BREAKING, Body Parts found. Saudi Arabia claims Khashoggi died in accidental ‘fistfight’ inside the consulate

Saudi-Israel Backchannel Takes Hit After Officials Dismissed Over Khashoggi Murder, Report Says
Two of MBS' close aides allegedly led covert efforts to improve ties between Jerusalem and Riyadh, but sources tell WSJ their involvement in killing of dissident journalist 'dampened appetite for risky foreign policy endeavors'
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/report-saudi-israel-backchannel-takes-hit-after-officials-dismissed-over-khashoggi-1.6761067
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Dec 18, 2018 7:23 PM
File photo: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at Algiers International Airport, December 2, 2018.Ryad Kramdi/AFP
Mohammed bin Salman's woes might prove to be Yemen's savior
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Efforts to improve the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia have been seriously hindered after Riyadh fired two Saudi officials leading the project over suspected involvement in the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

One of the officials, former media adviser to the court Saud al-Qahtani, issued directives to the Saudi press with the goal of improving Israel's image. The two countries have no diplomatic ties and anti-Israel sentiments are widespread in the kingdom.

The other official, also a former close aide to Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a subordinate of al-Qahtani, reportedly made several secret trips to Israel to look into employing Israeli surveillance technology, sources familiar with the matter told the Journal. The alleged visits would make former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri the most senior Saudi official to ever set foot in Israel.


>> Is Saudi Arabia repaying Trump for Khashoggi by attacking Linda Sarsour? | Analysis ■ On Fox News, Kushner ignores the CIA and glosses over Saudi crown prince's connections to Khashoggi murder

A protester wearing a mask depicting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds up his hands, painted with fake blood, at a vigil for murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. Oct. 25, 2018
A protester wearing a Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman mask holds up his hands, painted with fake blood, at a vigil for murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Istanbul. Oct. 25, 2018Emrah Gurel,AP
Al-Qahtani, however, "was the key player in all of this," the report quoted a Saudi official as saying. The former court adviser sought out spyware made by Israeli firm NSO Group and its Luxembourg-based affiliate, Q Cyber Technology, which signed a $55-million deal to sell cyber surveillance tools to Riyadh, the report says.

A Haaretz investigation revealed in October that NSO negotiated the sale of advanced cyber-attack capabilities with Saudi Arabia, a deal that The Washington Post says was authorized by the Israeli government. NSO said in response that "the company develops products that are sold only to authorized government entities."
A month after Haaretz revealed the sale, NSO found itself targeted by a lawsuit launched by Montreal-based Saudi activist Omar Abdulaziz, who claims that the firm's software was used to hack his cellphone in order to track conversations with Khashoggi. 

According to the Journal, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen held several meetings with Saudi officials over the past year. One of these meetings, facilitated by the U.S., brought together Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinians intelligence officers in June. Sources also said Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates now "regularly share intelligence of shared threats," including matters related to Iran.

The Saudi government has also facilitated business between the two countries, according to the report. People familiar with the process told WSJ special waivers have been issued to Israeli businessmen, so that they may visit the country without using their Israeli passports.


The mission to forge closer ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which the Journal calls "a secretive U.S.-backed initiative," has also been impeded by the Saudi crown prince's own alleged role in the murder.

Citing people familiar with the situation, the report says that the international outcry following the killing hampered the prince's "room to maneuver among prospective rivals and dampened appetite for risky foreign policy endeavors such as the outreach to Israel."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that while the murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul is "horrific," it does not outweigh the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia.

File photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, December 16, 2018.
File photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, December 16, 2018.Abir Sultan/AFP
"What happened in Istanbul is nothing short of horrific. But it’s balanced by the importance of Saudi Arabia and the role it plays in the Middle East," Netanyahu told foreign reporters at an event in Jerusalem.

"Because if Saudi Arabia would be destabilized, the world, not the Middle East, will be destabilized," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu's response was similar to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump during an interview to Reuters. "I really hope that people aren't going to suggest that we should not take hundreds of billions of dollars that they're going to siphon off to Russia and to China, primarily those two, instead of giving it to us," he said, while discussing the murder of Khashoggi.

"You're talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs. You're talking about huge military and other contracts. I hope that's not going to be a recommendation," he concluded.

Turkey accused the United States late November of trying to turn a blind eye to the murder of Khashoggi, and dismissed comments from Trump on the issue as "comic".

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "This is a humanitarian issue. It concerns a murder. It is not possible to say 'our trade will increase, let's cover this up, let’s ignore it.'"

