Holidaze: Death Of A Journalist

The Saudis have found a sufficient number of scapegoats to sacrifice for the death of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, and the United States will continue to pretend that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman didn't personally order Khashoggi's execution, because the Trump regime owes the Saudi royal family hundreds of millions of dollars.

Saudi Arabia on Monday sentenced five people to death and three more to jail over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year and said the killing was not premeditated, a verdict criticized by a U.N. investigator as a “mockery” of justice.

The court dismissed charges against the remaining three of the 11 people that had been on trial, finding them not guilty, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan said. None of the defendants’ names was immediately released.

“The investigation showed that the killing was not premeditated ... The decision was taken at the spur of the moment,” Shalaan said, a position contradicting the findings of a United Nations-led investigation.

Khashoggi was a U.S. resident and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler. He was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.

Eleven Saudi suspects were put on trial over his death in secretive proceedings in the capital Riyadh.

Khashoggi’s murder caused a global uproar, tarnishing the crown prince’s image. The CIA and some Western governments have said they believe Prince Mohammed, also known as MbS, ordered the killing.

The CIA, the UK, Canada, and the UN all know the truth, they've all said it multiple times, and nobody cares.  If the Saudis ever spilled the beans on Jared Kushner and Donald Trump, they'd be facing prison, but of course the Trump regime response is that everything is fine.

The United States considers Saudi Arabia’s sentencing of five people to death and three more to jail over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi “an important step” in holding those responsible for the crime accountable, a senior official of the U.S. administration said on Monday.

“This is an important step in holding those responsible for this terrible crime accountable, and we encourage Saudi Arabia to continue with a fair and transparent judicial process,” said the official, who did not wish to be otherwise identified.

Profiles in courage.  Then again, when you're dealing with a psychopath who orders dissidents vivisected and dismembered with a bone saw, perhaps treading lightly is smart.  Especially when you owe them money.

There's a reason why Trump is willing to go all the way to the Supreme Court to stop anyone from seeing his tax returns, folks.