Monday, October 22, 2018

Michael Bloomberg Calls for End of Divisiveness | CITIZEN by CNN


Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg closed the CITIZEN by CNN forum with a speech urging Americans to come together and end the divisiveness and called on the to go out an vote in the midterm elections.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 22, 2018


Can Saudi Arabia Get Away with Murder? | Inside Story


Turkey’s President is promising to reveal the ‘naked truth’ about what happened in Istanbul. That will be the first official release of details. Unofficially, Turkish sources have repeatedly leaked gruesome accounts of how the journalist was killed and dismembered three weeks ago.

The journalist was missing for two weeks before Saudi leaders eventually admitted his killing, they say by mistake, in their consulate in Istanbul. Their story has changed since then, what's being described as a 'rogue operation’ is the latest explanation. What isn’t changing is the kingdom’s insistence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not order the operation to kill.

As the international outcry builds, critics are sceptical that the heir apparent didn’t know anything about it. Will pressure on the Saudis work?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie | Guests: Ali Al-Ahmed - Director, Gulf Affairs Institute and former Saudi political prisoner; Matthew Brodsky - Security Studies Group, Washington DC; Mustafa Akyol, CATO Instiitute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity


Jared Kushner on Trump, Mideast Policy | Full Interview


Jared Kushner, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, said in a interview with Van Jones that the Trump administration is approaching Saudi Arabia's explanation for Jamal Khashoggi's death with "our eyes wide open." Jones and Kushner also discussed Mideast policy, prison reform on President Donald Trump at the CITIZEN by CNN event in New York.

Kushner on Khashoggi: In Fact-finding Phase


In an interview with CNN's Van Jones at CITIZEN by CNN, Jared Kushner says the White House is in a fact-finding phase when asked about Saudi Arabia's explanation for journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

US Congress Condemns Saudi Report on Kashoggi Murder | Al Jazeera English


Fewer than 24 hours after calling the Saudi report on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi "credible", the US president has walked back that statement, saying that there had been "deception" and "lies". US congressional leadership was even more aggressive, calling for sanctions and an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia. However, President Donald Trump continues to praise Saudi Arabia as an ally and is reluctant to act on the angry calls coming from Congress. Al Jazeera's Mike Hanaa reports from Washington, DC.

Trump Not Satisfied, But What's Next? l Inside Story


US president Donald Trump says there's clearly “deception and lies" about how Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed. And he says he's not satisfied, until he finds answers.

He's cast doubt on Saudi Arabia's explanations, which have changed several times since Khashoggi disappeared.

Trump has been criticised for defending the Kingdom and refusing to give up lucrative arms sales to Riyadh worth billions of dollars. Do his arguments about Saudi arms deals convince anyone? And will he put pressure on Riyadh?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Mohammed Cherkaoui, professor of conflict resolution at George Mason University; Andrew Smith, Spokesman for Campaign Against Arms Trade; Andrew Finkel, a Co-founder of P24 and a Foreign Correspondent in Turkey for over two decades.


Corker: I Think Saudis Killed Jamal Khashoggi


Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) says that he believes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman orchestrated the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but wants to see the results of the investigation.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Is Saudi Arabia's Claim Jamal Khashoggi Died in a Fistfight Credible? l Inside Story


Saudi Arabia now admits the journalist is dead - after weeks of denying it. Saudi Arabia says Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul. The announcement was made on Saudi State TV in the middle of the night…17 days after the Saudi journalist was last seen going into the compound.

The Kingdom says there was a brawl and Khashoggi died. US President Donald Trump says he finds that explanation "credible" but many politicians in the US and around the world are skeptical; and Turkish Security sources have a different story. They say Khashoggi was tortured, murdered and his body dismembered.

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: John Jones, former U.S. Senior Congressional Adviser; Saad Al-Faqih, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia; Amanda Rogers, Professor of Middle East and Islamic Studies at Colgate University


Smerconish: The Saudi Chokehold on the US


CNN's Michael Smerconish wants to know why Saudi Arabia holds sway over US presidents from both political parties along with major business leaders despite less American dependence on foreign oil and human rights abuses perpetrated by the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia Admits Khashoggi Killed in Istanbul Consulate | Al Jazeera English


Saudi Arabia has, for the first time, admitted that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

An announcement on Saudi media claimed Khashoggi died during a brawl between him and those he went to the consulate to meet.

