Behind the Bastards

Part Three: Prince Mohammed Bin Salman: The Tyrant of Saudi Arabia

January 27, 2026

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  • Mohammed bin Nayef (MBN), the son of 'The Black Prince,' distinguished himself early on by cultivating relationships with Western security agencies (FBI, Scotland Yard) and taking a proactive stance against Al-Qaeda, contrasting sharply with his father's denial of the threat. 
  • MBN's successful counterterrorism efforts, particularly after the 1998 Dahran bombing and leading the response to Al-Qaeda's post-9/11 surge, positioned him as a highly respected and capable figure within the Saudi royal family and a key ally for U.S. intelligence. 
  • Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) initiated the disastrous Saudi intervention in the Yemeni Civil War in March 2015, seemingly as his first major act to bolster his image as a military leader, despite lacking the support of key figures like MBN and the National Guard head, and quickly shifting to targeting civilian infrastructure as the war stalled. 
  • The Saudi war effort in Yemen, heavily reliant on US-supplied weapons and political support, quickly became a quagmire, leading MBS to implement an economic war that laid the groundwork for a humanitarian catastrophe. 
  • Mohammed bin Nayef's attempt to secure US backing against MBS failed because the Obama administration explicitly stated it would not intervene in internal Saudi power struggles, confirming MBS's strategy of prioritizing regional allies like MBZ (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nayan) over US support. 
  • The Trump administration, specifically through Jared Kushner's close relationship with MBS, proved more adept than the Obama administration at cultivating relationships with powerful Saudi figures, despite the Obama administration recognizing the need for an 'MBS whisperer.' 

