Saudis Weigh Using Intel Official As Scapegoat For Khashoggi Disappearance

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Elysee Palace on April 10, 2018 in Paris, France. Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, is on a three-d... PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Elysee Palace on April 10, 2018 in Paris, France. Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, is on a three-days official visit to France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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A high-level adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be blamed for the disappearance and alleged murder of Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi, The New York Times reported.

According to three people with knowledge of the plans who spoke to the Times, Saudi officials are planning to point Saudi General Ahmed al-Assiri as the perpetrator who was “seeking to prove himself,” in the Times words. The White House has reportedly already been briefed on the matter, according to the Times.

The move comes after weeks of Saudi denials of involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi, whom Turkish officials claim was murdered by Saudi officials in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. Turkey claims it has video and audio evidence to back up those allegations.

While the Times reported that Trump has been privately distancing himself from the crown prince in recent days, he has remained publicly committed to maintaining an arms deal between the two nations and has floated the idea that “rogue killers” may be responsible for the alleged murder.

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  1. Avatar for iamwil iamwil says:

    The “thread pulling” begins.

  2. Avatar for schmed schmed says:

  3. Avatar for paulw paulw says:

    So what happens to this scapegoat? Does he get a sternly worded letter in his personnel file?

  4. MbS is Trump in drag, another angle on viciously mean and self-centered. I’d like to see the both of them body-slammed at least once, considering their karma, that’s only a start on payback. After all, Trump is promoting body-slamming today with his support of Greg Gianfonte slamming the UK reporter. He thinks that is a great thing to do to reporters.

  5. Saudi officials are planning to point Saudi General Ahmed al-Assiri as the perpetrator who was “seeking to prove himself,” in the Times words.

    That’s funny.

    Al-Assiri, top Saudi intelligence official and high-ranking adviser to the “crown prince,” spokesman of the blood-soaked Saudi campaign in Yemen, mass-murderer and perpetrator of too many war crimes to count … is now seeking to “prove himself” by dismembering one chubby journalist.

    Pull the other leg, Riyadh. It’s got bells on.

     

    General Assiri did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

    He’s probably tired and taking a nap. They should try again later.

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