The President continues to be enchanted with autocrats

The Saudis have set up a commission that will investigate the death and will have one month to release a report, state TV said The commission will consist of national security officials, the foreign ministry and the interior ministry.

I doubt this will be acceptable to Americans and the world community. Now what will Trump do? Will he accept this delay?

 

You changed your story.

 

I don't know from "Trump fans."

I'm challenging your apparently exclusive concerns about Trump in this regard rather than the proper historical view you would take if you wished to have a thorough & honest discussion.

For my part, I've invented nothing; this is you remarking on what you yourself have created.

An incredibly disingenuous tactic at best.

 

The obligatory Republicans are speaking up on cue concerning the murder of the Washington Post journalist.

Senator Bob Corker has said, "If it's found that they, as everything indicates today ... murdered a journalist, that will hugely change our relationship. I mean, there's no question about it," Corker told reporters, adding, "I think they did it and I think, unfortunately, he's deceased."

Senator Lindsey Graham stated, “I’m not going back to Saudi Arabia as long as this guy is in charge,” Graham said of bin Salman. “I’ve been their biggest defender on the floor of the United States Senate. This guy is a wrecking ball. He had [Khashoggi] murdered in a consulate in Turkey and to expect me to ignore it, I feel used and abused. The MBS figure is to me toxic, he can never be a world leader on the world stage.”

Senator Marco Rubio made this contribution for the cause. "I don't care how much money it is. There isn't enough money in the world to purchase back our credibility on human rights and the way nations should conduct themselves."

This is strictly for public consumption to give gullible Americans the impression the GOP is on their side. This has all happened before, several times, especially when Trump steps on it. It happened after Trump's bigoted remarks after Charlottesville. It happened after Singapore when Trump gushed about Kim after giving away the ranch and getting nothing in return. It happened after Trump's incredulous comments at Helsinki when he declined American intelligence and accepted the word of a communist dictator because he sounded sincere. Prominent Republicans object. Nothing changes.

This showy performance by Rubio, Graham, and Corker does not mean a damn thing. The GOP leadership will do what it has always done in the past. It will put a rubber stamp on whatever Trump decides to do, no matter how self-serving his decision may be, and Trump's business connections to the Saudis will be swept under the rug.

American voters will lift up that rug and vote accordingly on Nov. 6. Maybe they will think something is wrong if American foreign policy is being bought by the Saudis. They will be watching Trump closely.

 

Saudi atrocities:

They only matter when Trump is president.

 

Where did you do that? What is the post #?

 

Do you mean a clean budget that includes a near 2,000 mile long border wall with Mexico and money to send troops to our border with Mexico. He is fixated on that now because that what moves his base.

Because smarter Democrats like Obama felt free trade was smarter. Protectionist tariffs during a recession is a job killer. It is a job killer during prosperity.

By unilaterally acting on this issue, Trump removed the U.S. as a negotiator. The Palestinians don't trust him.

Then why in the hell do you support Trump? He doesn't even give lip service to our infrastructure anymore. Trump supporters live in a fantasy world. They make up stories about Trump that sound good to justify their decision as to why they support the jerk.

 

Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday for the first time that Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, claiming that The Washington Post columnist‘s death came after an argument and a "fist fight" with men in the facility.

The Saudis have set up a commission that will investigate the death and will have one month to release a report, state TV said The commission will consist of national security officials, the foreign ministry and the interior ministry.

The search for those willing to fall on their swords for the king while relieving the crown prince of responsibility commenced.

CNN reports, "In addition to Major General Ahmed al-Asiri being relieved of his duties, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) issued a statement by Royal Court Order that Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saud relieved Saud al-Qahtani from his duties as Royal Court Consultant.

"A separate statement from SPA included the names of other officers relieved of their duties by Saudi King Salman also by Royal Court Order. The statement didn't mention the Jamal Khashoggi investigation but was released among a series of announcements relating to the investigation by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The names in the statement are:

• Intelligence chief assistant for intelligence affairs -- Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Ramih
• Intelligence chief assistant for human resources -- Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Shayee
• Head of the general department for security and protection at the intelligence presidency -- Rashad bin Hamed Al-Mohammady"

What is Trump's reaction to all this? "I do. I do," Trump said when asked about his confidence in the explanation, which claims Khashoggi died in a fist fight at the country's consulate in Istanbul.

"Again, it’s early. We haven’t finished our review, our investigation. But I think it’s a very important first step," he added.

Here's hoping Trump finishes his review before the crown prince dies of old age.

Trump offered a positive initial reaction to news that Saudi Arabia identified who they say were responsible for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "I just saw it," Trump said. "I think it’s a good first step. It’s a big step. It’s a lot of people involved."

"It's early," he said later. "We haven't finished our review."

In the meantime, the crown prince is thinking of making Trump their counsel in the U.S.

 

Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday for the first time that Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, claiming that The Washington Post columnist‘s death came after an argument and a "fist fight" with men in the facility.

Trump appeared to agree with this remarkable scenario, but with his usual caveat. "I do. I do," Trump said when asked about his confidence with this explanation

Referring to the arrests and the dismissal of top level Saudis close to the crown prince, Trump said, "Again, it’s early. We haven’t finished our review, our investigation. But I think it’s a very important first step." That is code for agreeing with the crown prince that he should avoid taking responsibility.

Okay, so Trump is satisfied with the unlikely story of the Post's reporter's demise and the steps taken so far by the Saudi government. Trump is also in agreement with the one month delay in submitting the report the Saudis have promised.

With all that as a backdrop, there is a very important question Trump is avoiding.

The Saudis are claiming the Post reporter got in a fist fight with his interrogators and was killed in the Saudi consulate.

Where is the body?

 

Trump's fascination with autocrats continues. Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News host Brett Baier that Khashoggi was killed in a "criminal" act committed by individuals operating "outside the scope of their authority." It is fitting that the Saudi minister appeared on Fox, euphemistically called the Trump Network. It is an extremely friendly network for anything involving Trump. This issue definitely involves Trump because of his copious financial ties to the Saudi royal family.

SA can stop the bleeding now by admitting the obvious, and a part of the obvious is, MBS overstepped his authority. MBS cannot nab legal American residents and reporters because he does not like what they write. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud must remove MBS from power and Trump has to eat his words. A smart President would never have said them in the first place.

Al-Jubeir's defense on Fox aired the day after Trump accused the Saudi government of lying about Khashoggi's death, even as he continued to defend the leadership of the crown prince. See, now that simply makes no sense. The crown prince is the Saudi government.

 

Here. I don't know.

 

Yup.

 

So, you lied.

 

"I am not satisfied with what I’ve heard," Trump said today. "We're going to get to the bottom of it."

He made no mention of the crown prince. Trump is learning.

Good thing. It is pretty clear now that Khashoggi's murder was premeditated. A member of the 15-man team suspected in the death of Jamal Khashoggi dressed up in his clothes and was captured on surveillance cameras around Istanbul on the day the journalist was killed.



CNN reports that a member of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's entourage made four calls to the royal's office from the consulate around the same time as Khashoggi's murder.

The net is closing in on the crown prince.

 

That MUST be it.