous against demagoguery. He has lauded his country's efforts in education and believes that Saudis can succeed only through education. He is expected to visit India in March 2011.Afghanistan
He criticized equating jihad with acts of terrorism by citing the resistance against Soviets in the 1980s. He disapproved of the Obama Administration's shunning of Hamid KarzaiHamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
and believed Abdullah Abdullah
Abdullah Abdullah
Abdullah Abdullah is an Afghan politician and a doctor of medicine. He was an adviser and friend to Ahmad Shah Massoud, legendary anti-Taliban leader and commander known as the "Lion of Panjshir". After the fall of the Taliban regime, Dr. Abdullah served as Afghanistan's Foreign Minister from 2001...
was not an acceptable candidate to Afghanistan's diverse ethnic groups — namely, the Pashtuns and Uzbeks
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
. He also called for a shift in U.S. strategy from the media theme against the Taliban to a more focused propaganda campaign against Al Qaeda. He voiced his urgency to the immediate resolution of the Durand Line
Durand Line
The Durand Line refers to the porous international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has divided the ethnic Pashtuns . This poorly marked line is approximately long...
between Pakistan and Aghanistan. He wants Afghan people to handle their own problems. He also expects the U.S. will continue to experience resistance as long as it stays in Afghanistan.
Iran
On Iran, he has warned of their growing influence in Lebanon as "foreign hands manipulating strings." Asked what he thought would be the consequences of an Israeli or U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, Turki responded, "Calamitous … cataclysmic, not just catastrophic." On the Iranian nuclear program, he believes that there should be a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. He believes Iranian actions have provoked worldwide opposition but at the same time suggests that Iran's nuclear program is being singled out. He believes Iran is pursuing an "explosive" path in nuclear enrichment. He stated if Iran was attacked Saudi Arabia would never grant Israeli flyover rights.Yemen
On Yemen, he stated that Yemen has become a sanctuary for extremists as refugees flee the conflict and into the Kingdom's borders.Palestine and Israel
On the Israeli occupation, he has become the Kingdom's leading critic of American foreign policy. He has described the relationship between U.S. President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as "callous, unforgivably, and without any restraint". He accused the Obama Administration of blatant pro-Israel bias. In addition, he castigated the Obama administration for protecting Israel's nuclear program from international scrutiny and the Bush administration for undermining a Saudi-brokered power-sharing agreement between Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
. He called on U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to "walk the walk" on the two state solution for Palestine and Israel. For relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, he has pre-conditioned a return to the 1967 borders.
In a Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
editorial in January 2009, he wrote a blasting critique of American foreign policy toward Palestine. He alleged U.S. was complicit in the deaths of Gazans.
He has warned that "neocon advisers, American conservatives and Zionist extremists” promoted policies “that continually throw a wrench into the progress of peace.” He referred the 2010 United States midterm elections
United States elections, 2010
The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial...
as it “will give more fodder for these warmongers to pursue their favorite exercise – warmongering.” However, he noted that many Democrats, as well as Republicans, were also strong supporters of Israel.
In February 2010, a diplomatic row broke out at an international security conference in Munich, Germany between him and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. The Prince did not want to sit next to Ayalon because of Ayalon's "boorish" behavior in his attempt to shame Turkish ambassador on Israeli television. Ayalon then accused Saudi Arabia that the Kingdom had not "given a penny" to the Palestinian Authority. Turki responded by reminding Ayalon that the Kingdom has given more than $500 million over the past five years. Ayalon apologized and shook hands with Turki as a reconciliation measure. The crowd applauded. The subsequent day, Turki clarified that the gesture does not signal any change in official policy towards Israel.
In the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2011, he called for a Middle East without WMDs and stated "the elephant in the room is Israel. Israel with a nuclear weapon is dangerous.”
Wikileaks
He claimed the documents "are a hodgepodge of selectivity, inaccuracy, agenda pursuit, and downright disinformation." He claimed if diplomats and leaders were not able to discuss matters that affect them through cables freely, the countries are "in trouble". He added that WikiLeaks poses a serious danger to all governments and called for meting out tough punishment for those responsible for the breach.Various positions
He is a commissioner in the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.He is Deputy Chairman of Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).
He presently teaches at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is also a co-chair of the C100 Group, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
. C-100 Group encourages interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.
He has visited many American universities and has lectured on the history of Saudi Arabia to improve relations between the West and Saudi Arabia. He has recently visited the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In November 2010. he spoke at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
.
Personal life
He is married to Princess Nouf bint Fahd bin Khalid Al Saud, with whom he has seven children: Faisal, Muneera, Nura, Abdul Aziz, Saud, Mishail, and Mudhi. After resigning as US ambassador, he went to his son's graduation in London. His son Prince Abdul-Aziz won the second round of Porsche Middle East Cup. At a University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
event, he mentioned he has grandchildren and they sometimes ask him questions about Islam.
Shortly after the passing of King Faisal, Turki and his siblings established the King Faisal Foundation to invest in education in Saudi Arabia.
In person, Turki has been described as the antithesis of Prince Bandar
Bandar bin Sultan
Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005...
. Turki has been described as cool-headed, soft-spoken, and avuncular. He is the most Westernized and educated compared to other Saudi princes.
Turki follows the Wahhabi school of thought of Islam.
External links
- Video of lecture given at Cornell University entitled "What We Expect From America: A Saudi Perspective," April 2009
- Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal to give a public lecture, “What We Expect From America: A Saudi Perspective,” at Cornell, April 23, 2009
- Peace for the Mideast: How Our Plan Could Aid Barack Obama's Efforts, Turki al-Faisal, The Washington Post, Dec. 26, 2008
- Profile: Prince Turki al-Faisal from BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Information from Global Security
- Saudis' James Bond and George Smiley by Arnaud de Borchgrave
- Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US, Prince Turki al-Faisal, addresses the World Affairs Council of Northern California, March 23, 2006 (video)