Many senators are expressing growing anger at the administration’s not being forthcoming on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and in particular the intelligence tying the murder to the Saudi Crown Prince. This became a major problem Wednesday, when a closed-door briefing was held on the matter.
The details of the briefing were classified, but the only two attendees from the administration were Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Neither appears to have had much insight on the matter, and both claimed to lack any “smoking gun” intelligence.
Which is where it would be nice for an intelligence official to chime in, but CIA Director Gina Haspel did not attend the meeting, meaning the CIA assessment of the murder was not a topic of discussion. Some senators say they are particularly angry at her absence, and view it as a “cover-up” attempt.
That anger might be justified, as according to several senators, during the briefing Mattis and Pompeo confirmed that the White House directly blocked Haspel from attending. The CIA assessment reportedly concluded with “high confidence” that the crown prince was behind the murder, and Haspel is one of few administration officials said to have heard the audio of Khashoggi’s murder, something many seem to be going out of their way to avoid.
The way I understand it the CIA prefers MBS replaced while the white house prefers to keep him. But in this case the CIA avoids head on confrontation.
I wonder to what extent earlier CIA opposition to MBS (or CIA relations to the opposition to MBS) got Khashogdzhi killed.
Let’s hear from Bloody Gina…
Somebody leak that tape.
MbS=Walking Dead……!!!!!! Payback under way from victims of Hotel imprisonment, bad treatment and Rip Offs…… !!!!!!!!! Bad timing MbS……