Your Trusted Source for National Security News & Analysis

December 11th, 2024 | 2:44 PM ET

The U.S. Loses a Trusted Partner in Fighting Terrorism

Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
0 Shares
Posted: August 3rd, 2017

By Thomas Lippman

Thomas W. Lippman is the author of Saudi Arabia on the Edgeand an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute.    He was a correspondent at the Washington Post for 33 years, 1966-1999.

Before leaving Saudi Arabia last week for a long holiday in Morocco, King Salman issued a decree officially putting his young son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in charge during his absence.

Under the Saudi system, that was a routine step because crown princes have often become, in effect, acting kings during royal absences. But in the case of Prince Mohammed, known as MbS, it took on new significance because he had already taken control of most of the government anyway and has clearly put himself in position to succeed his 81-year-old father sooner rather than later. His rapid and relentless reach for power has paid off.

Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.

Sign Up Log In

Categorized as:Middle East North America ReportingTagged with:

Related Articles

Search

Close