Is Saudi Arabia behind Syrian civil war?

Prince Bandar bin Sultan was the Saudi Arabia’s envoy to Washington for 22 years, spanning the first Gulf War and the Sep. 11 attacks

If a full blown war erupts between the US and Syria, it won't be good for the US, or Israel, or Syria or Iran.  The only country that stands to benefit the most from US intervention is Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis hate Assad and have been funding the rebels to bring him down but government resistance is fierce and there is no end in sight so they are pushing for US intervention.  Why? Because Syria and Iran are both ruled by Shia leaders and the Sunni Saudis hate Shiite Muslims.

There will be two likely outcomes if the US goes ahead.  Assad could still remain leader but if the rebels win, it will be a win for al-Qaeda.

Leaked transcripts of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan three weeks ago in Moscow suggest there was an offer put forward to Russia that involved a secret oil deal and a promise to safeguard Russia's naval base in Syria if Assad was defeated.  But there was also a veiled threat.  "I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics next year.  The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us" he allegedly said.

It's also alleged that the Prince went on to say that Chechens operating in Syria were a pressure tool that could be switched off.  "These groups do not scare us, we use them in the face of the Syrian regime but they will have no role in Syria's political future."

Putin was reportedly unmoved by the offer.  "Our stance on Assad will never change" he said.  "We believe that the Syrian regime is the best speaker on behalf of the Syrian people and not those liver eaters", referring to footage showing a Jihadist rebel eating the heart and liver of a Syrian soldier.

Prince Bandar must have his fingers crossed that the US will come to his aid and intervene in the war, and do his dirty work for him, without ever having to lift a finger.