10-16-2018, 12:31 AM
The latest--"Rogue Killers" may have killed Kashoggi.
In Shifting Story, Saudi Arabia May Admit Dissident Journalist Was Killed
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/politics/trump-saudi-king-journalist-khashoggi.html
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia was preparing an alternative explanation of the fate of a dissident journalist on Monday, saying he died at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago in an interrogation gone wrong, according to a person familiar with the kingdom’s plans. In Washington, President Trump echoed the possibility that Jamal Khashoggi was the victim of “rogue killers.”
The shifting story line defied earlier details that have emerged in the case, including signs that he was murdered and dismembered. Among other things, Turkish officials have said, an autopsy specialist carrying a bone saw was among 15 Saudi operatives who flew in and out of Istanbul the day Mr. Khashoggi disappeared.
The new explanation, whatever its truth, seemed intended to ease the political crisis that Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance has created for Saudi Arabia. The new story could also defuse some criticism of the Trump administration, which has refused to back down from billions of dollars in weapons sales to the kingdom and as of Monday was still planning to attend a glittering Saudi investment forum next week.
But the theory was widely dismissed among Mr. Khashoggi’s friends, human rights advocates and some on Capitol Hill, who noted that Saudi officials had denied his death for two weeks — including assertions by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week and the king himself on Monday.
“Been hearing the ridiculous ‘rogue killers’ theory was where the Saudis would go with this,” Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, wrote in a Twitter post. “Absolutely extraordinary they were able to enlist the President of the United States as their PR agent to float it.”
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In his 60 minute interview with Leslie Stahl, Trump carried forward the "rogue killers" hypothesis, and stated that he had spoken to the all-but-deposed Saudi King how plausibly claimed to know nothing about the killing--now that MSB is actually running the country.
I am curious as to what forum members think of this--a US non-citizen resident and WaPo journalist is killed in the Saudi embassy, and our president reminds us of our business ties with the Kingdom. And that Kashoggi was not a U.S. citizen.
Does this fit with tolerance/approval of other authoritarian regimes?
In Shifting Story, Saudi Arabia May Admit Dissident Journalist Was Killed
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/politics/trump-saudi-king-journalist-khashoggi.html
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia was preparing an alternative explanation of the fate of a dissident journalist on Monday, saying he died at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago in an interrogation gone wrong, according to a person familiar with the kingdom’s plans. In Washington, President Trump echoed the possibility that Jamal Khashoggi was the victim of “rogue killers.”
The shifting story line defied earlier details that have emerged in the case, including signs that he was murdered and dismembered. Among other things, Turkish officials have said, an autopsy specialist carrying a bone saw was among 15 Saudi operatives who flew in and out of Istanbul the day Mr. Khashoggi disappeared.
The new explanation, whatever its truth, seemed intended to ease the political crisis that Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance has created for Saudi Arabia. The new story could also defuse some criticism of the Trump administration, which has refused to back down from billions of dollars in weapons sales to the kingdom and as of Monday was still planning to attend a glittering Saudi investment forum next week.
But the theory was widely dismissed among Mr. Khashoggi’s friends, human rights advocates and some on Capitol Hill, who noted that Saudi officials had denied his death for two weeks — including assertions by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week and the king himself on Monday.
“Been hearing the ridiculous ‘rogue killers’ theory was where the Saudis would go with this,” Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, wrote in a Twitter post. “Absolutely extraordinary they were able to enlist the President of the United States as their PR agent to float it.”
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In his 60 minute interview with Leslie Stahl, Trump carried forward the "rogue killers" hypothesis, and stated that he had spoken to the all-but-deposed Saudi King how plausibly claimed to know nothing about the killing--now that MSB is actually running the country.
I am curious as to what forum members think of this--a US non-citizen resident and WaPo journalist is killed in the Saudi embassy, and our president reminds us of our business ties with the Kingdom. And that Kashoggi was not a U.S. citizen.
Does this fit with tolerance/approval of other authoritarian regimes?
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
