Riyadh threatens retaliation for ‘actions’ against it over missing journalist
…from Russia Today, Moscow
[ Editor’s Note: This story gets more bizarre every day. If I had been a rich man, I would have lost many bets on this being an impossible story. The same Western public that does not give a hoot about critical journalism seems totally out of character with its instant group revulsion for this missing journalist, whom most have never heard of.
These countries, some of which have supported proxy terrorism as a basic regime-change tool, have the blood of countless innocent victims on their hands – Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, just for starters. They have never shed a tear.
None of those who supported the violent Ukraine coup lifted a finger to stop the murder spree that was unleashed when the Ukie neo-Nazis were set loose upon the Donbass people of Russian descent.
There were no threats to cut off weapons flowing in, even after Kiev produced a mountain of bodies from its orgy of slaughter. So count me as the last person on the planet who would have seen the crying towel passed around for the unfortunate Mr. Kashoggi, who I fear we will never see again.
Arms sales to tyrants around the world have been a staple of Western democracy as long as they served US interests. Ask anyone in Yemen, where the civilians have been targeted to break the support for their independent regime.
King Salman’s threat to cut off oil to run the price sky high, punishing the whole world, shows how crazy he is. That is a lose-lose situation for him, and where all the other world oil producers will cheer all the way to the bank.
Suspicious me, I smell that the West had intel that this was going down and were ready with a quick and united stance. There is a back story behind all this. We at VT might not be able to see it at this stage, but we sure as hell can smell it … Jim W. Dean ]
– First published … October 14th, 2018 –
“The Kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures, or repeating false accusations,” the official Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed government source as saying.
“The Kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the Kingdom’s economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy,”the source added.
Sunday’s comments come just two days after US President Donald Trump warned that Riyadh would face “severe punishment” if it was found guilty of ordering the death of Khashoggi.
He noted, however, that he would be unlikely to cancel the major arms deal between the two countries, stating that there would be “other ways of punishing” the government. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also stated that his country will be holding onto its $15 billion arms deal with Riyadh, despite the concerns surrounding Khashoggi.
However, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) says the US must take action against Saudi Arabia – including potentially regarding arms sales – if the allegations are proven true. Otherwise, the US risks losing credibility when it comes to human rights, he told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday.
His comments come after a bipartisan group of senators also proposed imposing sanctions on Riyadh over the matter. Trump’s words led to a plunge of Saudi Arabia’s stock market, in a possible foreshadowing of what could take place if countries take action against Riyadh in the form of sanctions.
Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi royal family, was last seen on October 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his forthcoming marriage.
Turkey believes he was murdered inside the building by a 15-person “assassination squad,” with the government saying it has video and audio evidence proving he was killed at the consulate. However, it has not publicly presented that information.
The Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper reported on Saturday that a government investigation into the journalist’s disappearance revealed that recordings made on his Apple Watch indicate that he was tortured and killed.
The paper cited “reliable sources in a special intelligence department.” It noted that the Apple Watch was synced with Khashoggi’s iPhone, which his fiancée was holding outside the consulate.
The paper further elaborated by claiming that Saudi intelligence agents had realized after Khashoggi died that the watch was recording, prompting them to use his fingerprint to unlock it. They reportedly deleted some files, but not all of them.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany said they were treating the matter with the “utmost seriousness” and called for a “credible investigation” into the journalist’s disappearance, adding that anyone who bears responsibility should be held to account.
Khashoggi’s disappearance has already led to many media organizations withdrawing from an upcoming high-profile investment conference in Riyadh, including CNN, CNBC, The New York Times, and The Financial Times. Uber’s CEO has also backed out, while billionaire Richard Branson has suspended talks with Riyadh regarding a planned $1 billion investment into his space ventures.
Meanwhile, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told ABC News on Sunday that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is “intending to go” to the conference at the moment, but “will make up his mind as the week progresses and as new information surfaces.”
Jim W. Dean is VT Editor Emeritus. He was an active editor on VT from 2010-2022. He was involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews. He now writes and posts periodically for VT.
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The detail that struck me as having the most bizarre smell was the so-called cleaners who walked into the **FRONT DOOR** of the Embassy, brazenly, in front of cameras, right before investigators got there. Somehow I think this detail may hold the key to the backstory at play.
I wonder if whoever was responsible for ordering the cleaners, did so with the intention of setting up the Saudi’s and/or driving a wedge between it and Turkey? If the goal was to drive a wedge between Turkey and SA, who benefits (aside from the whole world rofl)?
Lastly, what is this distract-o-rama keeping our attention away from?
Well, the whole thing has had a ripple effect in several areas. Journalism, fossil fuels, weapons sales, the war in Yemen, and Trumps Saudi investments, even the elections in the US will fill their “talking point” coffers from this.
I think the entire world cringed when Trump did the sword dance and they all put their hands on that glowing orb. This event is an opportunistic catalyst and has several areas of applicability. The world is moving into the future, and some things will not be traveling to the new place.
I’ve read Bin Salman was diagnosed with autism early on, making him something of a high functioning sinister Rainman of Arabia. There is something about his demeanor, and the look in his eyes, that doesn’t seem quite right. Obviously obsessive if nothing else.
His over the top personal 440 foot 500 million dollar yacht, Serene, can be conspicuously tracked on AIS 24/7, should anyone have a spare anti ship missile, or torpedo that needs a test target.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serene_(yacht)
Her latest position:
Area: WMED – Gibraltar
Latitude / Longitude: 36.267° / -3.8995°
Status: Underway Using Engine
Speed/Course: 17.7kn / 263°
AIS Source: 1529 Pablo
Read more at http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:384469/mmsi:319021900/imo:1010090/vessel:SERENE#6kuzAsQvGve3LB3f.99
Sad commentary on US that this story generates more “outrage” than the US/UK/Israel supporting the Saudis’ brutal genocidal war in Yemen.
It is our job to expand that concern. The main problem is there is no domestic institutional pressure on governments to really do anything. They are cowering with their heads down, not wanting to make themselves a target.
I suggest we all read this
http://moderntokyotimes.com/khashoggi-muslim-brotherhood-and-opportune-america-turkey-and-uk-land-of-political-imprisonment/
La Garde is out. She is a key player on the list of people who have canceled. The proverbial camels back and the last straw looks to be a fitting reference. The magnanimous thing about the last straw is that it takes many straws to build the weight. it is the moment when the scales tip, while adding one feather at a time.
This has been for some time, ‘the not yet ready for prime time ‘ scenario, in that inexperienced or incapable leaders are not that difficult to spot.
no doubt Saudi will sue Apple.
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