Audio Evidence Links Saudi Crown Prince to Khashoggi’s Murder
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Assassinating Jamal Khashoggi on October 2 was Saudi state-sponsored murder.
Last week, Erdogan said audio evidence linked what happened to the highest authority in Riyadh, leaving no doubt he meant crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) – directly responsible for ordering Khashoggi’s elimination.
Perhaps it was because of damning information he’d likely reveal. Reports suggested it could be evidence of Saudi CW use in Yemen.
Throughout much of US-led aggression in Syria, the Saudis supplied jihadists with sarin gas and other CWs, evidence showing containers marked made in KSA (kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Incidents when launched are nearly always wrongfully blamed on Damascus. Not a shred of evidence suggests government forces used CWs or other banned weapons throughout the war – a US, NATO, Israel, Turkey, Saudi specialty, not the Syrian Arab Republic’s.
Audio evidence obtained by Turkey appears to link Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) directly to Khashoggi’s murder – without specifically mentioning his name.
On Monday, NYT headlined: “ ‘Tell Your Boss’: Recording Is Seen to Link Saudi Crown Prince More Strongly to Khashoggi Killing,” saying:
After his October 2 assassination inside the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate, a Saudi hit squad member “instructed a superior over the phone to ‘tell your boss,’ believed to be (MBS), that the operatives had carried out their mission, according to three people familiar with a recording of Mr. Khashoggi’s killing collected by Turkish intelligence.”
Ankara shared the audio evidence with the US, other NATO countries, and the Saudis – likely supplying them with tapes of the recording.
In Ankara last month, CIA director Gina Haspel heard the recording. Langley likely has its own from bugging diplomatic facilities in numerous countries, including Turkey.
The Times: “The recording…is seen by intelligence officials as some of the strongest evidence linking (MBS) to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi.
“(Y)our boss” clearly refers to him. Senior MBS aide Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb made the October 2 phone call to Riyadh from the consulate crime scene.
He and 14 other hit squad members were sent to Istanbul to murder Khashoggi and dispose of his body. Seven involved are MBS security detail members.
According to former CIA official Bruce Riedel, “(a) phone call like that is about as close to a smoking gun as you are going to get. It is pretty incriminating evidence.”
Rihadh continues going all-out to shield MBS of responsibility for the murder he clearly ordered.
The Times: “The growing evidence that (MBS) was involved in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi is certain to intensify pressure on the White House” – likely cooperating with the kingdom in trying to shield MBS of responsibility.
The US and most other countries want nothing interfering with dirty business as usual with the kingdom.
On Tuesday, John Bolton turned truth on its head, claiming MBS wasn’t involved in the assassination. No one would dare order it on their own, circumventing his iron-fisted authority.
Erdogan called the audio evidence “appalling.” The chief Saudi intelligence officer heard it. Erdogan said he was “shocked” – no doubt disturbed about Turkey having incriminating evidence, linking MBS directly to the murder.
The Trump regime continues withholding judgment, waiting for results of Riyadh’s whitewash “investigation.”
Its conclusions were reached before initiated, blaming others for what MBS ordered – the way all tinpot regimes operate, including fantasy democracies like America, other NATO countries and Israel.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
