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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
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday November 18 2018, @01:52PM (2 children)
What of rule of law, Runaway? Let's recall [soylentnews.org] what you wrote earlier:
In the vein of those questions, you support governments murdering their opponents when it is convenient? The difference is that these questions you bring are laws, written down and rigid rules that everyone is aware of. The "rules" that Kashoggi crossed are arbitrary and subject to whim.
This is a key difference between authoritarianism and everything else. To authoritarianism, the authority can do significant things that would normally be outside the law because it is the authority. Little to no further justification needs to be made. For everyone else, the authorities need to follow clear rules.
My view here is that Saudi Arabia doesn't have nor will ever have the right to murder its political opponents merely because they are opponents. But we're not even to that point. The Crown Prince is not Saudi Arabia. He can and in this case should be replaced in his role - assuming Saudi Arabia wants to continue with a monarchy, and then tried for his crimes in a fair court of law.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday November 18 2018, @02:49PM
The Crown Prince, or, the Heir Apparent, has acted in a manner pleasing to the current monarch, apparently. And, that's life under a monarchy. The rules are fickle, arbitrary, and capricious. The day that the Saudi Arabian people decide to change that, they will do so. Of course, that will probably mean that the House of Saud no longer rules, being replaced by some other fickle, arbitrary, and capricious asshole.
Also - it doesn't matter whether you or I recognize the right of the monarch to rule. It only matters whether the Saudis recognize that right. Obviously, enough Saudis recognize the king's rights and authorities that they keep him enthroned.
The prince may be a different story. Only time will tell.
One more thing. I've also referred to the US government committing similar acts. We don't usually send a hit team, these days. Instead, we just play some video games while we bide our time. When the time is right, we launch hellfire from the skies. I really don't see much difference between a hit team, or a drone strike.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 20 2018, @06:37PM
But I suppose murdering one journalist is a tragedy whereas bombed yemeni weddings and funerals are just statistics.