Among the many headlines making waves over the last week, one in particular has left many perplexed.
The unanticipated and abrupt disappearance and death of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate over two weeks ago has raised many red flags around the world.
Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and author, was a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. Much of his work in America revolved around editorializing the shortcomings of the Saudi regime.
According to The Washington Post, Khashoggi originally opted for what he called “self-exile” to Washington to escape the repressive powers of the Saudi regime and hopefully create change from afar. Khashoggi was an avid critic of the Saudi regime, specifically of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
Before his departure from the Middle East, however, The New York Times reported Khashoggi had a relatively good working relationship with the authoritarian Saudi government. That relationship lasted until Khashoggi recognized the signs of a volatile and dangerous environment for journalists.
Khashoggi’s last column for The Washington Post, which admonished the Saudi prince and the country’s cruelty in Yemen, was published Sept. 11. Less than a month later, no one — not even his partner — had heard from him.
Even after two weeks of investigation and countless reporters covering the case from afar, we still have yet to see a solidified answer as to what exactly happened that day in the Saudi Consulate.
The whole ordeal is a deeply disturbing development of events, from the actual crime to the response from world leaders.
As of Oct. 15, the Saudi king denied any knowledge of what took place in the consulate. Similarly, President Donald Trump has stated he has little knowledge of what happened or might have happened.
One thing is for sure, the cover ups and the lack of transparency stem from a love of money and oil. The Saudi regime threatened to respond with “larger action” to any sanctions derived from the investigation.
According to recordings of Khashoggi’s visit to the consulate described by Turkish officials, Khashoggi was dismembered and dead within minutes. His killers, still unknown to the public, were gone from the scene within two hours.
The situation, as a whole, has been extremely muddled so far. But the incentives behind a lack in public transparency relate to money, oil and international intelligence.
For years, the U.S. relied heavily on Saudi Arabia for oil imports. However, the U.S. is now more self-reliant on oil than ever. Still, discrepancies in money derived from oil sales and production could put serious holes in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.
The supposed $110 billion U.S. arms sale made with Saudi Arabia could be in danger, as well. Although the deal has yet to be as fruitful as Trump had hoped, its success largely rests in the relationship between the two countries.
The death of Khashoggi could potentially unravel the fairly positive relationship the U.S. has with Saudi Arabia, something neither leading party wants. However, it is more important the public and Khashoggi’s family and friends know what truly happened over any sort of monetary or political incentive.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Hailey_ann97