Eighteen Saudi nationals have been arrested in connection with the death and at least five prominent officials have been sacked.

The story cut against the impressions given by Turkish investigators and left more questions than answers, including what happened to the journalist's remains.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons reports from Istanbul.


Friday, October 19, 2018

Will Jamal Khashoggi's Disappearance Impact US-Saudi Relations? I Inside Story


President Donald Trump has acknoweldged for the first time that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is likely dead.

More than two weeks after Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, his fate remains unclear; but US President Donald Trump has admitted, for the first time, the journalist may have been killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Trump's comments, are a shift for the White House, and he's warning of 'severe' consequences if the Saudi leadership is involved. The shift in tone comes following his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Riyadh and Ankara earlier this week.

The president is now under mounting pressure to take action. Members of the House of Representatives have sent him a letter calling for sanctions against Saudi Arabia; so, how will this case impact the long-standing relationship between Washington and Riyadh?

Presenter: Imran Kahn | Guests: Kenneth Roth - Executive Director of Human Rights Watch; Galip Dalay - Research Director of Al Sharq Forum; Georges Malbrunot - Middle East Reporter at Le Figaro.


Jared Kushner Is Neck Deep in the Saudi Arabia Cover-up


According to new reports, Jared Kushner has been helping soothe Donald Trump’s nerves about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi Arabia, telling the President that the public is going to forget about it very soon. While the public does have a short attention span, an administration that is covering up the death of a permanent resident at the hands of a foreign government isn’t the kind of thing that people seem to gloss over, especially considering the financial connections between the two families. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Dr. Madawi Al-Rasheed: In Khashoggi Murder, Saudi Arabia Must Not Be Allowed to Investigate Itself


As details continue to emerge about the disappearance and probable murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, we speak with Saudi dissident Madawi Al-Rasheed about Khashoggi’s history as a Saudi journalist & government insider and the future of Saudi Arabia. She is a visiting professor at the London School of Economics Middle East Center. She was stripped of her Saudi citizenship in 2005 for criticizing Saudi authorities. Her new piece in the New York Times is titled “Why King Salman Must Replace M.B.S.”

Brexit: Will There Be a Second Referendum? – UpFront


On this week’s UpFront, we debate Brexit and the prospects of a second referendum with Daniel Hannan, Conservative Member of the European Parliament and Lord Adonis, former Labour Cabinet Minister.

And we talk to Julián Castro, a former Obama cabinet official and a possible future US presidential candidate, about immigration, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and his vision for the future of the Democratic party in an age of Trump.


Paul Jay on the US-Saudi ‘Special Relationship’


The likely murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi has inspired a new debate about the US's "special relationship" with Saudi Arabia. TRNN's Paul Jay and Ben Norton discuss why America sees the Saudi monarchy as a key player in its global empire, and the key role of arms sales and fossil fuels in geopolitics.

US Intel Officials: Inconceivable Saudi Prince Had No Link To Khashoggi Death | Hardball | MSNBC


Critics of Saudi Arabia are concerned Trump is allowing the Saudis to come up with a cover story that will clear Saudi leadership of any responsibility.

Leaked: Jamal Khashoggi's Fingers Cut Off While Still Alive


Thursday, October 18, 2018

Saudi Crown Prince in the Spotlight after Khashoggi 'Murder' | Al Jazeera English


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rapid ascent took the international community by surprise. In the past 18 months, he consolidated power and attempted to project himself as a reformer and moderniser. But the Khashoggi case has swung the spotlight onto areas in which the crown prince has been less than reform-minded. Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari reports.

How Will the Khashoggi Case Impact the Reign of MBS?


Ahmed Bedier of United Voices for America tells TRT World that even within the Saudi monarchy, there are those who strongly disagree with the decisions of the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

How Dangerous Is It to Be a Journalist in the Arab World? l Inside Story


Turkish sources say investigators have found 'important samples' at the Saudi consulate in the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.

The case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has shocked and capitvated the world, as information trickles out about his disappearance, and possible murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Beyond the gruesome details, at the core of this story is a journalist, who had been threatened for his reporting and opinions.

