Trump: Saudi explanation of Khashoggi death credible
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Donald Trump said that if the US does take action over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death, he does not want it to impact arms sales to Saudi Arabia (AFP Photo/Nicholas Kamm)
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Friday he found Saudi Arabia's explanation about the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi credible
"I do, I do," Trump said when asked if he found the Saudis' explanation credible, adding: "It's early, we haven't finished our review or investigation, but... I think it's a very important first step."
Members of the US Congress were far harsher in the wake of the kingdom's admission that Khashoggi was dead.
Republican Senator Bob Corker, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, said he doubted the credibility of the Saudi authorities, who insisted for weeks that he left the consulate.
"The story the Saudis have told about Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance continues to change with each passing day, so we should not assume their latest story holds water," he tweeted.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has nonetheless been outspoken about Khashoggi, shared Corker's suspicion.
"To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr Khashoggi is an understatement," the Republican senator tweeted.
Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in suburban Washington, was a former insider who turned into a critic of the kingdom's direction under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to sort out marriage paperwork, but his fiancee saw nothing more of him after he entered.
I am just waiting for fox news to blame it all on Hillary.
Gaslighting goes global.
Saudi explanation of Khashoggi death credible
Which version, the latest would only be credible to an idiot (oh, that explains it)
Trump is backing down because he still does business there. If this guy did die as a result of a fight, why would he be dismembered? It was reported that a Saudi hit team left the country just after the death.
Unfortunately, what matters is what we can prove. Diplomatically, it's hard for our government to take action based on what Senators personally suspect, no matter how reasonable it might seem.
Well, you can always ask, but he was still a Saudi citizen, not an American citizen. Citizenship still trumps permanent resident status. The Saudis would have no particular obligation to comply with such a request.
So we should ignore the audio recording?
So we should ignore the body double that left the consulate in Khashoggi's clothes?
So we should ignore the 15 intelligence operatives that arrived at the consulate "just in time" for Khashoggi?
So we should ignore Dr. Bone Saw?
So we should ignore the lack of a body to autopsy?
Where did you get the wacky idea that we should ignore something?
Did I say the words "beyond a reasonable doubt?"
Iran is one of our biggest enemies. The diplomatic consequences are not nearly as critical as they are with Saudi Arabia.
Here is just one consideration:
Saudi Money Flows Into Silicon Valley—and With It Qualms
In a big hurry to throw that away? If you can't convincingly justify whatever action you want to take (and what would you like us to do anyway?), you can expect a backlash that could hurt this country.
So in your mind, money trumps human life?
What do you mean by "in your mind?" I didn't make the world and I'm not endorsing it either. I'm just reporting the news. Do you deny the real world reality of what I'm saying? It's all well and good to be bothered by what the Saudis have done, but outrage isn't policy.
If you were running this country, you would have to decide what the response will be. What you decide could seriously the impact the lives and livelihoods of American citizens.
So you still haven't answered the question of whether or not you want to piss off the biggest source of small business venture capital in this country.
Let's role-play. You're the president. You are the one making the call. Your decision might shut down a business that sustains thousands of people.
For example, the Saudis literally invested over $7 billion (with a B!) in Uber. Uber has over 2 million drivers globally and 750,000 just in the United States. What if our response causes the Saudis to pull out and Uber goes out of business? 750,000 Americans just lost some extra income - maybe their full time job.
They will be complaining to you. They won't give a shit that the Saudis murdered one of their own citizens. All they will care about is that they can't make rent because of you . At minimum, they will be voting for the other guy next election.
Whatcha gonna do?
You're the one that pointed out the loss of Saudi money if the US takes action on this. So yes, in YOUR mind, the loss of money appears to be more important than human life.
Still haven't answered??? This is the 1st time you've asked me!!!
And the answer is a resounding YES! A human life is worth way more than any money from Saudi Arabia.
Once again you show that your belief is that money is more important than human life. I, being a human being, do not believe that.
I would do what any other non-sociopath human being would do, hold them to task for their actions. The mere belief that murder is okay as long as you have enough money is abhorrent.
Fascinating. Are you aware of just how many people die at the hands of Saudi Arabian authorities? Follow this: Human Rights Watch - Saudi Arabia Events of 2017.
5,295 civilians killed and no one gave a shit, but one journalist dies and you want action right this damned minute. Although you still won't say what action.
No national outrage from America.
And no one cares.
