Poll: Predict the outcome of the U.S. presidential election (electoral college and after)

[rooster59]

Mattis says Khashoggi killing undermines regional stability

By Idrees Ali

 

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks during the second day of the 14th Manama dialogue, Security Summit in Manama, Bahrain October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad l Mohammed

 

MANAMA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday that the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi undermined Middle Eastern stability and that Washington would take additional measures against those responsible.

 

Washington Post columnist Khashoggi's murder has escalated into a crisis for the world’s top oil exporter. Saudi Arabia's allies have reacted with outrage towards a country that is the lynchpin of a U.S.-backed regional bloc against growing Iranian influence in the Middle East.

 

But Mattis also said U.S. respect for the Saudi people was undiminished, while Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said those behind the killing would be prosecuted in the kingdom and that the investigation would take time.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to get to the bottom of the case, while also highlighting Riyadh's role as an ally against Tehran and Islamist militants, as well as a major purchaser of U.S. arms.

 

"With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly," Mattis told a conference in Bahrain.

 

"Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said. He did not mention de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name at any point.

 

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said Khashoggi's killing was premeditated, contradicting a previous official statement that it happened accidentally during a tussle in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

 

Saudi officials have also said he was accidentally killed in a botched security operation to return him to the kingdom.

 

In his remarks at the Manama Dialogue security conference, Mattis went through a list of what he described as disruptive Iranian behavior - a message most Gulf allies will view positively since they share similar concerns about Iran's increasing influence in Syria and Iraq.

 

While these were some of the sharpest comments Mattis has made on the Khashoggi killing, he also said the two countries still needed to collaborate on stability in the region.

 

"It's hard to imagine that this administration in particular is going to change fundamentally how it views the role of the Saudis in terms of counterterrorism, in terms of counter-Iran," said Dennis Ross, who served as top Middle East adviser to President Barack Obama in his first term.

 

Foreign Minister Jubeir, speaking at the same conference, said Riyadh's relations with Washington were "ironclad" amid what he called "hysteria in the media" over Khashoggi's killing.

 

In response to the killing, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week announced moves against 21 Saudis to either revoke their visas or make them ineligible for U.S. visas after the Khashoggi killing.

 

"Our Secretary of State ...will be taking additional measures as the situation is clarified," Mattis said.

 

ALLIANCES

 

Mattis said the presence in the Middle East of Russia - a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - could not be a replacement for the United States, whose "long-standing, enduring, and transparent" commitment to the region he reiterated.

 

He said that it was important to end a 16-month-old dispute between Qatar and four Arab states that analysts say has weakened regional coordination against Iran.

 

Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of backing their archrival, Iran, and supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the charges.

 

"The solving of internal debates among our GCC partners is vital for realizing this vision. Without it, we weaken our security," he said, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

 

Mattis said he continued to support partners in the region who were defending themselves against Houthi attacks in Yemen but also called for an end to fighting there.

 

A Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen’s war in 2015 has conducted frequent air strikes targeting the Iran-aligned Houthi group and has often hit civilians, although it denies doing so intentionally.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-28

[AGareth2]

MBS will never be questioned

it is up to his dad to enforce Sharia

[klauskunkel]

49 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

 

redacted

Edited October 28, 2018 by klauskunkel

[YetAnother]

50 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Saudi officials have also said he was accidentally killed in a botched security operation to return him to the kingdom.

sounds the most plausible story; can't believe the saudis would be so stupid as to have planned to kill him in such a public way

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sounds the most plausible story; can't believe the saudis would be so stupid as to have planned to kill him in such a public way

Now in article: Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said Khashoggi's killing was premeditated.

No accidental killing. As each new piece of evidence is disclosed, the Saudi's are reluctantly being boxed in by the truth to which they are gradually conceding. Which just furthers their arrogance to immunity from responsibility.

[farcanell]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said.

And yet president trump has openly declared that no other soverign nation or body will sit in judgement over an American citizen.

 

how then, without overt hypocracy, can the US interfere in the process of investigation and adjudication of another foreign power. Which, on the surface, is ongoing.

 

the saudis must first complete their investigation and prosecution, before any international body can proceed.... per international law.

 

if this process is deemed a whitewash, the UN Security Council can call for international interference, which might well be denied via veto powers held by Russia and China , who’s agenda might be to further destabilize trumps tower.... all the US can legally do is present a motion to the international courts that they have just finished slamming.

 

and even then, there’s not much that can be done if the saudis reject international interference... barring sanctions, which will effect the entire world, not just regional security.

 

that said, I still believe that if the US lifts sanctions on turkey, all evidence will disappear.

[JemJem]

*yawn*

 

Soon, it will all be 'back to business'. Does anyone really think the Saudis will pay a heavy price for this ?

 

Not just Saudis of course ; the controversial regimes of Qatar, Myanmar, Israel, Turkey, among others, are likely to get away with their human rights crimes in the foreseeable future too.

[Tug]

I don’t think this crime will destabilize anything it’s just business as usual for the Saudis the difference is they got caught.now our Donald saying he will move the embassy to Jerusalem that is akin to throwing gasoline on a pile of dry wood

[melvinmelvin]

40 minutes ago, Tug said:

I don’t think this crime will destabilize anything it’s just business as usual for the Saudis the difference is they got caught.now our Donald saying he will move the embassy to Jerusalem that is akin to throwing gasoline on a pile of dry wood

agree,

and it will in all likelihood not hurt sa much, in a relatively short while it will be out of the news

 

[bristolboy]

13 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sounds the most plausible story; can't believe the saudis would be so stupid as to have planned to kill him in such a public way

Which is why they brought along a doctor who specializes in autopsies?

[Small Joke]

Tomorrow：Theyre not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens. ????

[Morch]

On 10/28/2018 at 8:59 PM, Tug said:

I don’t think this crime will destabilize anything it’s just business as usual for the Saudis the difference is they got caught.now our Donald saying he will move the embassy to Jerusalem that is akin to throwing gasoline on a pile of dry wood

 

If the outcome emerges in a way which weakens the House of Saud, then it does stand the risk of destabilizing things some as far as the ME goes. Of course, some parties and posters may think that's a good development, though. As for the latter part of your comment, do tell. In reality, Trump's statement and move did not, to date, result in quite the major reaction predicted.