Wikileaks: Abu Dhabi Crown’s Challenging Remarks on Saudi

Whistleblower website Wikileaks released a new file in which the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi anticipated that the Saudi nation is waiting for a push by the US for a regime change in Saudi Arabia.

Covering diplomatic communications between the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Muhammad Bin Zayid and US Director of Policy Planning for the Department of State, Richard Haass in Jan 8, 2003 in Abu Dhabi meeting, the Wikileaks said Zayid cited a recent poll in which 90 percent of Saudis believe that, following a regime change in Iraq, the US will turn its sights on changing the government in Riyadh, Al-Alam reported.

Zayid, former Chief of Staff, also encouraged continued engagement by the US with the Al-Saud, commenting that the negative spin in the US media complicated Crown Prince Abdullah’s ability to institute reforms, the Wikileaks website revealed.

Zayid took a dim view of some of the senior Al-Saud — sardonically noting that Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior’s bumbling manner suggested that “Darwin was right” — he wagered that the situation would be far different were Fahd in complete control of his faculties or, by contrast, if Abdullah was in total control.

Clearly, the incompleteness of the leadership transition in Saudi Arabia rendered decision-making more problematic, Zayid added.

Anticipating a negative public reaction to US-led military action against Iraq, Zayid said that the UAE decision on support of US-led action even without UN resolution was final.

He noted that public opinion in the Arab world would be containable provided military action was short and decisive.

He also downplayed the rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, noting that UAE-Saudi ties share Wahhabi roots. By contrast, Saudi-UAE relations were far more complex, Zayid continued, drawing Haass’ attention to Abu Dhabi’s nagging bilateral border dispute with Riyadh over the Al-Shayba oil field.

Source:FNA

R.S