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"State Department officials credit Prince Mohammed with developing a distinctive approach to combating terrorist recruiting in the kingdom, working directly with the families of dead militants. By providing support to the families “and telling them their sons had been ‘victims’ and not ‘criminals,’ ” the program gave the families “a way out” and provided a public relations advantage to the government." ... "“It sets into motion some very strange family dynamics , none of which appear very good,” said Michael Stephens, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute who studies Saudi Arabia." ... "“None of these people are ideological,” Professor Haykel said. “ There is no commitment to anything beyond their interests. ”" ... “If you stop five but create 50,” Prince Mohammed was quoted as saying, “that’s dumb.” Saudi Succession Hints at Shift in Foreign Role Tuesday January 27 th , 2015 at 1:13 PM 1 Share