Analysis Saudi Arabia and U.S. on Collision Course as Mohammed Bin Salman's Standing Ebbs
Trump pledged not to whitewash Khashoggi's murder, and now it seems the CIA’s report will make it hard for him to be satisfied with the Saudis’ response ■ King Salman will have to consider his own son’s future

Zvi Bar'el Nov 17, 2018 10:51 PM
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The Washington Post’s exclusive that the CIA believes that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi sets the kingdom and Washington on a...
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-saudi-arabia-and-u-s-on-collision-course-as-mohammed-bin-salman-s-standing-ebbs-1.6659009

Saudi Arabia slams US Senate for naming Prince MBS as ‘responsible’ for Khashoggi murder
Published time: 16 Dec, 2018 22:45
Edited time: 16 Dec, 2018 23:35
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Saudi Arabia slams US Senate for naming Prince MBS as ‘responsible’ for Khashoggi murder
FILE PHOTO Reuters / Zoubeir Souissi
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Riyadh has denounced the US Senate resolution that blamed the Saudi Crown Prince for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as baseless allegations and a blatant attack on the Kingdom’s sovereignty and internal affairs.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rejects the position expressed recently by the US Senate, which was based upon unsubstantiated claims and allegations, and contained blatant interferences in the Kingdom’s internal affairs, undermining the Kingdom’s regional and international role,” Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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US Senate passes resolution blaming Saudi Prince MBS for Jamal Khashoggi murder
The ministry emphasized that “surprising” actions and statements by American officials undermined the kingdom's sovereignty and the “status” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who'd worked for decades on building economic and security ties between the countries.

The Kingdom has previously asserted that the murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi is a deplorable crime that does not reflect the Kingdom’s policy nor its institutions.

But even though the US Senate had sent a "wrong message" that had damaged bilateral relations, Riyadh is nevertheless willing to maintain ties with the US, with the ministry reminding Washington that the Gulf state acts as a “cornerstone” of peace and security at both regional and international levels.

ALSO ON RT.COM
‘I know how to СUT WELL’ – Erdogan, quoting one of Khashoggi’s murderers
On Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution saying it “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder” of the Washington Post columnist, effectively undermining the Trump administration’s effort to play down and contain the fallout from the high-profile assassination.

Senate votes to blame Saudi crown prince for Khashoggi murder
December 14, 2018 by Jerry McCormick
Senate votes to blame Saudi crown prince for Khashoggi murder
Phil Roeder / CCL
Senate Republicans have taken a major step to protect the integrity of the country.

On Thursday, the Senate voted unanimously to pin the blame for the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Guilty as Charged
When the details of the death of the Saudi journalist were first revealed, people around the world were horrified.

According to reports, Khashoggi went to the Saudi Consulate in Turkey for marital documents.

There, a fight broke out and Khashoggi was murdered.

Later, his body was apparently dismembered in an effort to cover up the murder.

Initially, the Saudis denied having anything to do with the murder.

Later, officials made an admission, but it sounded more like a way to cover up the murder rather than an admission of guilt.

The Senate has now put the full weight of the murder on the crown prince, something President Trump has avoided.

The Arms Deal
As all of this was going on, the United States had a pending arms deal with the Saudis worth billions of dollars.

At one point, Trump even brought the arms deal up as one of the reasons he was so hesitant to outright blame the crown prince for the murder.

The Break
To this day, President Trump remains hesitant to publicly call out the crown prince and Saudi leadership over the murder.

Members of the Senate, led by some of Trump’s main opponents in the Republican party, put forth a measure to place the blame on the Saudis.

Not only did the measure pass unanimously, several pro-Trump Republicans made statements to the effect that an arms deal is no reason to avoid placing blame when it is appropriate.

This is not the first time that Senate Republicans have gone against Trump, but it is the first time the party has acted unanimously against the President.
Do you agree with the Senate's decision?
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Is this a sign of things to come or was it just the morality of the issue at hand that drove every Republican to do what President Trump was so reluctant to do?
Considering the developments in the Michael Cohen case and the fact Democrats now control Congress, it will be very interesting to see how things pan out, both in the near future and to see if the party collectively supports Trump as he tries to win re-election.

https://www.dailyconservative.com/conservative-news/washington-swamp-tied-to-khashoggi-murder.htm
Washington Swamp Tied To Khashoggi Murder
December 10, 2018
A bombshell exclusive report has just been released by the Daily Caller – and it may have huge implications.

While the media has been eager to tie Donald Trump to the brutal murder of Saudi gadfly Jamal Khashoggi, it appears that the real evidence points to ties between the murders and the Washington swamp, not President Trump.

The Daily Caller reports:

At least two prestigious and very influential Washington, D.C. lobbying firms collaborated directly with the high-ranking Saudi royal aide who allegedly orchestrated the brutal murder of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi as part of an expansive Saudi campaign to influence Congress.

In its effort to influence U.S. politics, Saudi Arabia has spent tens of millions of dollars and enlisted another dozen or so lobbying and consulting firms in addition to BGR Group and Squire Patton Boggs. These firms include Sphere Consulting, Glover Park Group, the Podesta Group and Hogan Lovells.

Since the beginning of his campaign, President Trump has waged war on the corrupt pay for play world of big money politics, making the pledge to “drain the swamp” a key part of his platform, and passing a 5-year lobbying ban. Now it remains to be seen if the media will target the perpetrators here, or whether their desire to attack Trump is stronger than their desire to expose the real culprits.

