Ayoon Wa Azan (Their Estrangement Is Final)

If I were to describe King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in one word, I would use the word ‘reformer’. Or perhaps ‘honest’ or ‘frank’, a quality that rather complements the one before because he calls a spade a spade, and does not attempt to present it in a diplomatic veneer. I thought about the qualities I observed in the King, as I heard him talking about the frightful days ahead, and how the confidence of the whole world in the United Nations was shaken following the double Russian-Chinese veto to protect the Syrian regime, a gesture that the King has categorically rejected. What I say today – and I hope that the readers will come back to me in the future if I were proven wrong, is that the relationship between King Abdullah and President Bashar al-Assad started on good terms in 2005, deteriorated, and then returned to its previous warmth in the summer of 2010. The relationship then deteriorated again because of the ‘killing machine’, and the victims it has claimed in the ranks of the Syrian people. My opinion, which I accept to be held to account for it in the future, is that the relationship between the King and the President will not improve again, because their estrangement is now final. President Bashar al-Assad was greatly pleased when good relations returned with the King, and I told him: Please, please, please, do not upset King Abdullah again. If he is to be upset, then he shall not be conciliated again. This conversation had taken place three months before the first signs of the subsequent Arab uprisings surfaced, and I have not seen Dr. Bashar after that. I heard the King speak at the Royal Court, before the luncheon traditionally held for the guests of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture (Janadriya). Then on the following day, I saw Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Defense, in a session that was also attended by my friend Marwan Hamadeh. I wanted to congratulate Prince Salman personally for assuming the post of Defense Minister, having congratulated him earlier by fax. But I also found the occasion an opportunity to ask him about the Iranian threats and ambitions, and the danger of an American or Israeli war against Iran on the security of neighboring countries. I also asked him about the new Iraqi role in the Gulf, since I heard criticisms and concerns about this role in two GCC countries I visited this month, so much so that I now believe that the Arab summit will not be held in Baghdad next month as planned. Prince Salman spoke frankly and clearly, and had a lengthy discussion with Marwan about Lebanon and the effects of the Syrian crisis over the country. Perhaps I will return to what I heard in the future, since there were both facts and opinions exchanged, but the meeting was not for publication. I therefore will not publish today, and instead shall await an opportunity soon to disclose some information. There was a long queue of visitors in the waiting rooms near the Minister’s office. Yet his busy work schedule does not put Prince Salman off his well-known journalistic interests. On his desk, I noticed there was a dossier that contained excerpts from the daily press, and I reminded him how I used to see him visit Kamel Mroueh, the Editor and Founder of Al-Hayat, in Beirut, and how he would sit with him waiting for Kamel to finish his editorial “Have Your Say and Walk”. This brought back memories of the Lebanese press to him, and we went on to talk about Sa’id Freiha, Salim al-Lawzi and others. I was pleased to see that Prince Salman was in good health. When I saw him in mourning following the passing of Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Rest in Peace, he seemed tired and weighed down with grief. However, this time, he was as I knew him, before the saddening death of Prince Sultan. I would never visit Riyadh without also meeting with Prince Khalid bin Sultan, the deputy defense minister, and publisher of our newspaper Al-Hayat. I had many political questions for Prince Khalid, but he beat me to it, and started asking me about the information I have come across since our last meeting. But I refused to be lured, and demanded my right to ask the questions as a journalist, which he would answer as an official. Prince Khalid is unforthcoming when it comes to answers, and I have always found difficulty in extracting information from him. I asked him about Syria, Iran and Iraq, but I only received brief answers, which may find their way to this column soon – appearing as though they are my own. I want to conclude with some humor. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz had promised me last year to “go halves” with me if he wins the million riyals from George Kordahi. So this year, I asked him about my share of the million, but he said that he has won nothing either. George Kordahi is now gone, so I ask: Where are the million riyals, O Arabs? I then answer: George took the million and fled.