Cú Chulainn

2 during Obama presidency Khashoggi played a primary role in encouraging reforms in Saudi Arabia as essential to survival of Kingdom. relations between Riyadh & Washington steadily worsened in regard to diverging policies on Egypt, Syria as well as on human rights in Saudi Arabiahttps://twitter.com/Cukullen/status/1051072395207950336 …

3 former Saudi intelligence man, intimate of royals continued to work as house organ linked to US world of soft power (color revolutions, Arab Spring) particularly favored by Obama as new strategy to extend US domination after Iraq & Afghanistan debacles

4 criticism of Saudi royal family was constant even though Khashoggi supported Riyadh terrorism against Syria. with rise of King Salman Bin Salman became the strongman triggering, with nod from Trump, near war with Qatar, especially over Al Jazeera, which often hosted Khashoggi

5 bin Salman attacked all opponents, many people close to Khashoggi arrested, tortured, killed. cf. Al-Waleed bin Talal, Hariri; Khashoggi sensed danger, in 2017 settled in US. Khashoggi criticism pointed to the lack of democracy, bin Salman finally decided to be rid of him

6 events are culmination of grotesque situation whereby Trump has granted free hand to his two close allies in region, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Analyzing the actions of these two countries over the last 24 months, the extent of Washington’s carte blanche has become clear.