To jog any memories that need jogging, Boris Nemtsov, Kim Jon nam and Jamal Koshoggi are three prominent dissidents that were alleged - and most likely - murdered by brutal despotic regimes. Nemstov was a prominent opposition leader opposing Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. He was slain within view of the Kremlin.
The thought that after his murder, Kashoggi's body was meticulous dismembered and carried out of the consulate in small attache cases or suitcases is something you would expect to find only in some gory Hollywood spy movie. There must have been blood everywhere. The dark deed had to be apparent to at least some members of the staff. And where was the consul general when all this was taking place?
Then there is the most astounding development. According to the Turkish government, the murder was confirmed by both visual and audio recordings - but again, they have not been shared with American officials. The report picked up conversations and the sounds of torture. That evidence, however, is yet to be seen by American authorities. If true, it takes reality television to new and grimmer heights.
Such recordings would require the Turkish government to have planted cameras and listening devices throughout the consulate or had an operative on the scene. In either case, it has to have the folks in Riyadh in a state of panic.
There are also unconfirmed reports that Kashoggi may have recorded his own assassination on his Apple watch. That is possible but meaningless if such recording did not transmit beyond the watch. And again, no corroboration.
So, what are the next moves by the United States and by Saudi Arabia? President Trump and the administration are justified in holding back on any action until they review the evidence. Once that evidence is in, however, and if it establishes the obvious official connection, the United States will have to take punitive actions against Saudi Arabia - our American ally in the fight against Middle East terrorism and the ambitions of Iran.
This is not a unique occurrence in the world of international affairs to have alliances with bad actors. One only needs to recall that famous photo of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt smiling as they sat next to one of the most murderous dictators in history, Joseph Stalin - our ally in World War II.
It is a matter of what is most important at the moment. For now, we need Saudi Arabia to continue our mutual fight against terrorists. We need those military bases. We approve the sale of military equipment because it means that they are using it to defeat terrorism and Iran - and Russia - rather than the United States sending our troops to man that equipment. Were Saudi Arabia to fall into civil chaos or revolution, America would pay a very high price. It is the same problem we have with Russia. We oppose their intrusion into the Middle East and the assassinations by a deadly dictatorship, but we rely on them to send our astronauts to the space station and to fight the remnants of ISIS....More |
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