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Submitted via IRC for Bytram
C.I.A. Concludes That Saudi Crown Prince Ordered Khashoggi Killed
The Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to American officials.
The C.I.A. made the assessment based on the crown prince's control of Saudi Arabia, which is such that the killing would not have taken place without his approval, and has buttressed its conclusion with two sets of crucial communications: intercepts of the crown prince's calls in the days before the killing, and calls by the kill team to a senior aide to the crown prince.
[...] The increasingly definitive assessment from the spy agency creates a problem for President Trump, who has tied his administration to Prince Mohammed and proclaimed him the future of Saudi Arabia, a longtime American ally. But the new assessment by the C.I.A. is sure to harden the resolve of lawmakers on Capitol Hill to continue to investigate the killing of Mr. Khashoggi and punish Saudi Arabia.
Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, has been particularly close to Prince Mohammed. Mr. Kushner has long advocated that a strong relationship with the Saudis is in the United States' interest, and he has pushed to maintain support for the crown prince despite the death of Mr. Khashoggi, who Saudi officials now say was killed with a lethal dose of tranquilizers and dismembered. Previously, Saudi officials said that Mr. Khashoggi had been strangled.
[...] Neither administration officials nor intelligence officers believe the controversy over Mr. Khashoggi will drive Prince Mohammed from power, which is one reason White House officials believe cutting ties with the prince would not be in the interest of the United States.
takyon: The Saudis have denied the reports.
See also: Saudi media ignore US reports on Khashoggi
Top White House Official Involved in Saudi Sanctions Resigns
Previously: Turkey Says that a Missing Critic of the Saudi Government was Killed in Saudi Consulate in Istanbul
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Prepared to Admit Involvement in Journalist's Death
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @03:39AM (2 children)
Saudi culpability is not even a matter of dispute. The real issue is what Turkey's Erdogan is aiming to gain while driving the Saudis into the corner, and how will the US deal with Saudis while trying to corner Iran.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday November 18 2018, @11:00AM
Legitimacy. The Europeans don't like him much [bbc.com]; why. those pesky Europeans might even get ideas about those Kurds who managed to control ISIS.
On the other side... NATO, which Turky is a part of
My guess? The Turkish-style of islamism (as contrasted to the arabic styles) - something that's not related to sunni or shi'a. The Turks can claim no relation with t Muhammad, thus they need to dispense of this issue of this relation.
That's an interesting one indeed.
MIC has, in Saudis, a paying platinum-level customer - losing it would mean they'll need another market, fast. Some US-Iran skirmishes would do - but then, why drop Saudis, they are a strong opposer of Iran anyway (same is Israel, except the latter are as advanced and almost independent on the US MIC
On the oil industry, the Saudis and US are frenemies - US oil can't sell if the fracking cost aren't covered. so Saudis need to put a cap on oil price/artificial scarcity or else they'll lose control of the market.
Note that the oil industry does good on the stock market when the oil prices are high
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @11:15PM
SURPRISE! ANNOUNCING THE AXIS OF ISLAMISTS & THUGS: Qatar offers formation of new coalition in region | Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Turkey and Syria. [twitter.com]