Khashoggi wrote critically about the Saudi government, warning the world, that Saudi Arabia could never be a democracy under the current crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. He highlighted the plight and struggles of journalists in his country, saying there was no space for free speech since journalists and intellectuals are often jailed for expressing their views. So, how much of a threat are journalists to Arab governments?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Saad Al-Faqih - Saudi dissident; Ravi Prasad - Director of Advocacy with the International Press Institute; David Hearst - Editor in Chief of the Middle East Eye.


The White House Doesn't Want To Know The Truth: Richard N. Haass | Morning Joe | MSNBC


The government of Turkey let out details of details from audio recordings describing the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Meanwhile, recordings of President Trump in 2015 find him discussing his financial ties to Saudi Arabia. The panel discusses.

Ex-Saudi Princess Exposes Alleged Saudi Control over UK Courts, Sinn Fein MP on Brexit


On today's episode of Going Underground, Ex-Saudi Princess Janan Harb and alleged wife of the late King Fahd discusses her allegations of Saudi Influence over UK Courts and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Next, Paul Maskey from Sinn Fein joins Afshin Rattansi to discuss the ongoing Brexit negotiations, the confidence and supply agreement Theresa May has with the DUP and the future of Northern Ireland after Brexit. Also, Steve Topple joins us for Broken News where he and Afshin discuss Universal Credit causing a rise in prostitution, the Grenfell Tower area contaminated with high toxicity, Richard Branson on corporate welfare and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman allegedly moving to purchase Man Utd!

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Jamal Elshayyal: Response to Khashoggi’s Death Will Determine Future of Saudi Arabia & Middle East


New details have emerged in the disappearance and probable death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was reportedly still alive when his body was dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul more than two weeks ago. A Turkish source says it took Khashoggi seven minutes to die. The New York Times reports four of the 15 Saudi men implicated in the killing are directly linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s security detail. We speak with Jamal Elshayyal, an international award-winning senior correspondent for Al Jazeera. He wrote a piece for the Middle East Eye last year titled “The rise of Mohammed bin Salman: Alarm bells should be ringing.”

How Will Jamal Khashoggi's Possible Death Affect MBS? l Inside Story


Saudis close to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman may be involved in what Turkish sources say is the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Al Jazeera’s been told that a bodyguard for the Crown Prince led the operation which led to Khashoggi’s torture and death in Istanbul.

He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate 15 days ago. A joint Saudi-Turkish investigation team searched the building. Turkish sources say there is further evidence that suggest Khashoggi was killed there.

The Saudis are continuing to deny any links to his disappearance; and Mohmmed Bin Salman is distancing himself from the scandal. But can he really? And will it affect his grip on power?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Mohammed Cherkaoui, Professor at George Mason University; Saeed Al Shehabi, Columnist with Al Quds newspaper; Soner Cagaptay, Director of the Turkish Research Program with The Washington Institute for Near East Policy


#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 17, 2018


Trump's Saudi Defense Leaves Sanders Stunned


Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reacted to President Trump's comments suggesting the criticism Saudi Arabia has received over a missing Saudi journalist is premature, comparing these accusations to the sexual assault allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Who Killed Jamal Khashoggi? l Inside Story


The joint Saudi-Turkish team investigating the case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has searched the consulate, and attention is now turned to the consul's home.

The Turkish Attorney General's office told Al Jazeera there is evidence Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, something Saudi Arabia had consistently denied. But media sources in the U.S. suggest the Kingdom is preparing to acknowledge he died during an interrogation that went wrong.

King Salman said he didn't know anything about it in a phone call with President Trump who then suggested “rogue killers” may be to blame. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is now in Riyadh looking for answers as to what actually happened after Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate on October 2nd.

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Osman Sert, Research Director at Ankara Institute; John H Jones, former US Senior Congressional Adviser; Selman Aksunger, lecturer at the Istanbul Center of International Law


Khashoggi Picked the Wrong Prince


The murder of Jamal Khashoggi should be denounced. Professor As`ad AbuKhalil says western media's uncritical praise of Khashoggi is unworthy, he was a loyal member of the Saudi propaganda apparatus and chose the wrong side of the House of Saud.


