Saudi Arabia’s October murder of Jamal Khashoggi continues to weigh heavily on opinions of the kingdom, and a new UN report says that there is credible evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible.
The report came out of the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, which concluded it was “inconceivable” that the Crown Prince was not involved in the 15-man kill team sent to Istanbul to murder Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate.
The report noted that the kill team was referring to Khashoggi as a “sacrificial animal” in communications leading up to his capture and killing. One of the team members, an autopsy specialist, assured the others that it would be “easy” to dismember the body.
It wasn’t even just a 15-man kill team with many members who had close ties to the Crown Prince. Within a day of the murder, there were multiple new teams established to cover up the murder and destroy evidence.
The report further warned that the Saudis haven’t changed their behavior since the murder, and that there is evidence the CIA has been notifying countries of “foreseeable and immediate threats” against Saudi expats.
The report reached some pretty particular conclusions, including determining that there is enough space in front of the Saudi consulate to build a statue of Khashoggi that would stand for press freedom.
The biggest deal is what happens with the Crown Prince, as his role has been driving a lot of concern within the US about arms sales and close ties with the kingdom. This is further going to add for calls to do something about his role in the murder, something the Saudis clearly aren’t inclined to do, and which the Trump Administration has long warned it doesn’t want this.
He is clearly not cooperative enough on Iran. Such trash claiming “inconceivable”, and other specialities of Western investigative terminology like “most likely” or “indicative”, “pattern of” — has been all over hard hitting attack strategies on the uncooperative entities in the world.
UN studies are notorious for being able to be bought. Once the origin of the study is known or the nationality of the author — it becomes clearer that such products have agenda.
Not that Saudi Arabia is without serious problems., But it is strange that this ruler was the first one to cut Wahhabi funding for islamists groups, and he gets all this attention.
The question for the originating circles of these power games is — what are they trying to accomplish. They do not care one dime about the journalist, or press freedom. Do they still hope to force Saudi Allegiance Council to remove him? Or blackmail him into a desirable action?
The problem for the cookie cutter style attacks on foreign leader like Saudi Prince — he would not have been appointed by their decision makers if they did not anticipate this pushback and have many chess moves planned ahead. The rulers in that country are not accidental products of interest politics. He has been chosen to steer politics in a different direction, to correct the course. They certainly expected resistance, or hysterics. Let us see who will prevail.
Agnes Callamand, Columbua University soecialist in global freedoms, a typical know it all with no real access to information. She is now also claiming that Lebanese prime minister, Hariri was interrogated by MBS closest advisor. . She i failing to report that Hariri was spirited off to Abu Dhabi, UAE informal boss in the days when US supported UAE against Saudis in South Yemen and Aden, as UAE was assured MBS was just a flash in the pan — and will be kicked out once US wagging finger makes it clear MBS has to go. It was just an attempt to blacken MBS. But as Lebanon united in demanding Hariri comes back — there was no political hay to make, and he came back. Now, political hacks like Agnes, are ratcheting up old, discredited stories to build case against MBS and Saudi Arabia. Post Kashoggi reality sank in in Abu Dhabi — and the first post Kasgoggi MBS trip was to UAE. Message — I am here today, stronger then before, you are with me or against me. Suddenly, from being supported by our private militaries, and praised to heavens — we are chiding jn our media the abuses UAE committed in South Yemen!
And now, nobody will take in Iran —,except us, that is Bolton and Pomoeo.
What a trap we are in. Unless there is something more we can muster against Saudis then weapons denial, Kashoggi and the circus called Hariri, we have nothing. Denials of weapons and other tales of morality puts Saudis on near equal status of pariah state as Iran.
This is getting messy, as US is setting itself up for being the sole combatant, after abrogating Iran nuclear deal US ratified by approving the deal through UN Security Council resolution.
Madder and madder.