Saudi Crown Prince approved Khashoggi’s killing, US finds

WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed off on the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a U.S. intelligence report released Friday.

“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” the report concluded.

The report builds on classified intelligence from the CIA and other agencies after Khashoggi’s murder in October 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The decision to release the report, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence but withheld under President Donald Trump, reflects the Biden administration’s determination to recalibrate relations with Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, over its human rights record.

Prince Mohammed has denied involvement in the killing, while saying he accepts symbolic responsibility as the country’s de facto ruler. Saudi officials have said the murder was carried out by rogue agents who’ve since been prosecuted.

In advance of report’s publication, President Joe Biden held a call Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Biden discussed regional security and the renewed U.S. and United Nations effort to end the war in Yemen. He also “affirmed the importance the United States places on universal human rights and the rule of law,” the White House said in a statement.

To the Editor:

Here is my suggestion for President Biden’s wife’s project as the nation’s first lady. Dr. Jill Biden (PH.D in education) could take on the task of getting good schools into our cities’ ghettos. She could team up with the Black Lives Matter people. Instead of looting and burning our beautiful cities, Dr. Jill would get their help to place stateof-the-art schools and topnotch charter schools in poor neighborhoods. Think of what this could do to our country’s slums!

Dr. Jill might have to take on the strong teacher’s union, but the BLM people can certainly offer their assistance.

She could get started immediately by instructing her husband to issue an executive order: Make school choice vouchers available to all families who need them!

Why should the elites (and politicians) be the only ones to send their kiddos to private schools?

I would title the first lady’s project, “Dr. Jill’s Journey.” Laurel Leslie

Sonora