MESOPOTAMIA NEWS TODAYS ALL RELEVANT SOURCES ABOUT THE KASHOGGI CASE / 18 Okt 2018

Washington Post: Saudi Arabia’s Information War to Bury News of Jamal Khashoggi
Washington Post: Saudi Arabia Transfers $100 Million to U.S. Amid Crisis Over Khashoggi
NPR: Khashoggi Disappearance Tests Ties Between Jared Kushner And Saudi Crown Prince
New York Times: In Final Column, Jamal Khashoggi Laments Dearth of Free Press in Arab World

Source Says Pompeo Warns Saudi Prince as Trump Pushes Back on Khashoggi Criticism

During a meeting on Tuesday with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly told the crown prince in no uncertain terms that he had to “own” the situation surrounding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and “that every fact is going to get out.” That account contrasts with Pompeo’s smiling photo op with bin Salman. A source with knowledge of the meeting said that the smiles between the two men ended when the photo op did and that the White House is taking a tough approach to Saudi Arabia amid allegations that Riyadh orchestrated Khashoggi’s killing at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The source said Pompeo also emphasized to the crown prince that the Saudis should complete their investigation into Khashoggi’s fate quickly. Pompeo reportedly said if Riyadh does not cooperate, the U.S. “will take action because the world will demand it and that President Trump’s hand will be forced by the global pressure.” Top Saudi officials have repeatedly denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance — denials that were repeated during Pompeo’s Tuesday visit. Pompeo is set to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss the visit and the case. USA Today

Meanwhile, as Pompeo visited Ankara on Wednesday, the Turkish government released several leaks about the recordings it says document Khashoggi’s killing at the hands of Saudi agents. Trump pushed back against the Turkish claims, telling reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. had asked for copies of any audio or video evidence of Khashoggi’s killing, adding, “if it exists.” However, Trump also pushed back against criticism that his comments marked an effort to give cover to Saudi Arabia. “ I just want to find out what’s happening,” he told reporters, adding that he expects to find out who is at fault for Khashoggi’s alleged murder “by the end of the week.” ABC News, CNN, The Guardian, New York Times

American intelligence officials are reportedly increasingly convinced that bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is culpable in the killing of Khashoggi, however intelligence agencies have not yet been able to collect direct evidence of the prince’s involvement, U.S. and European officials said. They also have not been able to conclude whether bin Salman directly ordered the killing of Khashoggi, or whether his intention was to have Khashoggi captured and taken back to Saudi Arabia, according to one official. New York Times
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