The Angry Arab News Service »

#democracynow : Former Saudi Political Prisoner: Khashoggi’s Disappearance Is Sending a Gruesome Message to Critics


Saudi Arabia will allow Turkey to search its consulate in Istanbul Monday afternoon, nearly two weeks after prominent journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the consulate on October 2. He has not been seen since. This news comes amid mounting international outcry that Saudi Arabia explain Khashoggi’s shocking disappearance, after Turkish officials accused the Saudis of assassinating Khashoggi, dismembering him and smuggling body parts out of the consulate. In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes”, Trump said Saudi Arabia would suffer “severe consequences” if it was found responsible. But Trump has repeatedly said he opposes ending U.S. weapons sales to the kingdom, which he claims are worth $110 billion to U.S. companies. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has responded to Trump’s threats saying if it “receives any action, it will respond with greater action.” The Saudis deny Khashoggi was killed in their consulate. We speak with Ali Al-Ahmed, a Saudi dissident and founder & director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs. He was a political prisoner in Saudi Arabia when he was 14 years old—the youngest political prisoner at that time.

Turkey Searches Saudi Consulate in Khashoggi Case


Monday, October 15, 2018

Are Saudi Arabia and Turkey Looking for a Face-saving Compromise? l Inside Story


The proposed search of the consulate follows a phone call between Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

King Salman is committed to a joint investigation. The Saudis deny Khashoggi was murdered and his body dismembered and removed by a 15-man 'hit squad' which flew into Istanbul on the day he disappeared.

As international pressure intensifies for answers from the Saudis, Donald Trump is sending America's top diplomat to meet King Salman.

Why has it taken so long for the Saudis to open their doors?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Nihad Awad - Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations; Steven Schneebaum - International lawyer; Chis Phillips - Former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office in the UK


President Donald Trump Ditches 'Moralism' During 60 Minutes Interview | Morning Joe | MSNBC


The president sat down for an interview with 60 MInutes' Lesley Stahl, which aired Sunday evening. During the discussion, Trump discussed North Korea's Kim Jong Un and why he's not a 'baby.'

Why Is the Disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi a Challenge for the White House?


Susan Page, Jonah Goldberg and Susan Glasser join John Dickerson to discuss the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi and how the Trump administration could respond if Saudi Arabia had a hand in it.

Trump Voter: I'm Afraid of Dictator in White House


Independent voter Anthony Miles expresses regret for voting for President Trump in 2016, saying Trump doesn't have "empathy for anything."

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 15, 2018


Jamal Khashoggi, Mohammed bin Salman and the Media | The Listening Post


Sunday, October 14, 2018

Saudi Arabia Promises to Retaliate over Any Sanctions


Saudi Arabia is promising to retaliate against any sanctions over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance.

Female Power in Saudi Arabia | DW Documentary


Khashoggi Is Not Alone


Kidnapped: The Lost Princes: Saudi Arabia - a key ally of the UK and America - has been ruled as an absolute monarchy since its foundation. Any opposition in the country is often brutally oppressed. BBC Arabic has been investigating allegations the Saudi monarchy has operated a system of illegal abduction and capture of dissident princes who have criticised the government, including evidence of princes kidnapped in Europe and forced back to Saudi Arabia, where they've not been heard from since. Reda El Mawy reports.

Rubio on Saudi Arabia: If Trump Won't Act, Congress Will


Saturday, October 13, 2018

What's Behind the Arab Silence over Khashoggi Fate? l Inside Story


There has been no official reaction in the Arab world to the possible murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.

The Arab world stays silent. A Saudi journalist and critic of the Saudi leadership has possibly been killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. But there's been no official reaction from any Arab government, and no condemnation from the Arab media.

The international community is demanding answers, and pressure is growing on Saudi Arabia to explain Khashoggi's disappearance. Now reports are emerging about evidence said to prove the journalist was murdered soon after entering the consulate and that the smartwatch he was wearing could potentially help solve the mystery.

The Turkish newspaper Sabah, quoting security sources, says the journalist may even have recorded his own death and the audio recording sent to both his phone and icloud. So what's behind the Arab silence?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Mohamad Elmasry, chairman of the journalism programme at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; Saeed Al-Shehabi, columnist at Al Quds and leader of the Bahrain Freedom Movement; Dauod Kuttab, board member of the International Press Institute.


Ex-Ambassador Jordan on Disappearance of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi


Oct.11 -- Robert Jordan, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, discusses the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and how it may affect U.S.-Saudi relations. He speaks with Bloomberg's David Westin on "Bloomberg Markets: Balance of Power."

