Import of the Khassoghi murder
Naija has enough of its own troubles requiring frequent comments that the shameful shenanigans of the House of Saud should warrant a waste of space. However, our elders say that the death that kills one’s mate speaks to one in parables. It is imperative to comment on the brazen murder of Jamal Khassoghi. Life has […]
Naija has enough of its own troubles requiring frequent comments that the shameful shenanigans of the House of Saud should warrant a waste of space. However, our elders say that the death that kills one’s mate speaks to one in parables. It is imperative to comment on the brazen murder of Jamal Khassoghi. Life has become cheaper since ruiners discovered that the new American foreign policy is denominated in dollars.
Not that it ever was anything else, but the daylight capitulation by the supreme superpower is instructive. Watching the datelines of the Khassoghi murder and attendant rhetoric, it would not be surprising if the Saudi oligarchs murdered Khassoghi with the covert connivance of their American allies. Could he have been murdered with the endorsement of the powers that be provided it was not done on American soil? That is a possibility that only Turkey on whose land the murder took place could have unraveled by the time you are reading this.
Trump’s anti-media nature is well known. His shameless double-entendre as the saga unfolds sounded too scripted. Trump first threatens to unleash fury on the Saudis for the disappearance. Then, as news of probable murder emerged, he exonerates the King and his crown prince reminding his followers that although Khassoghi lived in the US, ‘he is not our citizen’. Its like if a critic is not a US citizen, they are free for the taking.
For most dissidents, America has been seen as a country of refuge. Khassoghi could have chosen to live anywhere, but he chose America and wrote most of his critical comments and warnings from the American soil. An ex-CIA director insinuates that if his country was aware of mortal danger to a resident by his government, they owed him a duty to alert him. Khassoghi was not that lucky and we wouldn’t blame America until we’re certain that they had prior knowledge and did nothing. We are conscious of Trump’s body language and his flippant remarks.
With the revelation of Khassoghi’s murder, Trump introduced a new lexicon to the diplomatic saga – the possibility of ‘rogue elements’ acting without the Saudi oligarch’s approval. Then, he dispatched his ex-CIA scribe to Riyadh and to Turkey. The Saudi foreign minister used the exact phrase – that rogue elements carried out the killing, without the monarch and his khalif’s endorsement. Very curious indeed.
After official confirmation by the Saudis with the ridiculous explanation of a confrontation between Khassoghi and 15 trained assassins, Trump emphasizes that the Saudis were economic allies with whom a spat might cost billions of dollars. He was satisfied with Saudi scapegoating of its security chief and 18 others even without a body. He was apparently unfazed about the gory details of the assassination. He is mum on the initial threat by the Saudis to meet any American sanction with worse reciprocity, the first time in recent memory that any nation had called America’s bluff without repercussion.
Erdogan, the bride in this sad saga may confirm press speculations that crown prince Mohammed bin Salman actually called, perhaps to ridicule Khassoghi on his phone shortly before he was executed. Supposedly leaked audio conversations point at this. If confirmed MDS would find it difficult to wash his hands off this murder and retain his whitewashed image as a young reformer.
Apparently, no matter the evidence against the Saudi oligarchy, Trump is unlikely to shift his loyalty to the dollar vis-à-vis known Saudi appalling human rights records. America ignores news of gory executions, citizen disappearances, bullying of neighbours and allegations of global sponsorship of terrorism in the past. Two planeloads of assassins including a pathologist carrying a bone saw is too big an operation to have been executed by ‘rogue elements’ without official approval.
A condolence phone doesn’t bring back Khassoghi nor does it mitigate the murder.
This is a sad message to critics of rogue regimes all over the world with nothing but their keyboards and their brains that they are fair game for elimination. For a Nigerian, living under a government increasingly jittery about criticism, working with executive orders; a government whose presidential social media aide has threatened jail term for critics; its time to adopt the Boy Scout motto – be prepared. It is ominous when the leader of this particular regime is a friend of Donald Trump; has lately signed a contract worth a few thousands of dollars with America. When critics remember that this same individual attempted over 30 years ago, to unlawfully crate an ex-government minister back home, is known for his hatred of the free press, Trump has a curious ally.
One journalist has just been released from a two-year detention without trial. He won monetary compensation that is unlikely to be paid, it is uncertain that the next one would survive to sue. With elections only a few months away and allegations of sleaze surfacing everywhere, coupled with the dogged determination by the regime to shield it’s own crooks and vilify others, there is enough reason for critics at home and abroad to adopt the scout creed. This is the local import of the Khassoghi murder. But only weaklings would be deterred by threats to keep silent when the future of our nation is at stake. We’ll keep putting the feet of despots to the fire.