New US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia General John Abizaid arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday, hoping to bolster relations between Riyadh and Washington. He was confirmed to his position by the Senate in April. Upon his arrival in the Kingdom, he declared that he was honored to take up his position and looked forward to bolstering the close and important relations between Saudi Arabia and the US. Abizaid is a fluent Arabic speaker of Lebanese descent. He was the longest-serving commander of US Central Command, holding that post from 2003 until he retired in 2007.