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Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz
Al-Saud
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| Offices: Assistant Minister of
Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs |
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| Born: 1949 | | | Education: Advanced military training in the
U.S. and U.K., masters degree in political science, Auburn
University | |
| Lineage: Son of Prince Sultan,
grandson of King Ibn Saud | | | Line to Throne:
Possible "second generation" contender | | | Miscellaneous: Enjoyed American TV programs such
as MURPHY BROWN and FAMILY FEUD while commanding the joint Arab forces
during the Gulf War. | | | Quote: "Ours is
a turbulent region, still in the grips of an arms race. True peace and
disarmament are a long way off. There are great security anxieties in
our region due to the dangerous imbalance between the various
players." | |
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Prince Khalid is best known as the commander of the joint Arab forces
during the first Gulf War. Though he's had an impressive military
career, some journalists insist that Prince Khalid was actually a
figurehead leader who took his cues from U.S. general, Norman
Schwarzkopf. Khalid himself painted a more dynamic picture of his role
during the conflict in his memoir DESERT WARRIOR: A PERSONAL VIEW OF THE
GULF WAR, the first book published by a member of the royal family.
Prince Khalid tendered his resignation soon after the end of
the Gulf War, a move that lead to a flurry of speculation concerning the
inner workings of the House of Saud. One explanation for his resignation
held that Khalid was a victim of his own ambition. It was rumored that
after the end of hostilities, Khalid made a request to King Fahd that he
be promoted to the rank of military chief of staff. Khalid's
self-promotion and high visibility (he was trailed by a documentary film
crew during the Gulf War) may have been distasteful to some high-ranking
royal family members, and King Fahd may have balked at the young
prince's brazen request. Furthermore, leadership positions within the
House of Saud are secured through close personal relationships, and
Khalid's connections to King Fahd were not perceived as strong.
Since his resignation, Khalid has largely kept out of the press. Though
he now works for his father, Prince Sultan, as deputy minister of
defense, it remains to be seen how Khalid will fare once he and his
peers begin jockeying for power.
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Photo Essay - Take a look
at the faces and places of Saudi Arabia
Interactive Map - Learn about
the Saudi oil industry and the world's dependence on such.
Info-Graphic -
Examine the numbers of Muslims in the World and in the West.
Debate: Islam and
Democracy Two scholars, Dr. Daniel Pipes and Dr. Muqtedar Khan
discuss the compatibility of Islam and democracy.
Interactive Map: Middle
East- Learn more about the politics, population and history of
Middle East countries.
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