Opinion: Trump and Money Are Shielding Saudi Arabia From Accountability for Khashoggi’s Killing
By Opinion
Published 5 years ago on
October 3, 2019
Share
[aggregation-styles]
The Los Angeles Times Subscription
The Los Angeles Times Subscription
Following the brutal killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, one year ago, the Saudi government became something of a toxic commodity in American politics. Several high-profile lobbying and public relations firms dropped the Saudis as a client. Think tanks, including the Brookings Institution, severed ties with the Saudi government. Businesses pulled out of a major conference in Riyadh shortly after Khashoggi’s death.
As the U.S. intelligence community, and the United Nations, were determining that Saudi Arabia was culpable in the killing, members of Congress demanded accountability. Democrats led the charge on a series of bills that would have halted U.S. arms sales to the kingdom and ended U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition’s disastrous war in Yemen. Republicans were outraged too. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who claimed on “Fox & Friends” to have once been Saudi Arabia’s “biggest defender on the floor of the United States Senate,” announced shortly after Khashoggi’s death that Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “has got to go.” The crown prince denies a role in Khashoggi’s death; the U.N. sees credible evidence warranting further investigation.
As the U.S. intelligence community, and the United Nations, were determining that Saudi Arabia was culpable in the killing, members of Congress demanded accountability. Democrats led the charge on a series of bills that would have halted U.S. arms sales to the kingdom and ended U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition’s disastrous war in Yemen. Republicans were outraged too. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who claimed on “Fox & Friends” to have once been Saudi Arabia’s “biggest defender on the floor of the United States Senate,” announced shortly after Khashoggi’s death that Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “has got to go.” The crown prince denies a role in Khashoggi’s death; the U.N. sees credible evidence warranting further investigation.
By Ben Freeman and William D. Hartung | 2 Oct 2019
RELATED TOPICS:
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Politics /
6 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
6 hours ago
Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win
Sports /
6 hours ago
Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’
Sports /
7 hours ago
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
Sports /
8 hours ago
The 49ers Add Florida Receiver Ricky Pearsall With the 30th Draft Pick
Sports /
8 hours ago
Political Stunt, Egg on His Face, Personal Vendetta. Who’s Fresno DA Talking About?
Politics /
8 hours ago
Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error
A mistake by the city of Fresno in the process to approve residential garbage rates will delay a vote.
When a city government proposes rate ...
Politics /
5 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Politics /
5 hours ago
Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error
Politics /
5 hours ago
Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy
Opinion /
6 hours ago
Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies
Politics /
6 hours ago
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Sports /
6 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
6 hours ago
Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win
Sports /
7 hours ago