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I sincerely wish that the nation didn’t suffer from the “what have you done lately” syndrome.
Just because a story is dated, just because new urgent stories have taken over the headlines ...
Doesn’t mean the original story isn’t important.
Just because the wheels of investigatory justice turn slowly, doesn’t mean the original subjects of those investigations — are no longer relevant, in terms of “current events”.
Someday the legions Instant Information Netizens, need to learn how to thread a story together, from its outrageous beginnings … to its ‘foregone conclusions’ ends …
Here’s an example, of how to take that “Bigger Picture” journalistic view …
CIA finds Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing – report
Trump stresses Saudi trade ties after report that Mohammed bin Salman’s brother advised journalist to attend Istanbul consulate
Guardian staff and Reuters — Sat 17 Nov 2018 (today)
The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [MBS] ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, the Washington Post has reported.
The Post said US officials expressed high confidence in the CIA assessment, which contradicts Saudi government assertions that he was not involved.
[...]
Before leaving for California on Saturday morning to tour an area ravaged by wildfires, Trump told reporters that the CIA had not briefed the White House yet. But he added that he was planning to speak with them during the flight. “As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role, we’re gonna have to find out what they say,” Trump said.
His corruption is a national security issue.
[...] Why is Trump so willing to let the Saudis slide? Is Trump getting paid by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a.k.a. MBS, and the Saudis? Is his son-in-law, Jared Kushner?
Normally, these would be absurd questions to raise about a president. But they are serious. Trump has commented before on his business ties to Saudi Arabia, bragging at a campaign rally in Alabama about how much business he did with Saudi interests. And he’s never fully aired the extent of his vast business and financial ties.
[...]
It’s a situation no normal president would tolerate. But no normal president would have Trump’s level of financial conflicts of interest.
Trump’s personal corruption is a national security issue
“Saudi Arabia — and I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me,” Trump said at a 2015 rally in Alabama. ”They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.”
Saudi Arabia's crown prince reportedly bragged about having Jared Kushner 'in his pocket' after being told classified information meant for Trump
by Rosie Perper , businessinsider.com — Mar. 21, 2018
- Citing an unnamed source, The Intercept reported that Jared Kushner discussed classified information from the president's daily briefing with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [MBS], who then bragged that he had Kushner "in his pocket."
- The top-secret information included US intelligence on Saudi royals opposing the crown prince, the report said.
- Shortly after meeting with Kushner, Salman began what has been described as a large-scale crackdown on corruption that has led to the arrests of more than 200 Saudi officials. [...]
EXCLUSIVE: Saudi crown prince bragged that Jared Kushner gave him CIA intelligence about other Saudis saying 'here are your enemies' days before 'corruption crackdown' which led to torture and death
by Ryan Parry West Coast Correspondent For Dailymail.com and Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com — 5 April 2018
[...]
The crackdown on 'corruption' in the Saudi kingdom was led by MBS and began in November, days after he had met Kushner for talks in Riyadh.
But it saw allegations of torture as hundreds were rounded up, including princes from rival parts of the Saudi royal family and some of the country's wealthiest businessmen.
DailyMail.com revealed a photograph showing the detainees sleeping on the floor of a ballroom at the Riyadh Ritz Carlton, and disclosed that some had been tortured.
The New York Times later reported that one of the detainees had died from his injuries.
Most are said to have reached 'settlements' with the Saudi government, and MBS himself boasted in a 60 Minutes interview that the government had regained at least $100 billion from them.
One question: Just ask yourself what would have been the Republican reaction, if someone like Chelsea Clinton had done this? Had given away US Intelligence Secrets to the Saudi Crown Prince, like Jared Kushner has apparently done?
Would they just sit back and let the President paper it over, with appeals to Billion-dollar Weapons deals, and ‘trial balloons’ about clandestine rendition of a US Refugee (and Green Holder), in hopes of just making the international outrage quietly go away?
Because afterall in Trumpland, “A deal, is a deal.” No ‘art’ required.
And with respect to the US just ‘looking the other way’ on outright murder [by Jared’s pal MBS] — well we know where the current US president stands on the topic. The topic of taking care of your ‘enemies’ using the harshest of measures:
Trump made the remark during an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, saying he respected his Russian counterpart.
"But he's a killer," O'Reilly said to Trump.
"There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?" Trump replied.
Nice.
Ummm … Not so much.
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As Americans we can do better than this.
As Americans we MUST do better than this.
… better than the Trump team’s total lack of basic humanity, in all matters foreign and domestic.
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As Americans we MUST restore transparency and accountability. … And that long arc of History, again.
News-feed updates notwithstanding.
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This atrocity shall not stand.