Adel al-Jubeir will be the next Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States according to a report on "The Washington Note" a US-based blog authored by Mr. Steven Clemons, Senior Fellow and Director, American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation.

Mr. Jubeir served as Foreign Affairs Advisor to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz following a long tenure at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC. He is well known among observers of Saudi-US affairs and has served as spokesman on numerous occasions representing the Kingdom's policies and positions to the media.

It is noteworthy that Mr. Jubeir is not a member of the Saudi Royal Family as has been typical of such high profile portfolios as chief Saudi diplomat in Washington. His brother Nail al-Jubeir currently serves as Director of Communications in the Washington embassy, a position Adel al-Jubeir previously held.

The Washington embassy top post has been vacant since December 11, 2006 when Prince Turki al-Faisal abruptly departed the United States after informing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice he was resigning. According to press reports he told his staff he wanted to devote more time with his family. He assumed the post in 2005 after serving for two years as Saudi Ambassador to the UK. Prince Turki served as Director General of Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Directorate from 1977 to 2001.

Prince Turki's departure came less than two weeks after a controversial op-ed in the Washington Post by Nawaf Obaid, a consultant to the Ambassador, warned that Saudi Arabia would intervene on behalf of Sunni Arabs in Iraq if the United States withdrew prematurely. Mr. Obaid said his November 29 op-ed did not represent Saudi Arabian officials but he was subsequently released from his contract according to Prince Turki. On December 13 the New York Times, citing American and Arab diplomats, echoed Mr. Obaid's claims that Saudi Arabia was prepared to support Iraqi Sunnis against Shiites. However, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, Prince Turki's brother, reiterated Riyadh's position in a December 19 press conference that Saudi Arabia would not back Sunni Arabs against Shiites in Iraq if the US departs.

Adding to the speculation about Prince Turki's sudden departure was reporting on a meeting between Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia's National Security Advisor and Prince Turki's predecessor as Ambassador to the US, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  The Washington Post and other press reports have suggested Prince Bandar urged US officials to avoid talks with Iran and Syria, a position contrary to views Prince Turki's has made in recent public appearances. 

More to come, we're sure..

• SCOOP: Pragmatic Non-Royal to be Next Saudi Ambassador to the United States - The Washington Note - Dec. 20, 2006

• Prince Bandar Allegedly Advocating Military Response Against Iran

• Saudi ex-ambassador urged no US talks with Iran: report

• Riyadh and Washington Maneuver Over Iraq Fears - SUSRIS IOI - Dec. 13, 2006

• Saudi Ambassador Abruptly Resigns, Leaves Washington - By Robin Wright - SUSRIS Special Report - Dec. 12, 2006

• Stepping Into Iraq: Saudi Arabia Will Protect Sunnis if the U.S. Leaves - Nawaf Obaid - SUSRIS IOI - Nov 29, 2006

• Summit Press Briefing: Adel Al-Jubeir - SUSRIS IOI - Apr. 26, 2005

• Counter Terrorism International Conference - Feb 5-8, 2005 - SUSRIS Fact Sheet

• Person of the Week: Adel al-Jubeir - Time Magazine - Dec. 5, 2002

• Prince Turki Bio