Read the full story here. https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/10/lobbying-firms-worked-for-saudi-official-khashoggi/

https://www.rt.com/news/444661-france-imposes-travel-bans-on/
France imposes travel bans on 18 Saudi citizens over Khashoggi killing
Published time: 22 Nov, 2018 16:03
Edited time: 22 Nov, 2018 16:24
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France imposes travel bans on 18 Saudi citizens over Khashoggi killing 
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France has imposed travel bans on Saudi individuals directly involved in the killing of Khashoggi. It called for a thorough investigation, but stressed that it does not approve of the death penalty, which the suspects face.
In a statement released by the French Foreign Ministry on Thursday, the murder was branded “a crime of extreme gravity, which moreover goes against freedom of the press and the most fundamental rights”

“France asks that all light be shed on the manner in which such an act may have been committed. It expects from the Saudi authorities a transparent, detailed and exhaustive response."

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‘A vicious place’: Trump blames ‘the world’ for Khashoggi’s death
Khashoggi, a self-exiled Saudi journalist who lived in the US and wrote columns for the Washington Post critical of the incumbent Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in October while visiting a Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The crime was pinned on a hit squad sent by the Saudi government.

After initial attempts to deny any involvement, Riyadh eventually acknowledged that the slaying took place, but framed it as an unauthorized operation gone wrong that had nothing to do with the Crown Prince. The murder remains a major international scandal, with many people rejecting the idea that the son and heir of the Saudi King, who is the de facto ruler of the kingdom, was unaware of the operation.

Premature but possible? Trump awaits ‘full report’ on Khashoggi murder after CIA implicates MbS
Published time: 18 Nov, 2018 00:02
Edited time: 18 Nov, 2018 10:00
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Premature but possible? Trump awaits ‘full report’ on Khashoggi murder after CIA implicates MbS
Reuters / Kevin Lamarque
The US government has yet to reach a “final conclusion” on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and until then won’t undermine the strategic relationship with Riyadh, amid reports the CIA has linked the murder to the Saudi Crown Prince.
“We’ll be having a very full report over the next two days,” Trump said, acknowledging having discussed Khashoggi's murder with CIA Director Gina Haspel. Calling media reports about the CIA’s conclusions “very premature,” Trump stressed that “they haven't assessed anything yet.” But at the same time, Trump stopped short of explicitly rejecting the idea that the Crown Prince might have been linked to the murder, saying anything was “possible.”

We’re going to come up with a report as to what we think the overall impact was and who caused it. And who did it. We’re talking about the killing. We are not talking about anything else.

Trump did not touch the question of who was preparing the report or whether it would assess who might have ordered the assassination. Earlier, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert also avoided directly rejecting reports that the CIA had somehow implicated Mohammed bin Salman: “There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.”

Read more
AFP / Jim WatsonCIA ‘concludes with high confidence’ Saudi Crown Prince ordered Khashoggi murder – reports
On Friday, the Washington Post and other US media reported that the CIA had concluded with “high confidence” that MbS had ordered the murder of the journalist inside the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul on October 2.

The Washington Post contributor was allegedly lured to the embassy in Istanbul by a false promise, a safety guarantee offered by the Saudi Ambassador to the US, Khalid bin Salman, who happens to be the Crown Prince’s brother. While the agency could not conclude with certainty that the Ambassador knew that Khashoggi’s life would be in jeopardy, considering multiple sources of intelligence, and the fact that bin Salman is the “de facto ruler” of Saudi Arabia, the “accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved,” the Post said, quoting an anonymous source familiar with the investigation.

The CIA assessment, which contradicts Saudi government claims that the Crown Prince was totally unaware of the situation, seems to have caused quite a dilemma for the White House. If the allegations prove to be true, Donald Trump would have to follow through on his promise of “severe punishment.” That, however, would likely mean losing a much-touted $110 billion military contract which he cemented with the Saudis last year, and put in jeopardy up to $400bn-worth of contracts with Riyadh.
RT

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 Saudi Arabia to seek death penalty for Khashoggi’s accused killers https://on.rt.com/9imk 

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So far, Trump made it very clear that he does not wish to take any actions that would compromise his signature relationship with Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, Trump again reiterated that Riyadh remains a “spectacular ally,” noting that “as of this moment, we were told that [MbS] did not play a role.”

We also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia.

“They give us a lot of jobs, they give us a lot of business, a lot of economic development,” Trump added, before boarding the plane to head to California. On his journey, he discussed the developments of the case with CIA chief Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Read more
Global Look Press / Depo PhotosPlanning of Khashoggi's 'execution' caught on audio, Turkish reporter claims
In a somewhat symbolic gesture, on Thursday the US imposed sanctions on a group of Saudis arrested by Riyadh over their alleged role in Khashoggi’s killing, many of whom would likely face the death penalty. The same day Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister firmly reiterated that Mohammed bin Salman had “absolutely nothing to do” with the murder.

Facing international pressure amid numerous reports outlining the gruesome details of Khashoggi's murder, the Saudi public prosecutor said that the journalist was most likely killed with lethal injection following a struggle with the “negotiation team” inside the embassy in Istanbul. His body was then dismembered and taken out of the building. Two key questions however remain unanswered – where is Khashoggi’s body and who ordered the murder of the 61-year-old?

Until these and other numerous “relevant facts” are uncovered, the US State Department stated that Washington would refrain from any actions that could undermine “the important strategic relationship” with Saudi Arabia.

