Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Retired US generals, admirals engage in lucrative business with MBS

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Washington Post
  • 19 Oct 2022 08:50
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Hundreds of veterans have accepted lucrative foreign employment that US officials approved but battled to keep hidden.

  • x
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then the deputy crown prince, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 16 March 2017 (AFP)
    Saudi Crown Prince MBS at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 16, 2017 (AFP)

More than 500 retired US military personnel, including top army officials, have taken high-paying jobs working for foreign governments since 2015, according to a Washington Post investigation, largely in countries infamous for human rights abuses and political repression.

Since 2016, 15 retired US generals and admirals were paid for consultations offered to the Saudi Defense Ministry. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, is in charge of the Ministry, which, according to US intelligence services, ordered the execution of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Post contributing columnist, in 2018 as part of a savage crackdown on dissent.

Read next: US-KSA standoff: Riyadh defies Washington prior to OPEC production cut

Paid advisors included retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones, a national security advisor to President Barack Obama, and retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander, who led the National Security Agency under Obama and President George W. Bush, according to documents obtained by The Post under Freedom of Information Act lawsuits.

Others who have worked as consultants for the Saudis since Khashoggi’s murder include a retired four-star Air Force general and a former commanding general of US troops in Afghanistan.

Related News

US, China to resume talks in Madrid; tariffs, TikTok on agenda

China warns Philippines against provocations in South China Sea

The vast majority of the retired US personnel have worked as civilian contractors for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf monarchs, playing vital, albeit mostly unseen, roles in their military modernization.

Apparently, #Biden wants to forget about his first fist bump with #Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, which made headlines after his visit to #SaudiArabia.#JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/EeXAIS4J7x

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 18, 2022

Meanwhile, the security forces of the Gulf countries have continued to conduct human rights violations both within and outside their borders. Saudi Arabia and the UAE led the war on Yemen, generating a worldwide humanitarian crisis and killing thousands of civilians with shared information, aerial refueling, and other help from the US government and contractors, according to United Nations investigators.

Foreign governments have historically used Americans as lobbyists, lawyers, political consultants, think tank researchers, and public relations experts to advance their interests in Washington. However, the recruiting of retired US military officers for their experience and political clout has increased over the last decade as oil-rich gulf monarchies have increased defense spending and expanded security partnerships with the Pentagon.

What does it take to work for foreign governments?

Retired troops and reservists are allowed by Congress to work for foreign governments only if approval from their branch of the armed forces and the State Department is obtained. However, under all circumstances, the US government has made extreme efforts to keep the high-paying jobs under the radar. For years, it withheld virtually all information about the practice, including which countries employ the most retired US service members and the amounts of money involved.

All army units involved; 6 and 7 figures paid

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), The Post sued the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the State Department in federal court. After a two-year legal battle, the paper obtained more than 4,000 pages of documents, including case files for about 450 retired soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.

The documents show that US "military talent" is often paid amply, with salary and benefits packages reaching six and, sometimes, seven figures. These numbers exceed by far what most American servicing members earn. At the top of the scale, active four-star generals earn $203,698 a year in basic pay.

  • United States
  • Mohammed Bin Salman
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS