Jamal Khashoggi thread (murdered journalist)

[MikeDelta]

Hoping to somewhat diminish the Saudis/MBS' standing as a big player in the Middle East would be my guess as to their main effort, especially with Turkey going to be looking to assert itself in the post Syria landscape.

Also, it's worth remembering that Erdogan is in the dog house with the West for generally being an absurdly corrupt autocrat so once they got their hands on the information, it's a chance for a big PR win for him and his regime.

Makes sense...an olive branch (apropos for Turkey)...

 

[ThunderHorse]

Hoping to somewhat diminish the Saudis/MBS' standing as a big player in the Middle East would be my guess as to their main effort, especially with Turkey going to be looking to assert itself in the post Syria landscape.

Also, it's worth remembering that Erdogan is in the dog house with the West for generally being an absurdly corrupt autocrat so once they got their hands on the information, it's a chance for a big PR win for him and his regime.

I disagree. Erdogan is all about the Muslim Brotherhood crap through his policies. Theocracy through election. Kashoggi became one of his. Let them launch missiles at each other, they can both slag off.

 

[Kraut783]

Overall a pretty sloppy state sponsored assassination...at least they didn't use a weapons grade biological weapon in a public place...like others have done recently.

 

[Devildoc]

 

[757]

I'd imagine the conversation between the Erdogan and M.B.S. went something like this: "Hello pot, my name is kettle, you're black."

I agree with @Poccington. Erdogan is all about resurrecting the Turks to their "rightful place" in the M.E. However, after he shot himself in the foot, Erdogan is, most likely, trying to earn himself back into Trump's good grace while also taking a fairly heavy swipe at a geopolitical foe. #2forthepriceof1

To be fair, the Turks and Arabs couldn't care less about each other. Also, as @ThunderHorse pointed out, Erdogan has been a fairly fervent supporter of the M.B. since he 1970's.

The Leahy Laws are interesting. Technically, they probably should apply. That said, considering we trained "Cambodia's armed forces - including units with records of serious rights violations such as Brigade 31, Battalion 70, and Airborne Brigade 911..." I am skeptical that we will apply these laws for this event, especially if the Saudi's make the smart play and go forward with their public sham trial.

 

[GOTWA]

The Leahy Laws are interesting. Technically, they probably should apply. That said, considering we trained "Cambodia's armed forces - including units with records of serious rights violations such as Brigade 31, Battalion 70, and Airborne Brigade 911..." I am skeptical that we will apply these laws for this event, especially if the Saudi's make the smart play and go forward with their public sham trial.

The key is acknowledging it, which the US haven't done in a formal manner. At least IMO.

 

[757]

The key is acknowledging it, which the US haven't done in a formal manner. At least IMO.

Agreed. That said, Trump seems publicly willing to "believe" the Saudi version of the events, at least for now. I am personally interested to see if Turkey has a video/audio recording of the execution. If Trump sees/hears that, all bets may be off. Seeing those kids die in Syria struck a chord somewhere inside of him, maybe a recording of this would have a similar affect, something the Saudi's can ill afford.

 

[MikeDelta]

Agreed. That said, Trump seems publicly willing to "believe" the Saudi version of the events, at least for now. I am personally interested to see if Turkey has a video/audio recording of the execution. If Trump sees/hears that, all bets may be off. Seeing those kids die in Syria struck a chord somewhere inside of him, maybe a recording of this would have a similar affect, something the Saudi's can ill afford.

Maybe we have that recording and we’ll play that card against Saudi when it would be most advantageous to us.

 

[Kraut783]

Spin control in Saudi....

Staged photos show Khashoggi's son shaking hands with the Saudi crown prince, who many believe ordered his father's killing

Staged photos show Khashoggi's son shaking hands with the Saudi crown prince, who many believe ordered his father's killing

 

[policemedic]

After following this event for awhile, I've come to a couple of conclusions.

The first is that it is an interesting way for a nation to solve a (perceived) problem. Not a good one, mind. But interesting nonetheless.

The second is that a foreign national was killed by a foreign government in yet another foreign country. I honestly don't have a fuck to give.

 

[Box]

...a foreign national was killed by a foreign government in yet another foreign country. I honestly don't have a fuck to give.

Agreed - If you were to gaze out upon the garden where I grow all of the fucks that I give - you would find that my garden is bare

 

[GOTWA]

Agreed - If you were to gaze out upon the garden where I grow all of the fucks that I give - you would find that my garden is bare

You need to water more.

 

[CQB]

Looks like MI6 were ahead of the curve. It was also reported by our national daily here but its' pay walled.

British Intelligence Reportedly Knew Saudi Arabia Planned To Murder Jamal Khashoggi And Begged Them To Abort

 

[Gunz]

Looks like MI6 were ahead of the curve. It was also reported by our national daily here but its' pay walled.

British Intelligence Reportedly Knew Saudi Arabia Planned To Murder Jamal Khashoggi And Begged Them To Abort

Two years ago the Saudis were using Willie Pete, allegedly against civilian targets. And there've been numerous reports since that they've stepped it up to chem weapons supplied by the US/Britain. I think Khashoggi had more on them than this.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Looks like MI6 were ahead of the curve. It was also reported by our national daily here but its' pay walled.

British Intelligence Reportedly Knew Saudi Arabia Planned To Murder Jamal Khashoggi And Begged Them To Abort

Hmmm, can't seem to find another source on this.

 

[CQB]

Here’s the original pay walled one I mentioned
Nocookies

Plus

Khashoggi BOMBSHELL: Britain 'KNEW of kidnap plot and BEGGED Saudi Arabia to abort plans'

Evidence suggests crown prince ordered Khashoggi killing, says ex-MI6 chief

There’s a few more, these are random samples.

 

[Box]

Brits withheld information = the USA must be at fault here

 

[CQB]

Oh indeed.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Here’s the original pay walled one I mentioned
Nocookies

Plus

Khashoggi BOMBSHELL: Britain 'KNEW of kidnap plot and BEGGED Saudi Arabia to abort plans'

Evidence suggests crown prince ordered Khashoggi killing, says ex-MI6 chief

There’s a few more, these are random samples.

The reason I asked is the first one was from The Intercept. Obviously the Guardian is a bit more up and up, when I first read the Intercept report I couldn't verify with my googlefu. Thanks for the additional articles.

 

[Gunz]

I have no doubt bin Salman had the guy killed. He might be a reformer but he's not afraid of whacking people...and Khashoggi was a burr under the saddle.

I find the outrage over the murder a bit feeble. The Saudi's have long practiced lethal justice. It's not like they're some socialist/progressive Western democracy. You can take the Bedouin out of the desert, give them Mercedes Benz's and falcons and trillions of dollars...but you can't take the desert out of the Bedouin. In their minds, they're still riding and raiding.