Report: Netanyahu Asked Trump to Stick With Saudi Crown Prince After Khashoggi Murder
Citing U.S. officials, Washington Post reports Netanyahu described Mohammed bin Salman as a 'strategic ally' in the Middle East
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/netanyahu-asked-trump-to-stick-with-saudi-crown-prince-after-khashoggi-murder-1.6615049?Amir Tibon  Washington  SendSend me email alerts
Nov 01, 2018 7:36 PM
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Trump and Netanyahu, 2017.
Trump and Netanyahu, 2017.Kobi Gideon / GPO
Republican senators urge Trump to suspend U.S.-Saudi nuclear talks after Khashoggi killing
Fake news network vs bots: the online war around Khashoggi killing
Saudi Arabia is a model country. So is Israel, naturally
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked senior officials in the Trump White House to continue supporting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

Citing U.S. officials, the report stated that Netanyahu described the Crown Prince as a “strategic ally” in the Middle East.

The report said that a similar message was conveyed to the White House by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.

Netanyahu recently visited Oman, a Gulf country that had not hosted an Israeli Prime Minister since the 1990’s, in a sign of the warming ties between Israel and Arab monarchies in the Gulf. 

In addition, there were a number of reports in recent months about an increase in Israeli-Saudi intelligence cooperation.


Saudi Arabia, and bin Salman, have come under heavy criticism for their opaque stalling in the investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance and death. The kingdom has also changed its narrative several times since the case first received public notice.

Trump shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, March 20, 2018.
Trump shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, March 20, 2018.AFP
On Wednesday, a group of Republican senators urged U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend negotiations with Saudi Arabia on a potentially lucrative atomic energy agreement over the murder. 

Also Wednesday, Istanbul's chief prosecutor's office said Khashoggi was suffocated as soon as he entered Saudi Arabia's consulate on October 2 in a pre-planned killing, and his body was then dismembered and disposed of.


It also said in a statement that no concrete results were reached in chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan's talks in Istanbul this week with Saudi public prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb. 

Last week CIA Director Gina Haspel reportedly heard an audio recording of the Saudi journalist's death. Haspel traveled to Turkey to review intelligence about the Khashoggi incident.

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor held talks overnight with Turkish intelligence officials over the investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Demiroren news agency said.

Khashoggi was choked to death during interrogation, body smuggled out in a rug, Saudi official says
October 23, 2018 by Ben Baird
https://www.patriotnewsalerts.com/saudis-admit-killing-columnist/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dc-1
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According to the shifting Saudi narrative, first Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked out of the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul alive. Then, after conducting a preliminary investigation, Saudi prosecutors changed their story and admitted that Khashoggi was dead, blaming his death on an out-of-control “fist fight.”

In the latest version, Khashoggi was accidentally killed in a chokehold while being interrogated by Saudi intelligence officials. His remains were then smuggled out of the consulate in a rug, a senior Saudi official told Reuters.

Negligent homicide
The latest account doesn’t point to an escalating “brawl,” as reported by Saudi prosecutors. Rather, Khashoggi’s interrogators allegedly panicked after their subject raised his voice and accidentally killed him in an attempt to stifle him.

The government official, who requested to remain anonymous, even sought to blame Khashoggi for his own death, arguing that the journalist’s “shouting” escalated the violence. The anonymous source said Khashoggi’s poor physical conditioning contributed to his demise.

As the Saudi official tells it, Khashoggi was taken into a room at the Istanbul consulate where 15 Saudi intelligence officials sent from Riyadh were waiting to deal with the dissident reporter. When they told him that he must return to Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi refused and asked: “What are you going to do with me? Do you intend to kidnap me?”

When one of the columnist’s interrogators, identified as Maher Mutreb, sought to intimidate Khashoggi, saying, “Yes, we will drug you and kidnap you,” the captive journalist began screaming for help. Reuters’ source explained that Mutreb was not authorized to threaten Khashoggi with kidnapping.

“They tried to prevent him from shouting but he died,” the official explained, insisting that the 59-year-old journalist was not in the best shape. “The intention was not to kill him. … If you put someone of Jamal’s age in this position, he would probably die.”

To deal with the remains, the squad rolled Khashoggi’s remains up into a rug and handed him off to “a local cooperator” for disposal — countering Turkish suspicions that his body was dismembered with a bone saw. Turkish authorities have searched nearby woods for his remains, but have so far failed to turn up any leads.

Shifting narratives
This account conflicts with the Saudi’s initial response to Khashoggi’s Oct. 2 disappearance. After speaking with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the phone last week, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that his Persian Gulf ally “totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate.”

However, a series of leaks from Turkish media — some of them accurate, other reports ranging from dangerous speculation to intentional misinformation — directly contradicted the Saudi narrative and accused the kingdom of carrying out a murder-conspiracy originating from the highest echelons of the royal family.

To explain the conflicting stories, the unnamed Saudi official blamed the inconsistencies on “false information reported internally at the time” from the 15-man team that met with the journalist. “Once it became clear these initial mission reports were false, (the government) launched an internal investigation and refrained from further public comment,” the official said, stressing that the probe into the death was ongoing.

