Friday The Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered “the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, last month.”
The article goes on to say that the CIA’s “assessment,” which American officials have said they have high confidence, “is the most definitive to date linking Mohammed to the operation.”
Tuesday in an exclamation-mark packed statement President Trump defended Saudi Arabia.
The eight-paragraph statement came after President Trump is said to have received a full report on the killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
President Trump explains in his statement that “the world is a very dangerous place!” He goes on to say as an example that Iran is “responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen,” adding that Saudi Arabia, “would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave.”
He praises Saudi Arabia’s pledge to spend “billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism,” praising his own “heavily negotiated trip,” to the region last year where the deal to spend and invest over $450 billion in the U.S. was reached that would, “create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States.” He calls the idea of withdrawing for contracts to purchase U.S. military equipment foolish, as it would only benefit Russia and China.
He writes that the crime against Khashoggi was “a terrible one,” and adds it is one “our county does not condone,” citing how the administration has sanctioned seventeen “Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body.”
Speaking of the Saudi government President Trump explains that some representatives of that government believe Khashoggi was an, “enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood,” but he adds, “my decision is in no way based on that.”
He writes of the denials from both King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of having any involvement in the death of Khashoggi, saying those denials have been vigorous:
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.
President Trump White House Statement 11/20/18
Speaking of the U.S. intelligence agencies President Trump explains that “they continue to assess all information,” he adds, “but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”
During a taped interview with Fox News Journalist Chris Wallace, President Trump when asked if he listened to the tape that allegedly contains audio of the murder of Khashoggi he said no, telling Wallace, “I don’t want to hear the tape, no reason for me to hear the tape.” When pressed by Wallace about why he doesn’t want to hear the tape President Trump says, “because it’s a suffering tape, it’s a terrible tape. I’ve been fully briefed on it, there is no reason for me to hear the tape.”
For What’s it Worth as was reported @ the News Blender, Jamal Khashoggi was a permanent resident of the United States.
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