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Friday, October 4, 2024

Khashoggi murder: What are US plans for Saudi Arabia?

News Analysis |

U.S secretary of state Mike Pompeo has stated that it is just a matter of “handful weeks” before the United States is certain enough to substantiate and trace back the motive and order of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder to right people. While talking to a radio station in the United States he said that the President had already stated that he had no plan of letting the heinous crime being committed inside the Saudi consulate of Istanbul go without impunity. “It’ll take us probably a handful more weeks before we have enough evidence to actually put those sanctions in place, but I think we’ll be able to get there,” Pompeo said. “We’re going to find the fact pattern,” he said. “The president said we will demand accountability for those who were involved in the commission of this heinous crime.”

No Mention of Mohammed Bin Salman

As deduced from the statement of the State Secretary, the United States of America is mulling to imposing the sanctions over the certain individuals involved in the murder while overlooking the fact that the state apparatus was being used to carry out the crime. It is simply not possible to use a consulate to dismember the body of a person without having the authorization from the highest level. So far neither the United States not Turkey has been audacious enough to name the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to be the primary reason behind the murder.

The president said we will demand accountability for those who were involved in the commission of this heinous crime.

Most plausible and prime indictment might come in the name of Saud Al-Qahtani. He is believed to be the man who had overseen several political arrests and even detained Saad Hariri last year on the directive of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. According to the sources, the dismembering of Khashoggi’s body was allegedly live telecasted for Al-Qahtani who even gave directions to the team carrying out the execution.

Read more: Saudi sent ‘cover-up team’ to dispose of Khashoggi body: report

It is still going to be difficult for the United States as there is a growing resentment against the Crown Prince among the masses and even some lawmakers inside the United States. But the cost of an all-out economic offensive to punish the Saudi regime would cost the American companies billions of dollars’ worth defense orders from Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled that there is too much at stake so a lot of deliberation is going behind making the decision.

Return of Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud

In a surprising development, the only surviving brother of King Salman, Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud has ended his self-exile and has returned to the kingdom last week. Prince Ahmed left Saudi Arabia after his nephew Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was named as the heir to the Saudi throne since both of them shared differences in the past.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled that there is too much at stake so a lot of deliberation is going behind making the decision.

But the return of King’s brother, on the security guarantee of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, is seen as the West’s move to bring the solo flight of Crown Prince into a certain degree of control. It is hard to see the return of Prince Ahmed away from the context of Khashoggi’s murder which was being committed, inside the Saudi consulate, as a display of the premises which the Saudi monarchy under Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman could reach to.

Read more: The Khashoggi crisis: Putting Humpty Dumpty back together – James M….

The arrangement for the return must be aimed by the west to bring some sort of conformity in the demeanor of MBS by adding a contender to the crown. Due to agnatic seniority and the only living brother of the King, Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz is still in the race of being the next king. However, it is not hard and fast rule and the seniority has been bypassed multiple times in the past.

But the fact that both Prince Ahmed and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman did not get along in the past, give ground for certain substantial deduction regarding the ploy which the United States and west, in general, are up to. Whatever scheme is at play, is for the long run so that the incident like Khashoggi does not happen again which brings the United States at the crossroads. For now, the penal actions for Khashoggi’s death, whatever they would be, will most likely involve the consent of Saudi higher-ups.