Jamal Khashoggi

In the Washington Post, Fred Ryan wrote an insightful and powerful op ed re justice and the murder Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. Mohammed bin Salman (MSB) clearly ordered this execution and thus turned an embassy into a butcher shop. Our new President promised justice on this issue. The world awaited that decision. Human rights, long neglected by the former administration, was to rise to its former importance in foreign policy. But for justice for Jamal, that will have to wait. It looks like MSB is clear but not clean of this murder. 

Something “real important” re the relationship with the Saudi nation forbids justice for Jamal. I guess it is some deep secret we are not supposed to know. MSB sent the team to kill Jamal. But underlings will suffer, but not MSB. 

Human rights need a boast after its neglect by Trump and Pompeo. They loved dictators and that interest scared the world. This was a chance: show the world a new hope. Even MSB gets it in the ear like the rest of us. But no such thing happened to MSB. 

I would add to Mr. Ryan’s op ed that MSB is also responsible for its war on Yemen for five years now, aided by the super wealthy nations of the United Arab Republic and United States. Let me quote the Post again today “The conflict (in Yemen) has killed about 130,000 citizens, spawned the world’s largest humanitarian disaster and reversed development by 20 years, according to the United Nations.” 

That civil war in Yemen is the “Vietnam” of the Saudi government led by MSB. 

Justice delayed is justice denied. MSB is responsible for both the death of Jamal and the deaths of so many in Yemen. Human rights needs to find a clear leader in government to support human rights. My hope is Joe Biden.