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posted by takyon on Sunday November 18 2018, @01:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the is-that-a-bone-saw-in-your-pocket? dept.

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


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  • (Score: 2) by quietus on Sunday November 18 2018, @12:17PM (4 children)

    by quietus (6328) on Sunday November 18 2018, @12:17PM (#763451) Journal

    What's missing from nearly all the reporting about the killing of Kashanoggi is a bit of research into the background of MBS.

    He stands out among the royal family as the only one who hasn't gone to a British or United States' education institution -- instead, he has spent his time among the tribes in Saudi-Arabia, building connections, trust. If T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom is something to go by, that requires thoughtfulness, a deep knowledge of tribal customs, law and kinship relations -- and an amount of patience which would be unbearable to a westerner.

    In other words: a deep contrast with the picture painted by the media of an impulsive, tyrannical, spoilt brat.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @01:52PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @01:52PM (#763477)

    Perhaps, but this may be a two edged sword if it traded connections to rule internally in exchange the understanding to work with the rest of the world.

    The news here is not that things work differently in SA, but rather the magnitude of the opportunities for improvement in the skill of the operation.

    Looking backwards, is a person who would do this in this manner sufficiently prepared to lead?

    Definitely not, but looking forward may be uniquely qualified. He's the one that got the lesson to use more tact next time.

    The question is did he learn?

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 18 2018, @02:56PM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday November 18 2018, @02:56PM (#763495) Journal

      The question is did he learn?

      The real question is when will he face justice for that murder?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @10:46PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 18 2018, @10:46PM (#763651)

        Face justice, nuts, that's contrary to the concept of ruler.

        That said, this gives the current king something to consider if this guy is the right guy to take SA into the next generation.

  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 18 2018, @02:54PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday November 18 2018, @02:54PM (#763494) Journal

    In other words: a deep contrast with the picture painted by the media of an impulsive, tyrannical, spoilt brat.

    The problem is that murdering a journalist in such a sloppy way does support the image of an impulsive, tyrannical, spoiled brat. Sounds like time to bring him to justice and either get a good heir or end the Saudi monarchy.