Khashoggi’s Murder Was Premeditated
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Knowing he was a marked man, it begs the question why he facilitated his state-sponsored execution by walking into Riyadh’s Istanbul consulate unprotected.
Al Jazeera reported that Turkey’s prosecutor general has credible evidence that the Saudis planned to abduct and kill him.
On Sunday, President Erdogan said he’ll reveal the “naked truth” about what happened on Tuesday. Why then and not earlier?
His regime reportedly has credible audio and video evidence, indicating that Khashoggi’s execution was ordered by Riyadh’s highest authority – crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS).
Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker accused him of “cross(ing) a line” for the Khashoggi killing.
Why him alone and no mention of countless thousands of others within and outside the kingdom murdered, tortured, or lawlessly imprisoned – including numerous public beheadings and whippings, barbaric acts by the Arab world’s worst offender.
Why no mention of Riyadh’s ruthlessness from inception by Corker and other US officials, its support for ISIS and likeminded terrorist groups, its disdain for Palestinian rights, its alliance with Washington’s imperial agenda in all its war theaters.
A Wall Street Journal report cited unnamed Saudi ruling family members sent to Ankara by king Salman to try easing bilateral tensions.
Prince Khalid al-Faisal reportedly has credible evidence that Khashoggi was drugged, murdered, and dismembered inside the Istanbul consulate minutes after entering.
Audio evidence indicates nothing about a fight or other altercation between Khashoggi and Saudi officials. According to the Journal:
“In the kingdom itself, a number of Saudi royals have tried to reach out to King Salman to discuss the crisis, but have been blocked by associates of the crown prince, said two members of the royal family. They have been secretly meeting in small groups to discuss the issue, they said.”
“Among other things, some of these people are challenging the official version of what happened to Mr. Khashoggi. Prince Khalid al Faisal, an envoy of King Salman who was dispatched to Ankara earlier this month, had access to a short audio recording that offers evidence that Mr. Khashoggi was drugged, killed and dismembered minutes after walking into the consulate, these two members say.”
Senior Western officials are stumbling all over themselves to condemn his killing rhetorically, likely quietly continuing dirty business as usual with the kingdom.
Government officials and high-profile business executives pulled out of Riyadh’s so-called “Davos in the Desert” annual investor conference scheduled later this month, wanting to distance themselves from the kingdom while the furor over Khashoggi’s murder continues.
Trump said he’s not satisfied with Riyadh’s explanation “until we find the answer,” adding a halt in US arms sales will “hurt us more than…them.”
His latest tweet Friday on the Khashoggi incident said “Pompeo was never given or shown a transcript or video of the Saudi consulate” incident.
It’s highly likely he and Bolton are aware of what Turkey knows, gotten from the US intelligence community.
It’s astonishing that the elimination of one figure by any nation would cause an international furor like what’s raging over Khashoggi.
It’s showing no signs of abating so far, the Saudis keeping it in world headlines by reinventing what happened several times with implausible scenarios rejected by the world community.
Trying to avoid responsibility for premeditated murder with disinformation and Big Lies discredited king Salman, MBS, and other senior ruling family members more than already.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