Segments

Introduction and Guest Update
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(00:00:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast continues Part Three of the series on Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with guest David Bell, who recently recovered from COVID-19.
  • Summary: Robert and guest David Bell welcome listeners back to the ongoing discussion about Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Saudi royal family. David Bell notes a gap in recording due to having recently recovered from COVID-19. The opening includes a brief, unusual anecdote about a shared dream involving the hosts.
Sponsor Reads and Ad Breaks
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(00:01:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode features advertisements for Airtasker, Odoo, Organic Valley, and Orange Theory Fitness.
  • Summary: The podcast pauses for several sponsor messages. These include promotions for Airtasker for task outsourcing, Odoo as an all-in-one business software platform, Organic Valley dairy from family farms, and a special offer for Orange Theory Fitness classes.
Contrasting Saudi Princes
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(00:04:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Unlike most unproductive Saudi princes, Mohammed bin Salman and his father, King Salman, were exceptions, alongside Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN).
  • Summary: The hosts contrast the typical Saudi prince, who focuses on self-enrichment, with productive exceptions like Mohammed bin Salman and his father. A key focus shifts to Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN), who was born in 1959 and was considered a much stronger contender for the throne than MBS due to his lineage.
MBN’s Background and Western Ties
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(00:05:16)
  • Key Takeaway: MBN’s father, Nayef bin Abdulaziz (‘The Black Prince’), was an arch-reactionary who suppressed liberalism, yet MBN deliberately sought Western education in Portland, Oregon, and trained with the FBI and Scotland Yard.
  • Summary: MBN’s father, Nayef bin Abdulaziz, earned the nickname ‘The Black Prince’ for enforcing harsh, puritanical laws and suppressing constitutional monarchy movements. MBN attended Lewis and Clark College and Portland State University but did not graduate from either, though he later claimed a degree. He undertook specialized counterterrorism training with the FBI and London’s Scotland Yard in the 1990s, establishing early pro-Western credentials.
MBN vs. His Father on Terrorism
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(00:10:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Nayef was slow to recognize Al-Qaeda as a threat, viewing it as focused only on the Soviets and dismissing U.S. concerns, while MBN recognized Al-Qaeda as a domestic danger.
  • Summary: There was a notable divergence between the elder Nayef, who was friendly with Osama bin Laden during the Afghan war, and his son MBN regarding the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. Nayef stonewalled the CIA after the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, fearing U.S. action against Iran. MBN, due to his Western training, was one of the rare high-ranking royals who viewed Al-Qaeda as a genuine threat to the kingdom.
MBN’s Rise in Security Ranks
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(00:15:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The 1998 foiled plot to attack the U.S. consulate while Al Gore was visiting Saudi Arabia validated MBN’s warnings about Al-Qaeda, leading to his promotion in security roles.
  • Summary: The successful thwarting of an Al-Qaeda plot against the U.S. consulate in 1998, while Vice President Al Gore was present, significantly boosted MBN’s standing. By 1999, MBN was appointed a senior minister in the Ministry of the Interior, and by 2001, he was considered the top Saudi contact for counterterrorism by experts.
MBN’s Counterterrorism Strategy
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(00:17:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Following 9/11, MBN led the Saudi counteroffensive against Al-Qaeda, focusing on ruthless hunting of operatives while also treating the families of deceased terrorists as victims to prevent radicalization.
  • Summary: The 9/11 attacks, involving 15 Saudi hijackers, created immense pressure on the Saudi security establishment, benefiting MBN who had warned of the danger. MBN’s strategy involved aggressively hunting wanted Al-Qaeda members while simultaneously offering state support to the families of deceased operatives, aiming to avoid creating new terrorists through collateral shaming.
Assassination Attempt and Hero Status
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(00:29:06)
  • Key Takeaway: MBN survived a 2009 assassination attempt where a man detonated a bomb hidden in his rectum during a surrender meeting, further cementing his heroic status after he thwarted a major shipping container bomb plot the previous year.
  • Summary: MBN’s success in thwarting a 2010 plot to smuggle bombs into the U.S. via shipping containers solidified his heroic image with the West and at home. This followed a 2009 attempt where a man detonated a bomb hidden in his rectum while meeting MBN in person, resulting in MBN sustaining light wounds.
MBN Crown Prince Appointment
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(00:31:52)
  • Key Takeaway: When King Salman took power in 2015, MBN was made Crown Prince due to his established security credentials, while MBS was appointed Defense Minister, signaling early power consolidation for the younger son.
  • Summary: MBN was the logical choice for Crown Prince in 2015 because he was seen as the protector of the country against Al-Qaeda, earning praise from U.S. intelligence. However, King Salman immediately collapsed MBN’s separate royal court into the main one, giving MBS control over patronage and power-building opportunities.
MBS Launches Yemen War
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(00:36:03)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS ordered the direct military intervention in Yemen’s civil war in March 2015, believing it would be a quick victory against the Iranian-backed Houthis, a decision made without informing MBN or the National Guard head.
