PeterS

It seems more than one Republican Senator is pissed at how Trump handled acquiescing to a Saudi prince. Of course, it's Graham and Corker so you cons won't care but it's not happy time at the ole White House tonite...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-gop-rift-grows-over-saudis/ar-BBQvctb?ocid=spartandhp

GOP senators exiting a closed-door intelligence briefing on Tuesday insisted they were more certain than ever that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the k*****g of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a government consulate in Turkey.

"There's not a smoking gun, there's a smoking saw," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a pointed reference to statements by the president and other administration officials that there was no "smoking gun" linking the de facto Saudi ruler to Khashoggi's slaying.

"You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi," Graham added, using the crown prince's initials.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said there was "zero question" the crown prince had Khashoggi k**led.
"I have zero question in my mind that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through. I have zero question in my mind," said Corker, who is retiring in January.

The question now is what happens next.

President Trump has repeatedly signaled that the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia is too important to put at risk over Khashoggi's death. In an unusual statement just weeks ago, he said "we may never know all the facts" surrounding the journalist's k*****g, adding of the crown prince: "maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" know details of the crime.

Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy, defended the crown prince during a string of tweets on Tuesday, saying they "categorically reject any accusations purportedly linking the Crown Prince to this horrific incident."

Last week, the Senate v**ed to advance a measure that would require the president to remove any troops in or "affecting" the Saudi war in Yemen within 30 days unless they are fighting al Qaeda.

Senators are hoping to reach a consensus on what, if any, changes they should make to the underlying resolution, spearheaded by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

Graham said he plans to introduce a separate resolution that would get the Senate on record blaming the crown prince for Khashoggi's k*****g. While nonbinding, passage of such a resolution would be a major rebuke to a U.S. ally.

CIA Director Gina Haspel's briefing appeared to boost momentum for action.

In an apparent shift, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who v**ed against advancing the Yemen resolution last week, wouldn't rule out supporting it after speaking with Haspel.
"All evidence points to that all this leads back to the crown prince," Shelby said, adding that Khashoggi's death was "reprehensible conduct."

Senators, irritated by the administration's refusal to previously send Haspel to Capitol Hill, were unconvinced by arguments put forward at a Senate wide briefing by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Senators say Haspel, who focused her talk on Khashoggi and not Yemen, didn't change minds in the room but gave a more sober assessment compared to last week's Mattis-Pompeo briefing.
Haspel's briefing included approximately 10 senators - Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and leadership from national security-related committees.

Corker, asked about the difference in tone between Haspel and Mattis and Pompeo, said it was like the "difference between darkness and sunshine."
More senators want to hear from Haspel.

Murphy said "of course" Haspel should have met with the entire body, adding that the "slighting" of most senators isn't doing the administration any favors.

"Denying a briefing to 80 percent of the Senate doesn't help win you friends," he said.

When reached by The Hill on whether it limited the guest list, the CIA declined to comment.

The chances of the Yemen bill becoming law soon appear slim.

The House, which is receiving its own briefing on Saudi Arabia next week, hasn't committed to moving the bill by the end of the year, though Democrats have signaled it is a priority after they gain power in January.
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Sicilianthing

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Saudi scumbag mass murderers
Trump can’t have it both ways much longer.

Seth

We need to deal with certain Muslim countries for purely strategic purposes, since they're where they are. The Saudis and the Egyptians are among our best bets because they are both leading countries over there.

Of the three we deal with the most, Turkey is the country with the most potential for causing us problems down the road, as Erdogan, who seems to have succeeded in making himself dictator for life, has designs on launching a return of the Ottoman Empire with himself at the helm. Admitting Turkey to NATO was a really dumb thing to do. Dumb.

We ARE dealing with Muslim countries, and their mindset not only differs from the west's, it's in a completely different dimension. They still exist in the 7th Century, no matter how "modern" their technology, etc.

Muslims k**l each other over issues we generally don't. Muslims k**l each other over the slightest differences of opinion on how to worship the same God. They haven't evolved as a group of societies as the rest of civilization has. That is the reality.

Having said that, we are not going to change 14 centuries of the Islamic way of doing things any time soon, but we still need to deal with them.

The k*****g of that reporter was none of our business, it was between Muslims in their neck of the woods. We should let the Saudis and the Turks deal with it, it is between them. In the greater scope of things, the murder of the reporter is nothing more than a distraction we don't need to allow to sabotage what amount to affairs of security on a global scale.

We are at war with Islamic State and al-Qaeda, as well as a number of other Islamists who present a serious threat to us and our allies, and we need to keep our eye on that particular ball without getting into what amounts to Muslims' regional affairs.

Like it or not, every war has collateral damage, an unpleasant reality, and that reporter didn't even qualify for that classification because his death was the result of a crusade against the Saudi leadership that had nothing to do with us or our pursuits in the Middle East.

Again, it was and is none of our business.

badbob85037

Maybe Trump will take notice and start wasting some of out media. If obama can get away with 3 genocides and hillary and bill can get away with k*****g everybody why not. But nice try putting the blame on Republicans

Sicilianthing

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I’m aware of all this, nice post, valid points but it’s the same approach and parameters that has gotten us into this whole mess with these Ph**king Loser Animals.

It’s not our problem and never was... Rockefeller’s and Standard Oil sucked us into the Saharan S**thole and it’s been deadly ever since.

I’m no longer a buyer...
Trump knows he can’t have it both ways much longer as his base will split...

To Return our Sovereignty we must exit the Middle East and down the rabbit hole we go...

More later.

Seth

As long as Iran is still under the thumb of the nuke hungry mad mullah's and terrorism continues incubating and flourishing over there, we are sort of stuck.

If Europe manages to stamp out their left (don't hold your breath) and becomes a continent of nationalist countries, then sends its resident Islam packing en masse, and our own left miraculously grows brains and we manage to curtail any more immigration from terrorist exporting countries, it might be safe to bid farewell to the Muslim world, but for now we have to deal with them.

They also need to be watched carefully, because they are the least trustworthy people on earth.

Sicilianthing

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Those are all valid points and I agree with most but I beg you to read G. Edward Griffins work ‘The Future is Calling’ and his ‘Issues’

I created a Topic for it twice in the past month or so... you can click and print them out here and then share with others...

Fascinating Discovery Works:
https://www.onepoliticalplaza.com/t-146835-1.html
https://www.onepoliticalplaza.com/t-146321-1.html

teabag09

I couldn't agree with you more. Lindsey Graham needs to back off. As you said, it's not of our business. Leave it alone. Mike