Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIYADH2321
2007-11-20 16:17:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF CALLS PRINCE BANDAR'S
how-toVZCZCXRO1329 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #2321 3241617 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 201617Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7041 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2848 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 9224 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC 0176 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
S E C R E T RIYADH 002321
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR SA
SUBJECT: PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF CALLS PRINCE BANDAR'S
9/11 COMMENTS "IRRESPONSIBLE"
REF: RIYADH 02224
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MICHAEL GFOELLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D)
S E C R E T RIYADH 002321
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR SA
SUBJECT: PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF CALLS PRINCE BANDAR'S
9/11 COMMENTS "IRRESPONSIBLE"
REF: RIYADH 02224
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MICHAEL GFOELLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D)
1. (S) On the evening of November 19, Prince Mohammed Bin
Nayif (MbN),the Assistant Minister of Interior for Security
Affairs, called the Charge d'Affaires to personally apologize
for Prince Bandar's comments, in which he said that the USG
could have prevented 9/11 if it had consulted with the Saudi
authorities in a "credible way." MbN emphatically told the
Charge that the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) had possessed
no information that might have prevented 9/11. He
characterized Prince Bandar's statements as "irresponsible"
and he promised the Charge that an incident like this would
never happen again. He ended the brief call by saying, "You
are our friends and we would never do anything to hurt our
strong relationship."
2. (S) COMMENT: MbN's comments are similar to what Doctor
Prince Turki Saud al-Kabeer, the Director of International
Organizations and Political Affairs at the MFA, told the DCM
on November 6 (reftel). It is apparent that Prince Bandar's
comments have taken the SAG by surprise. MbN's call was
probably also intended as a signal to the USG that strong
counter terrorism cooperation will continue. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR SA
SUBJECT: PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF CALLS PRINCE BANDAR'S
9/11 COMMENTS "IRRESPONSIBLE"
REF: RIYADH 02224
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MICHAEL GFOELLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D)
1. (S) On the evening of November 19, Prince Mohammed Bin
Nayif (MbN),the Assistant Minister of Interior for Security
Affairs, called the Charge d'Affaires to personally apologize
for Prince Bandar's comments, in which he said that the USG
could have prevented 9/11 if it had consulted with the Saudi
authorities in a "credible way." MbN emphatically told the
Charge that the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) had possessed
no information that might have prevented 9/11. He
characterized Prince Bandar's statements as "irresponsible"
and he promised the Charge that an incident like this would
never happen again. He ended the brief call by saying, "You
are our friends and we would never do anything to hurt our
strong relationship."
2. (S) COMMENT: MbN's comments are similar to what Doctor
Prince Turki Saud al-Kabeer, the Director of International
Organizations and Political Affairs at the MFA, told the DCM
on November 6 (reftel). It is apparent that Prince Bandar's
comments have taken the SAG by surprise. MbN's call was
probably also intended as a signal to the USG that strong
counter terrorism cooperation will continue. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER