Khashoggi Murder: Trump Ignores US Leverage Over Riyadh

Channel NewsAsia

22 November 2018

Trump on Tuesday gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a pass on Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, glossing over the CIA’s reported conclusion that the kingdom’s de facto ruler had authorised the killing. But the CIA appears unlikely to follow Trump’s lead. In leaking its assessment that Prince Mohammed authorised the murder, the CIA showed it was willing to “take on Trump”, said James Dorsey, a fellow at Singapore’s RSIS. The move also suggested “the agency does not believe Prince Mohammed’s survival as king-in-waiting is crucial to US national security or the stability of the kingdom,” he added.

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