The Turks may still yet have the ultimate "smoking gun" leak up their sleeve which could put to bed the whole question over whether Saudi crown prince MbS personally ordered the October 2nd killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
The story broke on Thursday as Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving, and as President Trump — spending the holidays a Mar-a-Lago — took time to tell reporters at a press conference that the CIA "didn't conclude" that MbS ordered the killing while hedging that he "might have done it".
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News said on Thursday the CIA has a recording of a phone call in which the crown prince gave instructions to "silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible." The possible existence of such a tape could put Trump in an awkward position if its contents are leaked given his consistent defense of MbS amidst the scandal and growing calls for accountability.
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ReplyDeleteMB member Kashoggi's presumed murder (missing body) was horrible, both in planning and execution. Fact.
The Turks and Saudis are currently on less than the best terms. Fact.
Embassies and consulates are treated as an actual land extension of the country that occupies them. So he was a Saudi citizen on Saudi land when last seen. Fact.
Beneath the PR facade Saudi Arabia is a monarchy with highly restrictive rules for its citizens and more restrictive ones for non-citizens visiting or working there. Fact.
The King and/or Prince may not have clean hands in this matter. They regarded the deceased as an enemy and treasonous; he was aware of their views and had stayed away from the country. They play very hardball with criminals at home and don't hesitate to use the death penalty. Fact.
It's naive to think this action, unwarranted in Western eyes, will upset the apple cart of national interests and policies. Fact.
I wonder if the CIA has a recording of the stand down order she gave to stop our special forces from saving Amb. Stevens and three others who repeatedly requested help in Benghazi.
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