In an interview on Fox News, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal says that the internal investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi will surely exonerate the crown prince, and that the final version should be released soon.
Whether Prince Alwaleed is in a position to know this for sure isn’t totally clear. He was, after all, among the princes rounded up in the crown prince’s crackdown last year, and spent much of his interview insisting there were no hard feelings about that.
He is probably not wrong, however, as the one constant in the various conflicting Saudi stories is that the crown prince was uninvolved in the murder. The problem is that this is not a particularly credible claim.
Khashoggi was murdered by a 15-man kill team that included a number of the crown prince’s personal security, and some top aides. It is widely believed he ordered the killing personally, because Khashoggi had been a critic of him.
I’m sure they will (again) exonerate MbS. Nobody will believe it of course, but eventually they will talk about the next thing, and he’ll get away with it. Again.
And that’s the entire problem… when those in the know are absolutely certain of the outcome of an investigation before it happens, why bother doing it? So that they can say a meaningless fact, that an investigation did occur.
Too opinionated article, I think. The entire security structure and National guard are complex entities, and to clsim that these men were CLOSE to MbS is a real stretch. It is known that MbS has contracted from Pakistan his security, as since he came to power in June kast year much if the internal security apparatus remained staffed by the deposed crown Prince Muhammed Bin Nayaf. As he was an absolute “counterterrorism” favorite, and in his two year rule between April 2015 and June 2017, we saw explosion of Uslamuc cults, armed and vicious engulfing Middle East. He controlled Interior, a combination if CBI and Homeland Security. He was pushed by US to be appointed Criwn Prince to King Salman. Needless to say, King appointed his son to Defence and Aramco. He could not decide — but was a spy for his old man. Our media started then to attack King — as senile with Alzeheimers. All lies — aiming at pushing King to abdicate (and take his meddlung son, MbS with him. And then cement CIA favorite, MbN as King, to appoint a suitable Crown prince for years to come. But it did not happen. Allegiance Council removed Crown Prince and appointed King’s son, to conduct a more balanced politics, and introduce stability of rulling dynasty. With having father/son tandem, the objective was to eliminate court politics that created intrigues between King and de-facto head of government. Our media made it sound as if MbS was decision maker for years — not just a littke iver one year. Given the loyalty issues that come with being Crown Prince — the round up of usual suspects in cases of court coup is a par for the course. Not just a grabby shakedown. We see often what wevwant to see. And since MbS ascent to Crown Prince was not desirable— all his actions and intentions were automatically shiwn in derogatory light. Saudi Arabia’s role in shaping post-cold war geooolitics with heavy involvement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Middle East is the one of despicable financiers and ideological leaders of Sunni Wahhabi inspired cults. It is understandable that we want to see it get it’s comeuppance. But we need to follow informatiin wherever it leads us — even if it points to possible conspiracy to topple him using predictable muxture of outrage and the convenience of trying to get rid of him.
But the House us now is more unified in the desire to curb back Religious police, improve economy and relationships with its top customer (China), and top supporter of market prices (Russia), and its target market for investment diversification (Asia)).
Sacking of his top aides is opportunistic. They happen to be involved in Yemen and Qatar affairs. I would not rad too much into it — other then a need to have clean slate.
So, I am more inclined to think that Kashoggi death is linked to MbS enemues. And that US dies not like NbS and hus father — that turns out is neither senile, autistic or Alzheimers stricken. So, expect some real problems with Yemen, as our role in naval blockade gets to be questioned. And complications with Iran strategy.