The Details of Jamal Khashoggi's Torture and Murder Are Horrifying

The tale of Jamal Khashoggi's execution by a Saudi hit team in Turkey took a macabre turn yesterday as the details of his torture and dismemberment became public. It wasn't an execution, it was an act of barbarism.

New York Times: "Saudi agents were waiting when Jamal Khashoggi walked into their country’s consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago. Mr. Khashoggi was dead within minutes, beheaded, dismembered, his fingers severed, and within two hours the killers were gone, according to details from audio recordings described by a senior Turkish official on Wednesday."

The Saudis continue to deny their involvement, but have offered no proof that Khashoggi ever left their consulate. As Turkey continues to build their case, few expect that Khashoggi will somehow reappear unharmed, and the cover story floated by Saudi Arabia about a "rogue general" was undermined by photos of some of the assassination team with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

President Trump continues to say that America shouldn't rush to judgement but also insists that arms sales to Saudi Arabia will continue. And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seems to have returned from his fact-finding trip to Riyadh with nothing but the Kingdom's talking points. Both would like to see this story blow over. That is unlikely.

America's credibility is on the line and dictators around the world are waiting to see if human rights plays any role at all in our foreign policy. Sweeping Mr. Khashoggi's monstrous execution under the rug will convince them that it doesn't.

#news #InternationalRelations