Bitter backlash
Khashoggi’s death has sparked outrage from international human rights advocates and government watchdogs. Many American journalists characterized the homicide as a targeted assassination in a war against a free press.

Just like the reports coming out of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, however, analysis from American media sources should be received with skepticism. Khashoggi was a royal family advisor, once responsible for the very injustices he came to deplore in his columns for The Washington Post. Only after Khashoggi was purged along with other factions in an anti-corruption crackdown did he turn against the crown prince.

Do you remain suspicious of the ever-changing story - from both sides - regarding the dead Saudi columnist?
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No
In addition, Khashoggi was a committed Islamist with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, a worldwide, puritanical Salafist movement that seeks to replace pluralistic, secular Democracies with the banner of Islam.

Of course, Khashoggi’s jihadist associations hardly merit his censorship, and certainly do not justify his murder. The Saudi journalist’s death should serve as a stark reminder that even unpopular opinions should be tolerated in the name of justice for all.

Khashoggi’s body parts found in garden of Saudi consul general’s home – Sky News source
Published time: 23 Oct, 2018 12:45
Edited time: 23 Oct, 2018 12:59
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Khashoggi’s body parts found in garden of Saudi consul general’s home – Sky News source
Body parts belonging to murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi have been found, according to Sky News sources, who added that he had been “cut up” and his face “disfigured.”
The news comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded Saudi officials reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s remains, after the Saudi government admitted Khashoggi had been murdered, albeit in a “fist fight” with officials inside the consulate in Istanbul.

Sky News

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 "Jamal Khashoggi's body parts have been discovered" -  Sources have told @AlexCrawfordSky "grisly details" about how Jamal Khashoggi's body parts were discovered.
For more, head here: https://trib.al/CZzzKet 
1:43 PM - Oct 23, 2018
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Speaking before the Turkish parliament on Tuesday, Erdogan said that “the evidence we have so far collected indicate that Jamal Khashoggi was slain in a vicious, violent murder," planned in advance by the Saudi government.

Turkish sources have mainteined from the start that Khashoggi was tortured, killed, and dismembered inside the consulate, and claim to have audio recordings of the journalist’s final minutes alive. According to Erdogan, the individuals named by Saudi Arabia as suspects in the murder are also the same as those identified by a Turkish investigation.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Strong evidence ‘vicious’ murder of Khashoggi was planned operation – Erdogan (VIDEO)
Published time: 23 Oct, 2018 09:19
Edited time: 23 Oct, 2018 10:50
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Strong evidence ‘vicious’ murder of Khashoggi was planned operation – Erdogan (VIDEO)
(L) Turkish police stand guard as they cordoned off an underground car park, on October 22, 2018 in Istanbul / AFP / OZAN KOSE; (R) Screenshot from CCTV footage. Jamal Khashoggi arriving at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018  / AFP / DEMIROREN NEWS AGENCY
There is strong evidence that the killing of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul came as a result of a pre-planned operation rather than a spontaneous incident, the Turkish president said.
Speaking before the Turkish parliament on Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saudi Arabia needs to provide maximum transparency of the investigation into the high-profile death, probably even holding the trial in the Turkish capital. During his address, the president also praised local and international media for pressuring Riyadh over the case, saying it forced Saudi Arabia to allow a thorough investigation inside the consulate.

Erdogan details events preceding Khashoggi’s death in Saudi consulate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fjsaEsN3Ig

What's more, the Turkish foreign ministry and Erdogan personally pressured the Saudi leadership to cut through the obfuscation effort at the consulate, the president boasted. That eventually led to a Saudi confirmation that Khashoggi was killed.

READ MORE: Business as usual: US Treasury Secretary meets with Saudi Crown Prince amid Khashoggi outrage

The acknowledgment that the crime did happen was a "major step" forward, Erdogan stressed, calling on Riyadh to punish all individuals responsible for it regardless of their status.
“The information and the evidence we have so far collected indicate that Jamal Khashoggi was slain in a vicious, violent murder," he said.

Whitewashing such barbarity will injure the conscience of entire humanity
Elaborating on Riyad’s claim that the death of the prominent writer might have come as a result of a spontaneous incident, Erdogan insisted it was not the case.

There are strong signs the incident was not a momentary result of something that erupted on sight but rather the result of a planned operation.
According to Erdogan, the individuals named by Saudi Arabia as suspects in the murder are also the same as those identified by the Turkish investigation

Ankara is now particularly interested in a claim that a Turkish party was involved in the disposal of Khashoggi’s body after the murder and wants to bring that person to justice. But it was up to the Saudis to identify this “local co-conspirator,” the Turkish leader argued.
Vicious, violent murder!': Erdogan on Jamal Khashoggi death
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=YSmUNd8aRbY&ab_channel=RT

Khashoggi disappeared on October 2 after going to the consulate for paperwork needed for his planned marriage. The Saudi officials initially denied any knowledge of what had happened to him, insisting that he left the diplomatic building freely. But after weeks of denial Riyadh finally admitted last weekend that Khashoggi was killed in what was described a spontaneous brawl sparked by attempts to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia. The Saudis said 18 suspects in the case have been arrested.

