As Saudi Arabia celebrates Founding Day, and as the murky underbelly of GCC geopolitics is on everyone's minds, we're re-releasing this classic Conflicted episode from early 2022.

Thomas & Aimen discuss:

• The deep history of Arabia
• The first foundations of Saudi Arabia
• The transition from British to American dominance in the Middle East
• Aimen’s family history within the British imperial system
• The 1920 Iraqi revolt
• St John Philby (Abdullah Philby)
• The consolidation of Saudi Arabia under Ibn Saud
• Oil politics and the American-Saudi partnership
• Cold War spy-craft and intelligence networks in Saudi Arabia
• Espionage culture in the region
• The murder of Jamal Khashoggi

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Conflicted is a Message Heard production.

Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.

Produced and edited by Rowan Bishop.

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