  • Summary: MBS’s decision to intervene militarily in Yemen was a distinct shock to the Saudi leadership, as he bypassed established figures like MBN. The justification was countering the Houthis, whom MBS viewed solely as an Iranian proxy, but analysts suggest the primary driver was MBS’s arrogance and desire for a quick, credit-earning military success.
Yemen War Escalation and MBS’s Vacation
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(00:49:01)
  • Key Takeaway: As the Saudi-led coalition failed to achieve a quick victory in Yemen and shifted to bombing civilian infrastructure, MBS took an extended, lavish vacation to the Maldives, featuring Pitbull and Psy.
  • Summary: By August 2015, the Saudi war in Yemen was failing, forcing the coalition to target civilian infrastructure like water and hospitals, a shift away from military targets. During this escalation, MBS left for a week-long party in the Maldives with 150 models and performers like Pitbull, before being forced to return early due to the negative publicity surrounding the war’s brutality.
Yemen War Reliance and US Support
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(00:57:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The Saudi war effort in Yemen was completely dependent on US-made bombs and aircraft, alongside crucial American political backing.
  • Summary: The coalition successfully pushed Houthis from the far south but failed to capture the capital or other major Houthi-controlled cities. MBS had falsely promised the brutal campaign would end in weeks or months. The war effort’s reliance on the US for munitions and political support was absolute.
MBN’s Failed US Appeal
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(00:57:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Mohammed bin Nayef sent an aide to Washington seeking US assurance of support against MBS, but the US refused to take sides in internal Saudi disputes.
  • Summary: Mohammed bin Nayef’s chief of staff, Saad al-Jabri, informed American contacts that MBS was an idiot and the Yemen war was a mistake, hoping to secure US backing for a power struggle. MBS countered this by seeking regional allies instead of wasting time trying to win over the US. The US confirmation that they would not intervene directly enabled MBS to move against his cousin.
MBS Allies with MBZ
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(00:58:15)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS forged a critical alliance with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nayan (MBZ) of the UAE, driven by their mutual desire to remove Mohammed bin Nayef (MBN).
  • Summary: MBS looked to the UAE, where MBZ was the primary decision-maker, as his most important early foreign ally. MBZ reportedly insulted MBN’s father, cementing the bond between MBS and MBZ against MBN. They strategized to remove MBS’s older cousin, with MBZ immediately lobbying American contacts on MBS’s behalf.
Obama Administration’s Failed Outreach
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(00:59:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The Obama White House considered appointing an ‘MBS whisperer’ like John Kerry or Ash Carter, but ultimately decided to assign no one to the role, leaving a diplomatic vacuum.
  • Summary: MBZ’s successful promotion of MBS led the Obama White House to discuss assigning someone to manage the relationship with the rising Saudi prince. Suggestions included John Kerry, Ash Carter, and Joe Biden, but all were deemed unavailable or unsuitable, resulting in the decision to have ’no one’ serve this function.
Trump Administration Competence
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(01:01:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The Trump administration was more competent than the Obama administration in recognizing and actively sucking up to powerful individuals like MBS, exemplified by Jared Kushner’s close relationship.
  • Summary: Jared Kushner was chosen by the Trump administration to become close to MBS because they paid attention to cultivating relationships with wealthy, influential figures. This contrasts with the Obama administration’s failure to assign anyone to befriend MBS. Kushner’s proximity to MBS is noted as an area where the Trump administration showed greater competence in dealing with Saudi power dynamics.
MBN’s Decline and Isolation
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(01:04:00)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS systematically isolated Mohammed bin Nayef by using MBN’s outreach to the US as a pretext to fire his chief aide, Al-Jabri, while MBN was hampered by potential long-term injuries from a 2009 attack.
  • Summary: MBS took the US declaration of non-intervention as confirmation to move against MBN, using the dispatch of Al-Jabri to the US as grounds for his dismissal. This left MBN weakened, with analysts suspecting he suffered from brain damage and painkiller addiction following a 2009 assassination attempt, reducing his ability to fight back. MBS outmaneuvered his older cousin, who appeared less mentally agile in public appearances.
Yemen Siege and Famine Escalation
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(01:06:38)
  • Key Takeaway: After failing to break Houthi resistance militarily, MBS escalated the conflict into a full economic war by sealing off Yemen, leading to devastating famine conditions.
  • Summary: By autumn 2016, the Yemen war was a quagmire, prompting the shift to an economic war strategy. This involved closing Sana airport to commercial and medical flights and imposing blockades on Al-Hudaya port. Moving the Central Bank to Aden halted government worker payments, devastating Yemen, which imports over 70% of its food needs.
MBS Buys Bill Gates’ Yacht
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(01:07:38)
  • Key Takeaway: While Yemen faced mass starvation, MBS purchased the $550 million yacht ‘Serene’ from Russian owner Yuri Scheffler in a swift transaction, effectively outbidding Bill Gates who was leasing it.
  • Summary: MBS encountered the 135-meter yacht ‘Serene’ while vacationing on the French Riviera and instantly offered an estimated $550 million, closing the deal within 24 to 48 hours via a single wire transfer. The owner was told to leave immediately, denying Bill Gates the chance to purchase the vessel he loved. This occurred as Save the Children estimated a thousand children were dying weekly in Yemen from starvation and disease.