While the Saudis insist that the crown prince, who is the de-facto ruler of the country, was not involved in the death of his prominent critic, the explanation failed to satisfy many politicians and journalists, who say there is no way an operation targeting Khashoggi could have been launched without an authorization from the king’s son. Erdogan noticeably didn’t mention Mohammed bin Salman in his Tuesday speech.

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Joaquin Castro accuses Jared Kushner of orchestrating the murder of Khashoggi
October 20, 2018 by Jerry McCormick
https://www.patriotnewsalerts.com/castro-accuses-kushner/?utm_medium=ci&utm_source=push&utm_campaign=pna
White House via CCR
Democrat politics, even though we thought they could not get much worse, have just sunk to depths nobody ever thought possible.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, during an appearance on CNN, insinuated that Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner orchestrated the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi…

Curtis Houck

@CurtisHouck
 Video: Here's the video of Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro stating without evidence that Kushner may have given the Saudis a hit list that had Khashoggi's name on it and thus the Saudis had him killed. Incredibly irresponsible.
3:50 PM - Oct 19, 2018
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Ridiculous Claim
The claim made by Castro is about as ridiculous as it gets.

He refers to reporting about Kushner supplying a hit list to the Saudi’s but does not actually name any sources for the reporting.

After doing an extensive online search, the only articles we found that remotely hint at something as nefarious as this are far, far, far left-wing opinion blogs.

Even those blogs do not actually accuse Kushner of any wrongdoing, though.

What they do say is that with Kushner’s close relationship to Saudi royalty, the administration should be held responsible, which is just as ridiculous.

Luckily, the CNN reporter doing the interview with Castro saw where the congressman was going with this and all but shut him down on his accusation.

Walk It Back
Castro, well after the damage was done, tried to walk his comments back a bit.

He sent out a tweet saying he “did not intend to accuse” Kushner of any wrongdoing.

What he was suggesting was that an investigation be opened because of the reporting.

So, let me get this right…

Some left-wing whack job makes an accusation on a random blog against a White House official without a shred of evidence and is clearly pure speculation and you want to waste taxpayer money doing an investigation.

Castro clearly proved Democrats are out of control and pulling any thread they can in the hopes of hurting this administration.

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Quite frankly, Castro has proven he cannot be trusted as an elected representative and there should be immense pressure for his resignation.

Regardless of party, we as Americans cannot accept someone in office spreading or partaking in such vicious rumors.

White House considers sanctions on Saudi Arabia over death of Jamal Khashoggi
October 20, 2018 by Ben Baird
https://www.patriotnewsalerts.com/white-house-sanctions-saudi/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dc-1
The White House has responded to a preliminary Saudi-led investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

President Donald Trump called the internal investigation “a very important first step” and said he is considering “some form of sanction” after a Saudi general prosecutor determined that Khashoggi was killed in a “brawl and quarrel” inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Cracking down
A preliminary investigation carried out by Saudi prosecutors found that the “suspects” who murdered Khashoggi came to Turkey to negotiate his possible return to Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi previously served as an advisor to the royal family until he lost his influence in an anti-corruption purge by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.

Khashoggi fled to America, and the former regime spokesman became one of the royal family’s most outspoken critics after taking a position with the Washington Post. Khashoggi knew that if he ever went home, he faced arrest and a long prison sentence.

However, Khashoggi must have thought it was safe to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to secure documents for his second marriage. As the journalist’s fiancé waited outside for his return, Khashoggi was fighting for his life inside.

The Saudi report stated that the talks over Khashoggi’s potential return “developed in a negative way” and “led to a fight and a quarrel between some of them and the citizen.”

“The brawl aggravated to lead to his death and their attempt to conceal and cover what happened,” the Saudi prosecutor wrote.

Walking a fine line
When asked if he found that Saudi investigation credible, Trump said, “I do, I do,” but cautioned, “It’s early, we haven’t finished our review or investigation, but … I think it’s a very important first step.”

Trump’s remarks coincided with the official White House response published by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who said that the administration would “closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process.

Sarah Sanders

@PressSec
 Statement on Saudi Arabia Investigation:

12:28 AM - Oct 20, 2018
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Trump must walk a fine line following Khashoggi’s disappearance. On the one hand, Trump needs to preserve America’s close relationship with the Persian Gulf country, the most influential member of OPEC and an indispensable countermeasure to Iranian regional hegemony.

On the other hand, Trump has sought to placate U.S. lawmakers and international allies who are calling for a firm response to Saudi antagonism. While many American business leaders and policymakers have praised bin Salman’s visionary reforms, others point to the detainment of hundreds of Saudi nationals under the guise of an anti-corruption crackdown started in 2017.

Saudi sanctions
The Saudi regime initially denied possessing any knowledge of Khashoggi’s disappearance and said that the reporter left the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2. Turkish sources have suggested that Khashoggi died in an interrogation gone wrong, even alleging that Khashoggi’s interrogators were in possession of a bone saw and dismembered his body following the journalist’s death.

Are you suspicious of the many conflicting details surrounding the reported death of Khashoggi?
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Due to these conflicting reports and suspicions regarding the crown prince’s involvement in the homicide, Trump has been forced to abandon the possibility for a measured response. During a campaign stop in Arizona on Friday, he floated the possibility of sanctions, though stopped short of withdrawing a major U.S. arms deal with the conservative kingdom.

