“Saudi Arabia has replaced intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the kingdom’s pointman on the Syrian conflict, “at his own request”, official news agency SPA announced Tuesday. In a royal decree, the powerful official was “exempted… from his position at his own request” and replaced by his deputy, Yousef al-Idrissi………………..”

So much for Bandar’s much publicized return and what anonymous high officials claimed that he will resume work on his “Syria” portfolio. The anonymous officials almost certainly were Bandar partisans and allies. The old king and his palace minions had to act quickly, and sack him publicly so there will be no doubt this time. This time there will be no more returns, the Jack in the Box, will not pop out again. This chapter of Al Saud family intrigue is apparently closed.