Released this week as part of an effort to kickstart his presidential campaign, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s memoir Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love caused considerable controversy in addressing, and ultimately dismissing, Saudi Arabia’s 2018 assassination and dismemberment of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi is his memoir.
The Trump Administration did little in response to the killing, and Pompeo’s State Department led efforts to argue that Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) likely orchestrated the matter, but still ought not to be held accountable.
Pompeo’s argument in the new book was both vilifies Khashoggi and downplays his value as a reporter.
Pompeo claims Khashoggi was “an activist” with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that he mourned Osama bin Laden. Khashoggi’s wife dismisses these claims, as do media outlets he was connected with.
Pompeo argues Khashoggi was only a journalist insofar as his writings were published, claiming he and other officials had things published too but “did other things” on top of that.
Pompeo describes Khashoggi as a “part-time stringer,” and says the lack of recriminations for killing him “made America safer.”
While offering a concession that Khashoggi oughtn’t have been killed, Pompeo says his life wasn’t more important than the lives of US troops.
Pompeo says the killing was no surprise — just the sort of thing that happens often in the Middle East, where MBS is a great historical figure.
Publishers called Pompeo’s comments shocking. DAWN Director Sarah Leah Witson added it was “despicable that a senior American official is suggesting that it’s ok to kill a journalist if his political views are ones he doesn’t like.”
Trump and Pompeo worked to keep the report on the killing from the public, with Trump bragging he “saved his ass.” Pompeo’s comments suggests he was comfortable enough that no saving was necessary.
Scary what a bunch of braggards and incompetents are imagining they are fit fot the top office! All he and Trump did was play typical games — they are just stupid enough to brag about it. They do not care one jot as to who committed murder, and who benefits? The way these brilliant imperial minds work is simple — every event is merely a problem to fix or an opportunity to exploit.
In this case the new Crown Prince was was thorn in US side. Saudi Allegiance Council appointed him Crown Prince in a one-off decision, because Saudi Arabia is not a hereditary dynasty, and MBS is King’s son. Replacing MBN, his predecessor was traumatic for US. No more ISIS funding not Caliphate plans out of Iraq-Syria Sunni belt. Saudi Kingdom was taking a dangerous turn. Reforms insude Kingdom, a brand new international Investment forum, cutting down Wahhabi powers.
Shortly before MBS first Investmennt Forum he personally was vested in — Kashoggi was murdered. Not just murdered, but murdered in a most thestricall way possible, and in a Consulate!
Unfortunatelly for the theatrical choreography— Turkey had kept good tabs of the goings on at the consulate — both video outside AND audio inside!
Head of CIA trotted quick to Turkey to see the evidence. Including the videos of the visiting murder team at the airport arriving, entering and exiting consulate, and departure at the airport. Saudi Arabia received all the evidence which came out in trial. There was little doubt about the motive — dump blame on MBS. And little doubt about executioners — security loyal to former boss, Minister of Interior, that became Crown Prince MBN.
But brilliant imperial minds like Pompeo do not care about reality, they needed something to hand over MBS head. So, bragging about it -/ like we could really make it hard for him if we wanted to. But we will be nice to him —- provided he is a good boy. The nastiness, arrogance, braggadocio— product of feeble minds not caring about facts or even the fact that the whole world knew exactly what happened. And exactly that our fabled agencies would manufacture anything our leaders need to bash other countries with.
Kashoggi is such a tragic figure. Without really any value as a dirt provider, he was more valuable dead than alive. As he was entering consulate, one of his murderers said, “Sacrificial animal has arrived.”
So where is our intrepid media to share facts of this murder as they came available? They are just as sleezy as our politicians.
Here is the problem. The whole world knows the facts of this murder. And the leaders of all countries in the world are watching us accusing MBS for murder days after it happened, and just before his highly anticipated Investment conference!
And still Pompous is bragging how we are having MBS on a string, while pious and shocked believers in MBS guilt are outraged! All ignorant, game playing clowns.
In tge meantime it was Xi that had a red carpet rolled out in Riyadh. Riyadh is firmly in OPEC+ camp, talking to Iran, opening trade to Syria. And despite heavy hints of Saudis joining Abraham accords — Saudis made it clear that it will happen once Palestinian state is established. In the neantime, Oman the mediator in Houthi-Saudi negotiations just passed the law forbidding any rapproachment with Israel.
Things are not liokung up for emptyheaded braggards making us the laughingvstock.
What’s even scarier than WW3 is when Saudis decide to dump the dollar all together and go with BRICKS or Chinese currency in the near future. Pompeo will soon realize all that ass kissing did not pan out the results that he wanted.
Exactly! Not only did he try ass kissing, but he did it with imperial aplomb! Suggesting that the gesture is one of the tools, so he can choose to save or kick MBS ass. Clearly, MBS was unimpressed .
A post-script to hapless MB Nayaf. After being removed from all functions, not just Crown Prince, and having his henchmen caught (litteraly) red handed butchering Kashoggi, and having seen Saudi Allegiance Council in the wake of the event authorize MBS to reorganize security he was once in charge of. — he was not done. No, no. He went to Canada on some pretext , but main business was meetings with CIA. Or so Saudi authorities allege.
The man who was not to be a king — was dumb as a box of rocks. He had a company in the trip — a disgruntled King’s half-brother. Who turned out to have set him up. Naturally.
He was free man as he was of royal blood. Kashoggi murder should have had him in the dock. But arrigance caught up with him. Now looks like in house arrest.
Pompous ass, has no presidential future.. But it is interesting to see how CIA likes to put their former employees in the Whitehouse like an old recycling bin.
Pompous is an arrogant fool and the reasons he uses here are execrable. At the same time, at least K was a Saudi citizen and voluntarily went into that embassy where he was subsequently killed. What about US citizen Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces in May while reporting from the occupied West Bank? Is that not more important to US leaders?
To people like Pompeo, anything is justifiable as long as advances his Christian, holy war against Iran.
“Publishers called Pompeo’s comments shocking.”
Hardly. More like typical.
Oh, I see. So it’s ok to murder and dismember people, as long as they’re not reporters.
an effort to kickstart his presidential campaign, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
he was a businessman who was somehow made director of the CIA.
and then he was secretary of state.
WTF he is uncle sam in the flesh.
Media fault Pompeo for slipping up and telling the truth. Details at 11:00…