World This Week: The Backlash over Khashoggi; Mbappé Fever; Bavaria's Elections


Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi


This year alone, 43 journalists have been killed while doing their jobs or as a direct result of the work they do. This week, another journalist is presumed dead for the same reason. Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey — a mystery worthy of a spy novel.

On this week’s edition of Beat the Press, Emily Rooney was joined by Adam Reilly, of WGBH News; Tom Fiedler, of Boston University; Dan Kennedy, of Northeastern University; and Mike Nikitas, former NECN anchor.


Friday, October 12, 2018

Where Does Case of Missing Journalist Leave Saudi Arabia? l Inside Story


Reports say Turkey and US has video and audio recordings to prove murder of Saudi journalist. It's been ten days since journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing in Turkey.

US and Turkish officials have now been quoted saying they have proof that the Saudi critic was killed inside his country's consulate in Istanbul.

Outrage over the case has been widespread and it's threatening to destroy Saudi Arabia's image makeover.

Diplomatic pressure’s now increasing... and businesses are getting nervous and pulling out of deals with Saudi Arabia. So what does it mean for this oil-rich country?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Sigurd Noybauer, non-resident fellow at Gulf International Forum; Gilbert Ashcar, professor in development studies and international relations at the School of Oriental & African Studies - part of the University of London; Mohammed Shercaoui, professor of conflict resolution at George Mason University


Opinion | 'His Words Aren't Gone': Our Missing Friend, Jamal Khashoggi


Columnist David Ignatius, Jamal Khashoggi's longtime friend, and Karen Attiah, Khashoggi's editor, talk about the "kind, gentle" Post contributor, who disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Exclusive: Stormy Daniels Tell-all Interview | 60 Minutes Australia


Stormy Daniels tell-all interview in which she reveals how 90 seconds of what she describes as “the least impressive” sex she has ever had has led to one of the most titillating political scandals in United States history.

Jamal Khashoggi: The World Demands Answers – UpFront


How the US Should Respond to Jamal Khashoggi’s Disappearance


As details of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance emerge, some business leaders are protesting the Saudi government by pulling out of an upcoming summit. Meanwhile, lawmakers are urging President Trump to take decisive action. Foreign affairs correspondent Nick Schifrin talks to Robert Jordan, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, for his perspective on the incident and the response.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 12, 2018


Report: Turks Claim Evidence Of Missing Washington Post Journalist | The Last Word | MSNBC


Washington Post Reporter Shane Harris joins Lawrence O'Donnell with reports that Turkish officials say there are tapes proving that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside a Saudi consulate.

Lindsey Graham: 'Hell To Pay' If Saudis Murdered Jamal Khashoggi


Turkey Has Recordings of Khashoggi's Killing


US media say Turkey has told American officials it has audio and video recordings that prove Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

According to the Washington Post, the recordings show that a Saudi security team detained Khashoggi in the consulate after he entered there on October the second. The report said the security team killed the journalist and dismembered his body after torturing him. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ruled out the possibility of stopping arms sales to Saudi Arabia following Khashoggi’s disappearance.


Thursday, October 11, 2018

Straining Relations Between Important Allies | Inside Story


He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul nine days ago. Turkish security sources say he was murdered there by a Saudi hit squad. The Saudis deny that - as well as a Washington Post report which says the Saudi Crown Prince ordered an operation to lure the critic back home.

Top US diplomats have spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. What more can the Trump administration do? And how can Saudi fend off the widespread outrage?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Soner Cagaptay - Turkish Research Programme, Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Ibrahim Fraihat - Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, Doha Institute; Ali Al Ahmed - Director Gulf Affairs Institute & a former Saudi political prisoner


Where Is Jamal Khashoggi? Saudi Arabia Denies Abduction of Missing Journalist


Where is Jamal Khashoggi? Since exactly one week ago, his fiancée and friends have been rallying outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where the journalist and prominent critic of the Kingdom's policies disappeared. Khashoggi has gone for wedding documents. Riyadh claims he exited through a back door, the Turks are dubious and the search is on for clues. We ask our panel how much the columnist is a thorn in the side of Mohammed Bin Salman and a régime which insists it's opening up.

