Editing Kamal Adham (section)

==Career in Intelligence==
(1964–1979) -
In 1964, King Faisal appointed Adham as chief of external intelligence, and in 1965, he became the first director general of Al Mukhabarat Al A’amah (General Intelligence Directorate, later renamed General Intelligence Presidency, GIP), serving until 1979. As head of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, Adham played a pivotal role in establishing the kingdom’s international influence during a turbulent period marked by Cold War rivalries and Arab nationalism. His tenure included:

Yemen Proxy War (1960s): Adham led intelligence efforts supporting royalists against Egyptian-backed republicans in Yemen, working with British allies to counter President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s influence. He hosted a secret 1965 conference in Jeddah to broker a compromise regime. This meeting included discussions on the MI6 and CIA's initiative to overthrow the Nassar's government. The proxy war between the British and Egypt in Yemen, where 75,000 Egyptian troops deployed, set the stage for Israel's attack in 1967 ensuring a victory over Egypt. This was in response for Egyptian President Nassar's expelling the British from the Suez Canal protectorate role within Egypt.

Egyptian Relations (1970–1972): After Nasser’s assassination in 1970, Adham facilitated Saudi Arabia’s reconciliation with Egypt under President Anwar Sadat. In 1972, he persuaded Sadat to expel 20,000 Soviet military advisors, a major geopolitical shift aligning Egypt with the West, reportedly backed by Saudi payments which was done with consultation and support of the UK and the US.

CIA Collaboration: Trained in the U.S., alongside future Mossad head Zvi Zamir, Adham maintained intimate ties with the CIA. He facilitated U.S.-Pakistani contacts during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979), channeling CIA funding to mujahideen, including Osama bin Laden, via Pakistan. His associate, Raymond Close, a former CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia, joined Adham’s team in 1977, strengthening U.S.-Saudi intelligence links.

Adham’s discreet style—often working from his Jeddah home, equipped with advanced communications—earned him the moniker “godfather of Middle East intelligence.” His ability to navigate Western and Arab intelligence networks, including alleged knowledge of Mossad activities within 24 hours, underscored his influence, though such claims may be exaggerated.