TRUMP SOFTENS STANCE, WON’T PUNISH SAUDI OVER KHASHOGGI KILLING
KHASHOGGI MURDER US president cites close business ties with the Gulf kingdom, irate senators demand fresh probe
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “may or may not” have known of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and stopped short of any punitive action against the kingdom.
Disregarding the US intelligence assessment about the role of the prince, Trump on Tuesday stressed close strategic and business ties with the oil-rich ally. In a statement headlined “Standing with Saudi Arabia,” he said the US has already sanctioned 17 Saudis for the murder, indicating he was not contemplating any more punishments.
“Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”
“That being said,” he added, “we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder.”
Asked later by a reporter if Saudi Arabia was getting away with murder, Trump said, “No, no, this is about America First. They’re paying us 400 billion plus.” He was possibly referring to $450 billion in investments and deals, as mentioned in the statement issued earlier by the White House.
The CIA had reportedly concluded on the basis of intercepts and audio recordings that the prince had ordered the killing of the US-based journalist. The US has sanctioned close aides and advisers of the crown prince for involvement in the killing.
But Trump remained unconvinced about the role of Mohammed, who is close to the White House and Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kush- ner. Khashoggi was a strident critic of the crown prince’s policies and had lived in the US in selfexile since 2017. The columnist for The Washington Post was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, where he had gone to collect documents for his upcoming marriage. He was allegedly killed by a 15-member hit team at the consulate and the body was reportedly dismembered for disposal.
In the statement packed with exclamation marks, Trump seemed to be siding with the Saudi royals. He said they had insisted Mohammed played no role in the planning and execution of the killing. He also repeated their portrayal of Khashoggi as an “enemy of the state” and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. But, he added, trying to put some distance, “my decision is in no way based on that–this is an unacceptable and horrible crime”.
Trump left the door open for congressional action. “I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction - and they are free to do so,” he said.
He cautioned, “I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America.
“I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!”
Members of Congress have called for harsher actions, including cancelling arms sales. Trump said “foolishly cancelling these contracts” worth billions of dollars would only benefit Russia and China, which would be next in line to supply the weapons.
Critics, including high-ranking officials in other countries, denounced Trump’s statement, saying he ignored human rights and granted Saudi Arabia a pass for economic reasons.
Senators Bob Corker and Bob Menendez wrote a letter to Trump on Tuesday, asking for an investigation under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Trump’s statement came just before he pardoned the Thanksgiving turkey at the White House and left for a holiday weekend in Florida. He told reporters that oil prices would “skyrocket” if the US broke with the Saudis.
Asked about any personal financial involvement with the Saudis, he said: “Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with me. What does have to do with me is putting America first.”