19 Mar 2024
Saturday 13 October 2018 - 12:36
Story Code : 323007

Trump likely to block any attempts to sanction Saudis over missing journalist



Sputnik - US President Donald Trump is likely to block any sanctions that US Congress may try to impose on Saudi Arabia over missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, although the administration may be forced to take at least symbolic action amid ever burgeoning outrage, analysts told Sputnik.




Khashoggi, a columnist forthe Washington Post, has been missing sinceOctober 2 when he visited the Saudi Consulate inIstanbul toobtain documents needed forhis upcoming marriage.

The Washington Post reported onThursday that the Turkish government has audio and video recordings that prove Khashoggi was tortured and then murdered insidethe Saudi consulate.

'Lockstep' With Saudis

Trump has faced increasing domestic pressure totake action againstthe Saudis inrecent days. US Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker onThursday requested a Global Magnitsky Act investigation and said Washington should impose sanctions onSaudi officials atthe highest levels if they are responsible forthe journalists disappearance.

Many other lawmakers, meanwhile, have called onTrump tofreeze arms sales and end all support forthe Saudi-led coalitions war inYemen because ofthe incident.

Trump, forhis part, told reporters onFriday that he would call the Saudis aboutthe matter because it is "potentially" a really terrible situation. Trump onThursday, however, said he would not support any move tohalt arms sales tothe Saudis which generate $110 billion annually forUS businesses.

California State University Chico Professor Emeritus ofPolitical Science Beau Grosscup told Sputnik onFriday that Trump would offer no sympathy or support forany efforts tosanction the Kingdom.
"They [Congress] could [pass sanctions] butDonald Trump will not do so," Grosscup said. "If they do anything, it will be nullified byTrump. A public condemnation yes, butthat is all. Trump isn't aboutto defend a Washington Post journalist."


The current US president has a consistent track record ofstrongly supporting the Saudi government and had shown no sympathy or support whatsoever forany ofits critics onhuman rights or other issues, Grosscup recalled. Trump has been particularly fond ofthe new Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, often referred toas MBS.

"Trump is inand has always been inlockstep withthe Saudis, especially the new leader. In fact likeother despots he is 'in love' withthe way the Saudis do business, deal withdissident voices (beheadings), and run their government," Grosscup said.

Trump has made no secret forhis sympathy even withSaudi forms ofpolitical repression, Grosscup emphasized.

"Several times he [Trump] has made clear that he wishes he could do what they [the Saudis] do and the way they do it," he said.

However, Trumps policy toignore Saudi abuses is consistent withprevious US presidents, Grosscup pointed out. Protected bythe United States, infact, fora long time and throughvarious administrations, Saudi human rights abuses have been white washed or made invisible, he added.

In an article last year, Khashoggi accused the Crown Prince forbeing even more repressive thanprevious regimes, which naturally drew the ire ofthe leaders inRiyadh. Despite being involved withthe Western media, Grosscup explained why Riyadh had no qualms abouttargeting the journalist.
"They don't care if he is US media: He is a traitor who needed tobe silenced tomake a point," Grosscup said. "That he is US media makes their point even stronger."


Political Risks

The possibility ofSaudi involvement inthe journalists disappearance has drawn harsh international opprobrium and has even led tothe suspension ofmajor economic development initiatives.

Virgin Galactic Founder Richard Branson ina statement onThursday said discussions withSaudi Arabia aboutinvestments intwo ofhis space companies have been put onhold untila probe intothe missing journalist is completed. Several media outlets, including CNBC, CNN, the New York Times and the Financial Times, said they would pull outof an investment forum scheduled totake place inSaudi Arabia onOctober 23-25.

Khashoggis disappearance and widely believed murder had impaled Trump onthe horns ofa public relations nightmare, political commentator and author Dan Lazare told Sputnik.
"This places Trump ina serious quandary," Lazare said. "He can't disturb the status quo sincehe's counting onRiyadh tohelp roll back Iran."


Since 1945, Lazare added, the United States has given the Saudis an absolute security guarantee, a protection that has essentially enabled it towage war onwhomever it likes. Conceivably, Trump could sanction Saudi leaders underthe Magnitsky act, butthat would be problematic, he suggested.

"But sinceBin Salman IS Saudi Arabia forall intents and purposes, it would lead toprecisely the sort ofrupture he [Trump] is trying toavoid," Lazare said.

Trump could also lean onthe crown princes father toissue some sort ofapology or even fire the crown prince aspart ofthe bargain butthat would trigger a dangerous succession crisis, something Trump also wants toavoid, the analyst said.

However, Trump could not get away withtaking no actions atall topunish or pressure Riyadh, Lazare warned. Trump may have to "rock the boat" insome way due tothe uproar onCapitol Hill.

US-Saudi relations are now ata turning point thanks tothe Khashoggi murder, Lazare said.
"The Khashoggi murder is so brazen, so reckless, so overthe top that I don't see how this can go on," Lazare said. "Saudi Arabia has truly achieved pariah status."


Saudi Arabia has denied all allegations ofinvolvement inthe journalists disappearance. On Friday, the Bahraini and UAE foreign ministries announced their support forRiyadh, claiming that the accusations are an attempt todefame Saudi Arabia.

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