President Trump cast doubt on a recent report by the CIA that found the chain of command for the murder of a journalist started at the top with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler.
Though the CIA is certain it doesnt dabble in maybes the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi came from a directive of the Saudi prince, the president waffled.
Maybe he did, maybe he didnt! Mr. Trump said.
Khashoggi was a bold critic of Saudi Arabia, his native country, and its royal regime. In addition to reporting for Saudi media, Khashoggi, also a U.S. resident, was a columnist for the Washington Post.
According to the CIA report, Khashoggi was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was drugged and then dismembered. The acts were premeditated. A contingent of 15 Saudi security agents, including a bone saw, lay in wait for Khashoggi at the embassy, from which he never emerged.
FOR PRESIDENT Trump, however, the narrative goes like this:
Saudi Arabia buys billions of dollars worth of weapons from the United States and nothing is going to interfere with that arrangement. Case closed.
In other words, he bats not an eye in accepting blood money.
And once again, Mr. Trump takes the word of an autocrat over that of his own intelligence agency, as in the case of Russian President Vladimir Putin denying his country interfered with the 2016 U.S. elections, and, more recently, in choosing to believe North Korea Kim Jong-uns denuclearization efforts, despite evidence to the contrary.
Vice President Mike Pence has taken a harder line, saying anyone involved in Khashoggis killing would pay a price.
Sadly, just like the rest of us, Pences words carry no weight with the president.
When human rights are so blatantly disregarded, justice is in order. The welcome mat must be rolled up. Sanctions are in order.
Instead, we have a president seemingly ignorant of American values. Through guilt of association, he has made us Americans complicit in the murder.
Susan Lynn
