Turki bin Faisal al-Saud

Prince Turki bin Faisal al Saud (born February 15, 1945) is the former Saudi Head of Intelligence, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland and as of July 2005, the Saudi ambassador to the United States. He is a son of the late King Faisal and a nephew of the late King Fahd.

Related Topics:
February 15 - 1945 - Saudi - United Kingdom - Ireland - King Faisal - King Fahd

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Turki studied at The Lawrenceville School, Georgetown, Princeton, and Cambridge.

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The Lawrenceville School - Georgetown - Princeton - Cambridge

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A member of the Saudi Royal Family, Turki held the position of Chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service for 25 years, from 1977 until shortly before the Sept 11th attacks. He was resigned due to his inability to capture bin Laden, or deliver him into a trap set by the U.S., and he was replaced by his uncle Prince Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz. He had met with bin Laden several times during the 1980s hoping to convince him to lead an army in Afghanistan against the Soviets.

Related Topics:
1977 - Sept 11th attacks - Bin Laden - U.S. - Prince Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz - Afghanistan - Soviets

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After Saudi Arabia backed the first Gulf War, bin Laden became a vocal opponent and enemy of the Royal Family, who revoked his Saudi citizenship in 1994. From this point on it became unclear of Turki's relationship with bin Laden. Some sources say that he helped finance bin Laden's followers who in turn agreed not to attack or destabilise Saudi Arabia; other theories state that he was secretly negotiating with Mullah Mohammad Omar, leader of the Afghani Taliban, to have bin Laden turned over. Yet another theory holds that Turki was simply a victim of a complex power struggle that pitted Prince Nayef against the Crown Prince Abdullah.

Related Topics:
First Gulf War - 1994 - Mullah Mohammad Omar - Taliban - Prince Nayef - Crown Prince Abdullah

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In 2002, Turki was named ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Since becoming ambassador he has kept a relatively low profile while remaining seemingly open with the media. In July 2005 it was announced that he would succeed Bandar bin Sultan as Saudi ambassador to the United States.

Related Topics:
2002 - Bandar bin Sultan - United States

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