The Debate - Missing Saudi Journalist: Jamal Khashoggi


Extreme is a word that may come to mind when describing the behavior of the Saudi regime. However what seems to be unfolding in Istanbul, Turkey, is beyond extreme and mind boggling. The disappearance of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi seems to have taken place in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and now Turkish media reports are saying he was killed and dismembered inside of the Consulate. As shocking as this is, it isn’t the first time that the Saudi regime has been accused of killing those with a different point of view.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Rashid Khalidi on the US Backing of Brutal Saudi Régime & the Disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi


It’s been more than a week since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last Tuesday, sparking international concern. Now, a Turkish official has told the New York Times that Khashoggi was assassinated inside the consulate by a team of 15 Saudi operatives who used a bone saw to dismember his body before smuggling body parts out of the building. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University. He is the author of several books, including “Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East.”

Rashid Khalidi: Haley Put a Nice Face on Trump’s “Horrific” US Policies


U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning her post at the end of the year. The former South Carolina governor—one of the few women in Trump’s Cabinet—gave no reason for her departure. During Nikki Haley’s time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Iran nuclear deal; UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians; and UNESCO, the U.N. Educational and Cultural agency. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University, about the significance of Haley’s departure and the role of the United States at the United Nations. Khalidi is the author of “Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East.” His next book, titled “The Hundred-Years War on Palestine” will be out in May.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 10, 2018


'This Is An Outrage': Jamal Khashoggi Mystery Threatens Relations | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Media outlets in Turkey have published footage of what they say shows evidence of a plot linked to missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd.

What Happened to Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi? | Inside Story


On the afternoon of Tuesday October 2 2018, Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. His fiancee who was waiting for him outside, says he never came out. Now, we know more about what may have happened.

The New York Times says Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Turkish media have published pictures of what they say--are the agents--sent to kill him. But the Saudis insist he left the building.

So, what happened inside the Saudi consulate?

Presenter: Hoda Abdel-Hamid | Guests: Ali Al-Ahmed - Director, Gulf Affairs Institute; Chris Phillips - Former Head of the UK national Counter-terrorism Security Office; Sabah Al-Khozai - Lecturer, Bristol College


Washington Post Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Has Disappeared. Will the US Take a Stand?


Jamal Khashoggi, a singular voice willing to criticize Saudi leaders, has disappeared in Istanbul at the Saudi consulate. The Washington Post columnist and prominent former editor has previously spoken out about some of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's actions, including the silencing of dissenters. Nick Schifrin talks with Fred Hiatt of the Washington Post and Robin Wright from the New Yorker.

Riyadh Allows Search of Consulate in Istanbul


US media say the missing Saudi journalist was killed in the city of Istanbul under orders from the kingdom’s leadership.

New York Times quoted a Turkish official as saying that Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated inside the consulate by order of the highest level of the royal court. Meanwhile, Washington Pots says U-S intelligence intercepted communication of Saudi officials discussing a plan to capture the dissident journalist. This comes as international pressure is mounting on Saudi Arabia to give clear explanations for the fate of Khashoggi.


Don Lemon Laughs Off Trump's Ivanka Comment


CNN's Don Lemon responds to President Trump's claim that his daughter Ivanka would make a "dynamite ambassador" to the United Nations following Ambassador Nikki Haley's resignation.

US Steps Up Pressure on Saudi over Khashoggi's Disappearance l Inside Story


A week after his mysterious disappearance at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey, US leaders are voicing their fears for Jamal Khashoggi.

Donald Trump says he's concerned, the Vice President says he's 'troubled' by his disappearance. And America's top diplomat is urging Saudi allies to be open about what happened.

The mystery puts the spotlight on the Trump administration's close relations with Riyadh.

Presenter: Hoda Abdel-Hamid | Guests: Richard Murphy - Former U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia; Khalil Jahshan - Exective Director, Arab Center, Washington; Marwan Kabalan - Director of Policy Analysis, Arab Centre for Research & Policy Studies, Doha


Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Is Khashoggi the Latest Victim of Saudi Crackdown? l Inside Story


Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul five days ago and reportedly never walked out. Turkish authorities say they believe he was killed inside the building and that it was pre-meditated. Saudi Arabia denies it.

Is the journalist the latest victim of his government's ongoing crackdown on dissent?

