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Dinner chatter: U.S. diplomats headed to Saudi Arabia?

Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation kicked off a U.S.-Saudi conference in Washington with a dinner tonight featuring Gen. Brent Scowcroft, the former national security advisor to George H.W. Bush, and Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to Washington and Saudi intelligence chief. Chatter from the dinner was that U.S. envoy on the ...

Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation kicked off a U.S.-Saudi conference in Washington with a dinner tonight featuring Gen. Brent Scowcroft, the former national security advisor to George H.W. Bush, and Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to Washington and Saudi intelligence chief. Chatter from the dinner was that U.S. envoy on the Gulf and southwest Asia, Dennis Ross, was expected to be in Riyadh early this week, and possibly Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg as well.

Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation kicked off a U.S.-Saudi conference in Washington with a dinner tonight featuring Gen. Brent Scowcroft, the former national security advisor to George H.W. Bush, and Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to Washington and Saudi intelligence chief. Chatter from the dinner was that U.S. envoy on the Gulf and southwest Asia, Dennis Ross, was expected to be in Riyadh early this week, and possibly Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg as well.

UPDATE: Looks like Secretary Clinton is back. From her daily appointment schedule Monday:

9:00 a.m.   Opening remarks at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, Room -Loy Henderson Conference Room …

11:00 a.m.   Bilateral with His Excellency George Yeo Yong Boon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore.

12:25 p.m.   Remarks at "Operation Step-it Up" and Career Gear Event hosted by Patrick Kennedy, Under Secretary for Management.  Room:  George C Marshal Conference Center.

Laura Rozen writes The Cable daily at ForeignPolicy.com.

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