The recently released U.S. intelligence report reveals that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the murder of Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.
The executive summary of the report stated: “We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of decision-making in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince’s support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi.”
The report stems out of classified intelligence that came from the CIA and other agencies following Khashoggi’s killing in October 2018 inside Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.
The administration of Joe Biden gave the permission for the long-awaited declassified intelligence report which was compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to be made public.
The CNN reported that the congress authorised release of the report after Joe Biden had a phone conversation with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia recently.
The report, titled “Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi” is dated February 11,2021 and the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines marked the report as declassified on February 25.
The report noted bin Salman’s “absolute control” of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence and security operations.
The report says “Since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom’s security and intelligence organizations, making it highly unlikely that Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the Crown Prince’s authorization.”
It reveals that the 15-man Saudi Arabia team that landed in Istanbul in October 2018 when Khashoggi was murdered included members that were connected with the Saudi Center for Studies and Media Affairs (CSMARC) at the Royal Court, championed by bin Salman’s close adviser, and “seven members of Muhammad bin Salman’s elite personal protective detail, known as the Rapid Intervention Force.”
The report notes that bin Salman perceived Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom “and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary, to silence him.”
The intelligence report also revealed that they still do not have the vision as to when the Saudis resolved to destroy the father of five. It said: “Although Saudi officials had pre-planned an unspecified operation against Khashoggi we do not know how far in advance Saudi officials decided to harm him.”
Also, the report noted that at the time of Khashoggi’s gruesome murder, “the crown prince fostered an environment in which aides were afraid that failure to complete assigned tasks might result in him firing or arresting them.”
This came a day after officials gave the hint that Biden may consider an announcement of punishment for the Saudis immediately rhe report was released.
When asked whether the administration would guve consideration to imposing sanctions against anoyone found responsible for the murder of Khashoggi, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “I expect that we will be in a position before long to speak to steps to promote accountability going forward for this horrific crime.”
Prince Mohammed has since debunked his involvement in the murder but said he takes symbolic responsibility in respect of Khashoggi’s murder as Saudi’s de facto ruler.
During an interview with CBS, he said: “This was a heinous crime. But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.”
A Saudi court sentenced eight suspects to prison in what was called a “parody of justice” by a UN investigator in September 2020.
