Khashoggi Report Declassified

“Saudi Arabia’s crown prince [Mohammed bin Salman] likely approved the killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to a newly declassified U.S. intelligence report released [last] Friday…

“Shortly after the findings were released, the State Department announced a new policy, called the ‘Khashoggi Ban,’ that will allow the U.S. to deny visas to people who harm, threaten or spy on journalists on behalf of a foreign government. It also said it would impose visa restrictions on 76 Saudi individuals who have engaged or threatened dissidents overseas… The Treasury Department also announced sanctions against a former Saudi intelligence official, Ahmad Hassan Mohammed al Asiri, who U.S. officials say was the operation’s ringleader.” (AP News)

The right is divided between those who call for additional punishment for Saudi Arabia and those who caution that any further action would harm our strategic interests.

The left urges the Biden administration to go further and take action against MBS directly.