“I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything … that we don’t use as retribution canceling $110bn worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs,” he said.

Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi died inside their Istanbul consulate
October 20, 2018
https://www.conservativeinstitute.org/conservative-news/saudi-admits-khashoggi-died.htm
Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi died inside their Istanbul consulate
Nic Neufeld / Shutterstock
Saudi Arabia admitted for the first time on Saturday that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. After originally insisting that the veteran reporter left the consulate alive, the Saudi government now claims that he was killed after an argument with personnel at the facility escalated into a “fist fight.”

Fighting for his life
The public announcement followed an interim investigation by Saudi officials established to determine the cause of Khashoggi’s disappearance. A Saudi public prosecutor said that 18 people have been arrested, although it is unclear if any of these suspects were among the 15-member Saudi team that Turkish sources say flew into the country to ambush Khashoggi.

An outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy, Khashoggi visited the Istanbul mission on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his planned marriage. His fiancée waited outside and became alarmed when Khashoggi never returned.

A Turkish investigation into the reporter’s disappearance finished days ago, and it’s conclusions differed dramatically from those of the Saudi general prosecutor.  A flight manifest confirmed by Turkish officials shows that 15 Saudi nationals flew into the country the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance and quickly exited the country.

According to The Washington Post, at least 12 of these suspected assassins have ties to Saudi security forces, and several have close links to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, whom international observers suspect may have personally ordered the murder. The crown prince, who has been described as both a progressive reformer and a brutal autocrat, has not been directly implicated in the murder, although U.S. intelligence officials may possess intercepts of Saudi officials which strongly suggest that bin Salman was involved.

The Saudi preliminary investigation determined that the “suspects” came to Turkey to negotiate Khashoggi’s possible return to his homeland. However, the report states that those talks “developed in a negative way” and “led to a fight and a quarrel between some of them and the citizen.”

“The brawl aggravated to lead to his death and their attempt to conceal and cover what happened,” the Saudi prosecutor wrote. Citing government leaks, Turkish media reported that Khashoggi’s interrogators were in possession of a bone saw and dismembered his body following the journalist’s death.

One of the members of the suspected Saudi hit squad was an autopsy specialist. Khashoggi’s remains have not been located, although Turkish authorities have searched the woods near the Saudi consulate.

In addition to making 18 arrests, bin Salman dismissed his closest adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, and fired several top generals from the Saudi intelligence and security apparatus, including intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri. Earlier this week, multiple international news agencies speculated that the Saudi investigation may have sought to lay the blame for the homicide at the feet of al-Assiri.

American response
Reacting to the Saudi internal inquiry, U.S. President Donald Trump called the fact-finding mission a “great first step,” although he promised “severe punishment” if the rumors of Mr. Khashoggi’s death at the hands of the Saudi regime proved to be true. Trump added that he would “prefer” if the U.S. response did not include compromising a $110 billion arms deal between the two allies, since this could imperil American jobs.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders issued a statement Friday applauding the recent Saudi arrests and calling for justice. “We will continue to closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process,” her statement said.

Are you suspicious of the Saudi's story?
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the Saudi regime earlier this week amid international concerns that the Riyadh was engineering a cover-up. After his meeting with Saudi intelligence officials, Pompeo urged patience as the government concludes its investigation.

However, other U.S. lawmakers have been highly skeptical of the Saudi report and are demanding an extreme response. “To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement,” wrote Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.) in a tweet.

Suspect in disappearance of Saudi journalist dies in ‘accidental’ car crash
https://www.patriotnewsalerts.com/suspect-dies-saudi-journalist/?utm_medium=ci&utm_source=push&utm_campaign=pna
October 19, 2018 by Jerry McCormick
Suspect in disappearance of Saudi journalist dies in ‘accidental’ car crash
Tomás Del Coro / CCL
The plot surrounding the apparent murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi just got a lot more interesting.

According to reports, one of the Saudi men suspected to have been involved in the alleged murder of Khashoggi has been killed in an automobile accident.

The Disappearance
Earlier this month, Khashoggi suddenly disappeared.

He reportedly walked into the Saudi consulate to file paperwork for his upcoming wedding and was never seen again.

His fiancée was outside waiting for him in a car when the alleged abduction (or murder) took place.

Not long after Khashoggi disappeared, intelligence officers investigated a Saudi airplane at the Istanbul airport awaiting takeoff, but they found nothing suspicious.

Turkey is claiming Khashoggi was killed at the consulate.

Officials also believe they know the identities of some of the men involved in the plot.

Several of the men “involved” also have been tied to high-ranking members of the Saudi government and military.

Turkish national intelligence agency MIT says it had a video feed inside the consulate that revealed the actual torture and murder of Khashoggi.

According to Turkish officials, Khashoggi was dismembered.

Rumors also recently started to fly that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has actually heard the audio and received a transcript of the film of the murder.

Pompeo has denied he has heard any tape or seen any transcript.

Alleged Suspect
Adding another layer to the story, on Thursday, it was reported Mashal Saad al-Bostani, a member of the Saudi Royal Air Force, was killed in a car accident.

