They just got a different tool to use than we do: They kill innocent lives to achieve objectives. That's what they do. And they're good. They get on the TV screens and they get people to ask questions about, well, you know, this, that or the other. I mean, they're able to kind of say to people: Don't come and bother us, because we will kill you. Bush - Joint News Conference with Blair - 28 July '06

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Did Saudi 'Bandar Bush' threaten Putin?

The Daily Telegraph, amongst others, reported a story in August sourced from Al Monitor/As-Safir  claiming that during a meeting with Vladamir Putin on July 21st Saudi Prince Bandar, aka 'Bandar Bush', made comments that came close to direct threats regarding the security of the Sochi games through what he claimed was Saudi control of the Chechen jihadist threat. Whilst the accuracy of the report can be called into question, and Bandar's spectacularly frank admissions to none other than Vladamir Putin indeed stretch credulity, it's worth remembering events of 2008. Bandar has form:-

Saudi Arabia's rulers threatened to make it easier for terrorists to attack London unless corruption investigations into their [BAE] arms deals were halted, according to court documents revealed yesterday.
Previously secret files describe how investigators were told they faced "another 7/7" and the loss of "British lives on British streets" if they pressed on with their inquiries and the Saudis carried out their threat to cut off intelligence. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/15/bae.armstrade
Putin exuding warmth