One day before the White House is required by law to submit a report to
Congress on the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi, lawmakers, particularly
senators, are gearing up for a new series of legislation designed to punish Saudi Arabia for the murder. The Senate already reintroduced one such bill.
Congressional aides say that there is no indication that President Trump is going to comply with the law
and submit any report at all on the murder. This is why bipartisan
lawmakers are moving to get legislation ready for that eventuality.
Previous attempts at such resolutions made progress in the Senate, but
were blocked by the former House leadership. The new House leadership
seems a lot more willing to advance such resolutions, and is already
allowing a floor vote on the Yemen War.
Voting to end the Yemen War is itself a major rebuke to the Saudis, as
far as many are concerned. Current efforts focused on sanctioning those
confirmed to be involved with the murder. Since all evidence is that
includes the Saudi Crown Prince, that’s likely to be an ongoing battle
with the White House.
Although motivation is probably more to get Trump via his close relationship with MbS, the Kashoggi murder should not go unpunished.
As if you know nothing about the imperial methods, and believe implicitly in the officialdom and media story. No proof required — just accuse anibody of anything if not complying with imperial edicts. Trump is not soft or hard on anything , just looking at interests. Our imperial minders, however, are ideological. They believe the empire must be on the move, never allow anyone to doubt their power. It is getting lame, cant’t you see? The brouhaha dies down a bit, as Saudi Arabia probably hinted a deliverable. Probably just to buy time. Now that the promise evaporated, furious empirial minders are back in their moralizing mode. Trump has been rendered impotent in Saudi policy. And his policy was better. Maintain mutually beneficial relationship, respect differences, compromise. He is talking big, but knows when a bargain is better then sinking money and torpedoing relatiknship at the same time.
Saudi Arabia is very likely not budgjng kn Yemen. Congress is looking for something to sell to public, something positive — and Yemen war is the ticket. But it cannot do it for as long as Saudis are not giving up their right to control Yemen, and secure Arabian side of Bab al Mandeb. So, now it is back to investigate Saudis. If I were anybody in neocon decision workd — I would advise EXTREME caution. Turkey has been lately litteraly egging US on — to investigate Kashoggi murder. Behind the scenes — and on so many fronts — Turkey is working woth Saudis, while keeping up the pretense of tensions because of Qatar. Whatever it is — US should not bite, as Saudis may have a plan. Sfter all, they are making internal changes, pushing old MbN guard out, but have been very cagey about what they know about the murder.
They are most likely trying to degrade relationship, and being the insulted party — they may unveil plans we may not like at all. Neocons are getting hasty and acting over the top. But then, they know that internally they can fool population easily, and are assuming everyone is as easily fooled. This Saudi business is far from over. Even if MbS is assasinated by internal opposition, this will only strenghten the hand of Allegiance Council and the King. Either way, all US is doing is encouraging his enemies. They did the same in Turkey by encouraging coup and attempt of Erdogan assasination. Whatever the plans are to get the control back, we may be leading them exactly to the place they want to be.
You have a point, but I also need quantitative as well as qualitative proofs. There are a few things that might support the idea that Mohammed bin Salmon maybe wasn’t behind the Kashoggi murder.
Putin high-fiving MbS at the Buenos Aires G-20 was a surprise; maybe Russian intel had information MbS was set up. Putin is not going to make a public statement like that lightly, so maybe Russian intel knew a deeper truth.
Then, the huge mainstream media and faux-Progressive crusade against MbS. When they both collude on a witch hunt, there’s usually no witch, at least where they are pointing.
Trump staked a lot of political capital in his relationship with MbS, and, Israel is a rival of Saudi Arabia, has contacts there now, and every motivation to make scores against KSA as a regional rival and rival for U.S. patronage.
Erdogan never released the full recordings he claimed Turkish intel had.
Without hard proof, there is only innuendo, but MbS also has ultimate responsibility for the actions of his security goons.