Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Security chiefs of US visit Saudi Arabia

 George Tenet again in high staff of US President


US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, right, meets with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, during a condolence call at the Royal Court in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Standing behind Panetta our the members of the official US Presidential Delegation from left to right, George J. Tenet, former Director of the CIA, Elizabeth Jones, Acting Assistant Sec. of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Michael Morell, Deputy Director of the CIA, and Robert S. Mueller, Director of the FBI. Panetta is leading a Presidential Delegation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to attend the memorial service for Prince Nayef bin Abbel-Aziz. AP Photo logo AP Photo 1 week ago US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, right, meets with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, during a condolence call at the Royal Court in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Standing behind Panetta our the members of the official US Presidential Delegation from left to right, George J. Tenet, former Director of the CIA, Elizabeth Jones, Acting Assistant Sec. of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Michael Morell, Deputy Director of the CIA, and Robert S. Mueller, Director of the FBI. Panetta is leading a Presidential Delegation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to attend the memorial service for Prince Nayef bin Abbel-Aziz

US Sec. of Defense Leon Panetta, left, and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, right, react as they exchange coins with one another on the tarmac prior to their departure from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,Thursday, June 21, 2012. Looking on are former CIA Director George J. Tenet, left center, and Frances Fragos Townsend, far right, former Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security. Panetta, Mueller, Tenet and Townsend, where members of the US Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to offer condolences for the passing of Crown Prince Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud.


 Reuters/Jeddah US security chiefs visited Saudi Arabia yesterday to convey President Barack Obama’s condolences for the death of Crown Prince Nayef, underscoring the importance of a relationship seen as key in the battle against Al Qaeda. 

The delegation was led by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and included Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, Counter-terrorism John Brennan and former Central Intelligence Agency director George Tenet.
Mike Morrell, the CIA’s deputy director, also joined the delegation which met Prince Salman, the new crown prince. 


“The president wanted me ... to convey to you not only our sorrow for your loss but also our best wishes to you in your new position,” Panetta told Prince Salman at the Royal Court in Jeddah, where delegations from around the world were visiting. 


Nayef, who was interior minister for 37 years, built up a formidable domestic security apparatus which crushed Al Qaeda inside the kingdom and has helped foil attempts by the militant group to attack international targets from its base in Yemen. 


“He played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the US and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Panetta said in a statement late on Tuesday.

King Abdullah on Monday named Prince Salman, defence minister, as his new heir.

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