Roger L. Simon on the Khashoggi incident
I’m in agreement with Roger Simon’s take. No one is a good guy here, and it’s best to go slow.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
I’m in agreement with Roger Simon’s take. No one is a good guy here, and it’s best to go slow.
In this ocean of noise, started by Recep Tayyip Erdoan regime about this case, it’s not yet clear what happing, despite news from Turkey telling they had recordings /videos related to Khashoggi !!
Which never been presented as hard evidence in Khashoggi case, while Turkey asking to inspect the place.
I believe Recep Tayyip Erdo?an regime if had any evidence as announced inside Turkey, why he is not taking usual action to expel or asking for Saudi consulate to be closed and all staff leave Turkey in 48 hours?
So now we need to connect the dots:
1- How much anyone knows about Khashoggi’s new Turkish wife? Who she is?
2- Why Khashoggi’s wife waited 7 hours to phone bout her husband/ fiancé asking he is vanished while they arranged that his iPhone /iPad connected with iWatch been with her.
She knew that he is expecting or worry if something happens to him inside she should act in time, not 7 Hours after?
3- Why Recep Tayyip Erdo?an regime release US Pastor from prison day after this saga and send him back to the US while President Trump help to release Turkish activists from Israeli dilatation and send back to turkey?
4- The raise of Turkish Currency during this saga having any value or factor with deteriorating economy and currency value recently in Turkey?
The molto agitato is because Khashoggi is a so-called journalist, a superior species that must never be endangered, though most be vermin.
I’m trying to understand why this is such a big news story. From what I can decipher an arab was killed by fellow arabs on arab embassy soil in a fellow arabic country. Yes, yes, I get the tiny side bit that he was some sort of journalist, but I think that I’m not alone in thinking that as an American living in America, … ‘Why should I give a rat’s fart about this news story???’
This is like arguing over whether the Bonnanos are better than the Gottis.
RD, Turkey is not an Arabic country. Muslim, but not Arabic.
So, redo RD per Kate’s correction: “A Muslim was killed by fellow Muslims on Muslim embassy (consulate) soil in a Muslim country” — and this should effect our serious foreign policy for what reason?
Next thing you know, someone will be yelling, “Khashoggi alive or bin Salman dead” and calling for the Marines to invade.
I don’t want to make light of any person’s death, especially by violence, but at some point you have to weigh the other factors in play. In the end, decisions should be made on the basis of our national security, not on the emotional reaction of the people who aren’t charged with making those decisions.
And I’m with Trump: either we believe that ALL people are innocent until PROVEN guilty (accusations by Turkey without hard, unimpeachable evidence, are not proof) or we are as duplicitous as the Democrats, shifting our principles with the winds of passion.
“If MBS is responsible for the death of Khashoggi, one wonders why he chose such an obvious and barbaric method, less subtle and deniable even than the way North Korea’s Kim poisoned his step-brother.” – Simon.
And then there’s the example of the Russians, who are experts in the art of subtle assassination, even though they sometimes get caught.
If MbS wanted to end Khashoggi’s machinations, or “send a message” to others, this was a fraught way to do it.
I think it’s a big if, but only because there are more effective ways to eliminate a troublesome “journalist” if you are the autocratic ruler of a fundamentally devious people.
“In the Middle East, suffused as it is by the Islamic doctrine of taqiyya — making it permissible, often required, to lie to the kufr (non-Muslim) for the good of the faith — it’s hard to discern who is telling the truth or anything close.
Trump says he is reacting to vehement disavowals from MBS and his father that they ordered Khashoggi’s death, but are they to be trusted? Westerners may have good instincts about the hysterics of Dr. Blasey Ford, but are less likely to be able to comprehend a culture more insular, determined, and bloodthirsty than the Mafia.”
Would bin Salman lie to Pompeo and Trump?
You betcha, if he thought he had to and that he could get away with it.
Could he tell us that he did order the killing, and add some context that made his decision defensible, and expect Pompeo to keep the confession confidential because of the disaster that might follow its revelation?
Diplomats and statesmen do that kind of thing all the time — for good reasons and bad; to good effect, and to ill.
Will we ever know for sure what happened?
Well, we still argue over why Oswald shot Kennedy (if he did)….
The best question to ask (not original to me): if Turkey can pin a murder most foul on the Saudis, whether they did it or not, who benefits?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/10/turkey_benefits_from_the_khashoggi_disappearance.html
Related (by two extremely discerning analysts):
https://nypost.com/2018/10/18/why-the-saudis-despised-jamal-khashoggi/
Is anyone else asking how the American media was so quick off the mark on this? Some questions: Khashoggi had a green card, obtained under murky circumstances – did this have something to do with his Muslim Brotherhood membership or with former CIA chief under Obama Brennen? Sounds to me like Ben Rhodes is up to his former tricks with reporters. I’d also appreciate knowing how much Obama et al will be getting from 1) Iran and 2) the Euros (who have a great interest in getting back into lucrative deals with #1). Also I would trust the Turkish security and Erdogan about as far as I could throw them – and I’d love to…