Erdogan Suggests Saudi Crown Prince Ordered Khashoggi’s Murder
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Stopping short of naming crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) so far, Turkish President Erdogan suggested Saudis are protecting the regime official responsible for ordering Jamal Khashoggi’s abduction and murder, saying:
There’s a “game (going on) to save somebody…We won’t leave Khashoggi’s murder behind.”
On Monday, former Obama national security advisor Susan Rice called MBS “a partner we can’t depend on,” adding:
“The young prince’s almost certain culpability in Mr. Khashoggi’s killing underscores his extreme recklessness and immorality, while exposing him as a dangerous and unreliable partner for the United States.”
Is consensus in the West heading in the same direction? It’s inconceivable to think he’s not directly responsible for what happened.
A previous article suggested growing numbers of Western officials are wary of dealing with someone they consider reckless, unreliable and untrustworthy - including the CIA and Britain’s MI6.
If US and UK intelligence want him replaced, his days could be numbered.
On Tuesday, Istanbul’s chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan met with Saudi chief prosecutor Saud al-Mujeb for the second day, their previous discussion unsatisfactory, according to Ankara.
Key sticking points include identifying who ordered Khashoggi’s murder, the location of his body, the name of the alleged “local collaborator” involved in disposing of his remains, and extradition of Saudi suspects to Turkey for prosecution.
Khashoggi’s allegedly dismembered body may have been secretly returned to the kingdom by a trusted MBS aide for disposal.
Erdogan demands Mujeb reveal who dispatched the 15-man hit squad (including MBS loyalists) to abduct, torture and murder Khashoggi.
“Who sent these 15 people,” he asked? “As Saudi public prosecutor, you have to ask that question, so you can reveal it,” adding:
“(W)e have to solve this case. No need to prevaricate. It makes no sense to try to save certain people…Who is the (alleged) local collaborator? If we knew that, we would reveal the truth.”
Mojeb gave Turkish officials testimonies of the 18 suspects detained in the kingdom - after refusing to provide them the previous day.
On Monday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump “is considering what action we will take” in response to what happened to Khashoggi.
It all depends on whether key regime officials and the US intelligence community intend to keep working with MBS or if they want him replaced with someone more reliable and trustworthy.
On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, called for an international investigation into Khashoggi’s murder, including access to evidence and witnesses, adding:
A forensic examination of his remains should be conducted to determine precisely how he was killed.
If his body was dismembered as Turkish officials believe, Riyadh will never produce his remains for examination.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
