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Implications of the Khashoggi Murder for the House of Saud

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - The Washington Post cited unnamed U.S. sources who claimed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was carried out under the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) and perpetrated by his closest assistants and advisers, after which MBS was reportedly briefed by the task team on the results. Eventually, the Saudi regime admitted that the murder was carried out by a rogue Saudi team, with no connection with MBS. It is obvious that the Saudi regime was too slow in its reactions, did not grasp the changing mood in world opinion against it, and did not offer adequate answers. Suddenly, MBS is no longer seen as a reformist or a visionary, but rather as a cruel politician who profited from the weakness of his rivals. The Saudis ignored the changing mood of President Donald Trump, who felt the Saudis had misinformed him (or even openly lied to him) about the Khashoggi assassination. Under the pressure of the media and the newly elected Congress, Trump chose to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia for the first time in the history of the two countries. There is no doubt that Turkey, Qatar, Iran and its satellite Hizbullah, together with the Syrian regime, are the big winners of the Khashoggi error. The writer is a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center.
2018-11-20 00:00:00
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