By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES 

The Trump administration Thursday announced sanctions against 17 Saudis for their alleged roles in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Among those being sanctioned are Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who the Treasury Department says was part of the “planning and execution” of the operation that led toKhashoggi’s death, as well as a top subordinate and the Saudi consul general in Istanbul. According to the Treasury Department, the individuals are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, to target perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption. 

“The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi.  These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions.  The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi’s fiancée, children, and the family he leaves behind. The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists.”

-U.S.  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

CIA Concludes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Ordered Killing:  Washington Post 

The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a person briefed on the CIA’s assessment, reported NBC NEWS late Friday. 

The CIA declined to comment Friday night.  The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter,first reported the assessment, stating that the CIA made its conclusion with”high confidence, “ NBC NEWS.  Khashoggi, a U.S. resident from Saudi Arabia, was a Washington Post opinion contributor critical of the crown prince’s regime.

Saudi Ambassador To The U.S. Calls Washington Post Report “False” 

“The claims in this purported assessment are false.  As we told the Washington Post the last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim.”

Saudi Arabia Ambassador to U.S.  Khalid bin Salman via Twitter 

 Khashoggi’s Body Still Has Not Been Found 

Saudis have maintained that it was the small group of 17 officials who are solely responsible for Khashoggi’s murder, admitting Thursday that the killers drugged and killed the writer and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the consulate, before dismembering his body and handing it over for disposal by an unidentified local collaborator. The Saudis said the operation was designed to bring back Khashoggi alive to his home country, but that rogue agents caused a fatal overdose when they injected him with “a large amount” of an unspecified drug.  The body still has not been found.

“Mistakes Happen. Sometimes People Abuse Their Authority”: Saudi Foreign Minister

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has insisted the Kingdom’s crown prince and de-facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, took”absolutely” no part in the killing of Khashoggi, reported ABC NEWS.   The country’s top prosecutor announced he would seek the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects indicted in the killing.

“Mistakes happen. Sometimes people abuse their authority. Sometimes people exceed their authority “,   Saudi Foreign Minister
Adel al-Jubeir,  as reported by ABC NEWS. 

Khashoggi Killing Is A Diplomatic Nightmare For Saudi Arabia 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s reputation has been severely tarnished amid the Khashoggi murder. 
Saudi Arabia has been in a diplomatic nightmare as it scrambles to explain to the world what happened to Khashoggi. The situation is also stretching diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the United States to the limit. 

It is no secret that Saudi Arabia has enjoyed a deep, intimate relationship with the current U.S  Trump administration. The “special relationship” has also extended to most of the other administrations before Trump, due to the Kingdom being a critical American security partner in the Middle East and key supplier of oil.  However, that “special relationship” is in jeopardy as President Trump vows to uncover the truth over the murder of Khashoggi, who was a Saudi Arabian citizen and U.S. resident.