[UPDATE Kossack RenaRF points out that the last time Turki resigned unexpectedly was on… September 4, 2001. Eesh. I guess this explains why Bush is postponing his big strategery speech ’til January. Tinfoil, anyone?]

Good God. The guy must have found out what Bush has got planned after He’s through “listening.” (Though if that’s as bad as I think it must be, no doubt the Ambassador would prefer to stay in DC, in the bunker with Cheney and Bush. As long as Cheney doesn’t bring a gun with him, of course.) WaPo, well buried on A23:

Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, flew out of Washington yesterday after informing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and his staff that he would be leaving the post after only 15 months on the job, according to U.S. officials and foreign envoys. There has been no formal announcement from the kingdom.

The abrupt departure is particularly striking because his predecessor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, spent 22 years on the job. The Saudi ambassador is one of the most influential diplomatic positions in Washington and is arguably the most important overseas post for the oil-rich desert kingdom.

Turki, a long-serving former intelligence chief, told his staff yesterday afternoon that he wanted to spend more time with his family, according to Arab diplomats.

Only fifteen months, but the guy sure knows DC: “spend more time with his family” my sweet Aunt Fanny.

Those darn diplomats are so subtle!