© Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
US President Trump has said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "could very well" have known in advance about the plan to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but the US will remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement released Tuesday, Donald Trump said that Khashoggi's murder was an "unacceptable and horrible crime," and that as American intelligence agencies continue to investigate the case, "it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event."
Trump went no further with that train of thought, and instead reaffirmed the strategic alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom, he wrote, is an important ally against Iran and a vital supplier of oil.
The president again touted the importance of maintaining the US' $110 billion arms deal with the Saudi government, which he said means "tremendous economic development" for the US.
Trump's insistence on maintaining lucrative arms deals stands in stark contrast with the response from some of his allies. On Monday, the German Economic Ministry confirmed that all of its arms deals with Saudi Arabia, including those inked before Khashoggi's disappearance in October, have been canceled.Trump did however sanction 17 Saudi individuals last week, including Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, who Turkish authorities believe led a 15-man 'kill team' to Istanbul to murder Khashoggi, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and Mustafa al-Madani, a middle-aged man who was seen leaving the Saudi consulate after Khashoggi's death, wearing the deceased journalist's clothes.
Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, was last seen alive on October 2, when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. Riyadh initially denied foul play, but later began to acknowledge Khashoggi's death. After claiming that the journalist died in a fist fight with his captors, the Saudis now
admit that he was murdered in an intelligence operation gone wrong.
The Saudi public prosecutor announced last week that he will seek the death penalty for five of Khashoggi's alleged killers.
Meanwhile, the Turkish government has claimed that Saudi officials at the "highest level" ordered the hit. The Turks claim that Khashoggi was tortured and dismembered inside the consulate, and that his body was dissolved in acid by his captors.
The Turks claim to have an audio recording of Khashoggi's final moments alive. Trump seemed to confirm the tape's existence when he told Fox News on Sunday that he had been briefed on its contents, but chose not to listen to it, as "it's a suffering tape."
Trump's lukewarm response to the killing has been criticized by lawmakers in the US. Republican Senator Rand Paul said that Trump should suspend the US' arms deal with Riyadh, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also said on Sunday that he considers The Crown Prince personally responsible for Khashoggi's death."They are an important ally but when it comes to the crown prince, he's irrational, he's unhinged and I think he's done a lot of damage to the relationship (between) the United States and Saudi Arabia. And I have no intention of working with him ever again," he told NBC.In his statement on Tuesday, Trump said that he understands "there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction- and they are free to do so."
Trump said that while he will "consider whatever ideas" presented to him, he is unlikely to take any steps to shake up his relationship with the Kingdom.
Comment: If Trump wants to "consider" what to do, perhaps he might want to look at what is reportedly the chilling last words during and after Khashoggi's interrogation and torture,
revealed by a Turkish newspaper:
Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?
In the second part of the recording, Mutreb calls Khashoggi, who was taken into the consulate's B unit, a "traitor."
Traitor! You will be brought to account!
Another voice is heard in the recording. It belongs to 57-year-old Saudi engineer Mustafa al-Madaini who posed as Khashoggi's lookalike:
It is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago.
Trump's
full statement, as published on the White House website, and which can be summarized as
'Iran is evil, but Saudi Arabia has cash and oil!':
America First!
The world is a very dangerous place!
The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraq's fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" Iran is considered "the world's leading sponsor of terror."
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism.
After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries - and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!
The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body.
Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an "enemy of the state" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that - this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't!
That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!
I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction - and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels - so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!
Comment: If Trump wants to "consider" what to do, perhaps he might want to look at what is reportedly the chilling last words during and after Khashoggi's interrogation and torture, revealed by a Turkish newspaper: In the second part of the recording, Mutreb calls Khashoggi, who was taken into the consulate's B unit, a "traitor." Another voice is heard in the recording. It belongs to 57-year-old Saudi engineer Mustafa al-Madaini who posed as Khashoggi's lookalike: Trump's full statement, as published on the White House website, and which can be summarized as 'Iran is evil, but Saudi Arabia has cash and oil!':