Tag: Saudi Arabia: General in the Room

NOVANEWS Washington signals a renewed commitment to Riyadh at a time when ties to the kingdom and its crown prince are under intense scrutiny By Alison Tahmizian Meuse Asia Times President Donald Trump has announced his intent to nominate retired general John Abizaid as US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, marking the end of a nearly two-year vacancy, the White House said.   As America’s longest-serving Central Command chief, Abizaid oversaw the Iraq War from 2003 to 2007. The West Point graduate, who according to The New York Times twice declined the diplomatic post, will now be competing with a longstanding backchannel between Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushnerand Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Abizaid, who is of Lebanese descent and speaks Arabic, will bring an experienced ...