Turkish authorities have named him as one of more than a dozen men who arrived in Istanbul on the same day Khashoggi was allegedly killed.

One report stated al-Bostani’s voice was heard on the audio tape telling the men: “Do it somewhere else outside or I will be in trouble.”

Now, that same man has died in what officials are conveniently calling an accident.

But was this really an accident — or was it Saudi officials trying to tie up some loose ends?

Do You Think the Saudis Murdered Khashoggi?
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Political Ramifications
The Trump administration has found itself between a rock and a hard place over Khashoggi’s death.

The White House considers Saudi Arabia a major partner in its war against terrorism, but Trump may not have any other choice but to address this issue head-on with Saudi officials.

In fact, the president has already stated that if the Saudi’s are found to have murdered the journalist, there will be swift and “severe” consequences.

If Trump’s hand is forced, it can and will dramatically change Middle East policy for this administration. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

Saudi Arabia claims Khashoggi died in accidental ‘fistfight’ inside the consulate
Published time: 19 Oct, 2018 22:11
Edited time: 20 Oct, 2018 06:00
Get short URL https://on.rt.com/9gvr
Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul Reuters / Huseyin Aldemir
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a “fight” with individuals inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey, Saudi authorities said after nearly two weeks of speculation. A senior Saudi ihttps://on.rt.com/9gvrntelligence official was fired over the incident.
Khashoggi lived in Turkey and was last seen entering the consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago. The Turkish government almost immediately accused the Saudi authorities of killing the journalist, which Riyadh denied.

READ MORE: Saudi prince MBS put in charge of intel purge following Khashoggi death

On Saturday, however, a Saudi prosecutor announced on state television that an investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance confirmed he was dead. An argument between Khashoggi and men who met him inside the consulate on October 2 escalated into “a fistfight that led to his death,” the prosecutor said, adding that the men then tried to cover it up.

Read more
Pictures of Saudi journalist Khashoggi placed on security barriers during a protest outside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul Reuters / Murad SezerCandid tape, black van and bone saw? What we know about Khashoggi case so far
“The Kingdom expresses its deep regret at the painful developments that have taken place,” the prosecutor’s statement adds.

The investigation is still underway and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested so far, the authorities said. Saudi TV also confirmed that General Ahmad al-Asiri, deputy director of General Intelligence Directorate, was fired over the incident.

Al-Asiri was a senior adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as was another official fired over the incident, Saud al-Qahtani, who was in charge of Saudi propaganda overseas.

The Saudi admission seems to confirm at least some of the accusations made by anonymous Turkish officials over the past two weeks, though some of the more lurid claims - that it was a hit ordered by bin Salman personally, or that the assassins cut Khashoggi’s body into pieces with a bone saw - remain in the realm of rumors.

READ MORE: Not buying it: Lawmakers & journalists skeptical of Saudi story about Khashoggi death

International outrage, fueled by media reports of Turkish claims, has already resulted in many countries and companies dropping out of a major investment conference in Saudi Arabia, and the US Senate calling for Magnitsky Act sanctions against Riyadh.

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Saudi prince MBS put in charge of intel purge following Khashoggi death
Published time: 19 Oct, 2018 22:50
Edited time: 20 Oct, 2018 01:18
Get short URL https://on.rt.com/9gvt
Saudi prince MBS put in charge of intel purge following Khashoggi death
Protester dressed as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman outside the White House Reuters / Leah Millis
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been appointed to head a ministerial committee tasked with restructuring the General Intelligence Agency, after its deputy director was sacked amid the Khashoggi death scandal.
The decision to appoint MbS to head the restructuring process came after King Salman issued a decree firing the agency's vice president, Ahmed bin Hassan bin Mohammed Asiri. The King has also issued orders to terminate some officers and appoint new ones within the primary intelligence agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul Reuters / Huseyin Aldemir Saudi Arabia claims Khashoggi died in accidental ‘fistfight’ inside the consulate
The committee tasked with overhauling the command of the general intelligence agency will include the country's Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and the chief of homeland security. The team will look at evaluating the methods and procedures of the agency and will set guidelines to determine the agency's powers. The task force will have a month to provide a progress report to the King.

The intelligence agency is being overhauled purely out of “public interest,” King Salman's order said. Therefore the committee will be tasked with devising a new “administrative and hierarchical” structure to ensure its “proper functioning” and “determination of responsibilities” within the spy agency, the SPA news agency reported.

The new measures, allegedly aimed at ensuring more “transparency” within the highly secretive intelligence structure, were introduced after the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul over two weeks ago. Turkish officials have accused a Saudi assassination squad close to Bin Salman of murdering and dismembering the body of a journalist who wrote for The Washington Post.

READ MORE: Not buying it: Lawmakers & journalists skeptical of Saudi story about Khashoggi death

After being forced to conduct an investigation amid international pressure, on Friday the Saudi prosecutor –finally for the first time– admitted that, according to its “preliminary” probe, Khashoggi died during an accidental fight at the consulate on October 2. Saudi authorities emphasized that they are fully committed to uncovering the truth and have already detained 18 suspects in connection with the case.

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