I have a problem with Kashoggi's murder, just like anyone, but I am dubious about a lot of the urgent moral outrage I see, including from you.
The only things I have said are:
1) Before we take any action, we should be able to convincingly prove culpability to anyone who might seek to defend Saudi Arabia or demonize the United States for taking action based on speculation (because in the UN, that shit happens). We don't want people to be able to say we acted unjustly or without proof.
2) Any action we do take should send the proper message but also be appropriate and do more to punish the bad actors in Saudi Arabia than people in the United States.
What is so wrong with either of those positions?
Trying to change the subject???
You may not have given a shit, but don't you dare presume to speak for me. Still avoiding the subject of this comment string?
Yet again, not what we're talking about. Try getting back on subject.
Have you gone completely off the edge? Still not on subject.
Your previous comments speak otherwise. You might have a problem with the murder if Saudi Arabia didn't have as much money to throw around. At least that is what your comments indicated.
And as I have stated this is a double standard by you at the very least, and an outright lie at the most. You did not have these same beliefs with Iran. This is also not a court of law, Saudia lies, that they have been caught at, are more than enough to justify action.
No, what you said that I have issue with is that action should be adjusted because of the amount of money they throw at America. Over and over again you bring up the money side, now you are disingenuously trying to backtrack from your earlier statements.
If a body double left the consulate in his clothes, the assassins must have stripped him naked before they dismembered and beheaded him with that bone saw. Those clothes would have been so bloody you could have seen it from the space station
Something bad happened. Therefore Trump must be responsible.
That's how religions work. When something you don't like is happening, you blame it on the infidels.
Remember Fred Phelps telling us all that Hurricane Katrina was God's judgement on New Orleans for allowing depravity and homosexuality? This is much like that. Something bad happened, so it's another glorious opportunity to blame the people we hate anyway.
Maybe that's why Trump likes them, finally someone that lies worse than he does...
Not at all, just trying to put the subject in a reasonable perspective.
You presume to interpret my previous comments (over my objections) but you want to ignore my comment here? You don't get to cherry pick which words and phrases of mine are real just to suit your own outrage.
What action? (for the millionth time)
No, you have decided that anyone who is not 100% in lock-step agreement with you must support the murder. That's ludicrous. Trying to be patient with you, I have tried to clarify my statements so you realize there is no reason for you to be so offended by me. Unfortunately, you just seem hell-bent on being offended no matter what.
It's easy for guys like Bob Corker who's on his way out and all the Democrats to talk tough about the Saudis. They aren't the ones who have to make the hard decisions. I don't recall Dems being so quick to punish back when Obama was in charge. They need to back off and let Trump and his team work through this diplomatically. Can anybody make the case that the mutual enemy of ours Iran is somehow more humane and should benefit from this?
"The hijackers in the September 11 attacks were 19 men affiliated with al-Qaeda . 15 of the 19 were citizens of Saudi Arabia "
"Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of slave labour and commercial sexual exploitation. Men and women from Central Asia , the Middle East , and Africa , and many other countries voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled labourers, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude."
"Some Saudi men have also used contracted "temporary marriages" in countries such as Mauritania, Yemen, and Indonesia as a means by which to sexually exploit migrant workers. Females are led to believe they are being wed in earnest, but upon arrival in Saudi Arabia subsequently become their husbands' sexual slaves, are forced into domestic labor and, in some cases, prostitution. Prostitution is illegal in Saudi Arabia."
"Saudi women face discrimination in many aspects of their lives, such as the justice system , and under the male guardianship system are effectively treated as legal minors . Although they make up 70% of those enrolled in universities, for social reasons, women make up 5% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia, the lowest proportion in the world. The treatment of women has been referred to as " sex segregation " and "gender apartheid ". Implementation of a government resolution supporting expanded employment opportunities for women met resistance from within the labor ministry, from the religious police, and from the male citizenry."
I'm not making a case FOR Iran, but do we really only have those two options? Do we really have to pick one of these two nations and condone their vile behavior just to make some money off weapon sales?
US President Donald Trump said
Right these is reason to pause.
Trump says whatever he wants to get whatever he wants and he's as much as said so himself. When someone shows and tell me what they are I listen.
I watch what trump does Not what he says. That way I know I'm getting reality. Or at I figure that's where the best shot at reality with this man is. So, at least I figure it’s my best shot at it is by watching what he actually does when the words stop.
A 24/7 negotiator IMO: Does not the best leader make.
But It is what it is and so is he.