WASHINGTON // Saudi Arabia’s ex-spymaster Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud on Tuesday offered a public critique of the US strategy for combating ISIL.
A former head of Saudi intelligence and ambassador to the US, he reiterated the position of Arabian Gulf states that the group cannot be defeated in Syria unless rebels there are empowered to fight Bashar Al Assad.
“Airstrikes are not enough”, he said, adding that “governments who murder their own people” must be stopped before ISIL can be defeated, part of an effort to end conditions that brings the extremist group recruits and influence.
Relatively moderate Syrian rebels should be armed by the coalition so that they can defend against stepped up attacks by Damascus on their remaining strongholds, and no-fly zones imposed along Syria’s borders, Prince Turki said.
The Syrian political opposition should be allowed to use these zones to set up a government inside Syria and increase their legitimacy as part of a renewed push for a negotiated resolution to the conflict, he added.
The Obama administration has said it is dedicating $500 million to train and equip a few thousand Syrian rebels, using Saudi facilities, over the next year, but that their focus will only be on combating ISIL.
US officials say there are not yet rebels they trust with the discipline and capacity to hold territory that they take from the Assad regime.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar were at the forefront of arming rebels, both Islamist and more moderate in the first years of the Syrian war, and critics have said these policies helped lead to the rise of ISIL. These countries vehemently deny such charges, saying Mr Al Assad abetted their rise, and that they do not support extremist groups linked to Al Qaeda or ISIL.
Those making such accusations, “should either put up, or shut up”, Prince Turki said during remarks at the annual National Council on US-Arab Relations conference.
Prince Turki also warned that Iran continues to destabilise the region by supporting proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.
Whatever the outcome of the continuing nuclear negotiations between world powers and Tehran, Riyadh will “also seek to have the same terms in developing our nuclear energy” he said.
tkhan@thenational.ae
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Price: From Dh825,900
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- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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