WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has appointed a public relations
specialist as the new ambassador to the United States.
Officials said Riyad has appointed Adel Al Jubeir as the kingdom's new
ambassador to Washington. They said the Saudi Foreign Ministry has already
informed the State Department.
The U.S.-educated Al Jubeir was assigned by then-Crown Prince Abdullah,
today king, to improve Riyad's image in wake of the Al Qaida suicide strikes
on New York and Washington in 2001. The Saudi adviser has often appeared on
U.S. television to argue that Al Qaida is regarded as an enemy of the
kingdom.
The appointment of Al Jubeir, 44, was seen as a victory for Saudi
National Security Adviser Prince Bandar Bin Sultan. Bandar served as
ambassador to Washington until 2005, where he was succeeded by Prince Turki
Al Faisal, recalled last week.
"He [Al Jubeir] has risen to such levels of esteem in the estimation of
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah that he has been appointed the next Saudi
ambassador to the United States," Steve Clemons, a researcher at the New
America Foundation, said.