Host - Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Mehmet Celik - Political Editor with the Daily Sabah Newspaper; Adam Coogle -The Middle East Researcher with Human Rights Watch; Mahjoob Zweiri – The director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University


#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 9, 2018


Monday, October 08, 2018

Alleged Saudi Murder of Washington Post Columnist Prompts Calls to Halt U.S. Relations with Régime


Fears are growing over the fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Turkish officials say they believe was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last week. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States, entered the Saudi Consulate in Turkey seeking a document he needed to get married and has not been seen since. The Washington Post reports a Turkish investigation has revealed that a group of about 15 Saudi men traveled to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi as he visited the consulate. Saudi officials have denied the report and say they don’t know the journalist’s whereabouts. Khashoggi is a critic of the Saudi regime. “This is a horrific escalation in the crown prince’s campaign to silence dissent, to silence any criticism, even the mildest of criticism, from Saudis at home or abroad,” says columnist for The Intercept Mehdi Hasan, who is also host of “UpFront” at Al Jazeera English, where he interviewed Khashoggi earlier this year. We’re also joined by Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, who knew Khashoggi and is the author of “Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection.”

US Rapped for Staying Silent on Khashoggi Case


The UN calls for a probe into the alleged murder of a dissident Saudi journalist in Turkey, as the US government comes under fire for keeping silent on the issue.

The Debate - Trump Humiliating Saudi Arabia


US President Donald Trump has once again humiliated Saudi Arabia by saying that the country’s king “might not be there for two weeks” without Washington’s support. Speaking at a campaign rally in Mississippi, Trump said he loves King Salman but the US is protecting the king therefore he has to pay for the military backing. What does Trump’s comment reveal about Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and independence? What does it say about the two countries’ relationship which, under Trump, has become void of any veneer of the polite diplomatic language? Let’s now cross over to Washington and talk to Press TV’s Colin Campbell about the issue. Colin; in May, Trump humiliated the Saudi Crown Prince at the Oval Office by boasting arms sales to the Kingdom and on Tuesday night he was at it again by addressing the King himself. What else can you tell us about Trump’s comment and reactions to it?

Turkey Says Critical Saudi Journalist Was Killed in Saudi Consulate


Turkish authorities have suggested that a missing Saudi journalist was murdered by a special hit squad inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. The prominent commentator was last seen entering the diplomatic mission.

A Republican Since 1979 Is Now Leaving The Party | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Tom Nichols of the U.S. Naval War College writes in a new Atlantic piece he is leaving the Republican Party and becoming an Independent after the Kavanaugh confirmation crisis. Nichols joins Morning Joe to discuss.

Reports: Sources Say Saudi Journalist Killed in Turkey


Unnamed Turkish officials speaking to The Washington Post and Reuters said that prominent Saudi journalist-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul this week.

The officials have so far provided no evidence or detail on how they arrived at this conclusion. CNN has not been able to independently confirm these reports and has not been able to get a comment from the Saudi government on the reports.

An unnamed consulate official dismissed the reports in an interview with Saudi Arabian state news agency SPA.

"The official strongly denounced these baseless allegations and expressed his doubt that they came from Turkish officials that are informed of the investigation or are authorized to comment on the issue," SPA reported.


Fareed: Supreme Court Tumbles into Dysfunction


CNN's Fareed Zakaria says that the US Supreme Court was one of the last bastions in Washington that towered above the political fray, but following the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation battle, it is now part of the dysfunction that has overwhelmed almost the entire American system.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

Saudi Arabia Reportedly Killed Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We Can't Rest Until We Know The Truth


Turkish officials say Saudi journalist and Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian says if true, this is a heinous crime by the Saudi government.


Read Khashoggi's columns: HERE »

Is Khashoggi the Latest Victim of Saudi Crackdown? l Inside Story


Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul five days ago and reportedly never walked out. Turkish authorities say they believe he was killed inside the building and that it was pre-meditated. Saudi Arabia denies it.

Is the journalist the latest victim of his government's ongoing crackdown on dissent?

Host - Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Mehmet Celik - Political Editor with the Daily Sabah Newspaper: Adam Coogle - The Middle East Researcher with Human Rights Watch; Mahjoob Zweiri. The director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University


Madeleine Albright: Trump Almost a Gift to Putin


Former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell talk to CNN's Fareed Zakaria about how President Donald Trump has altered America's role in the world.

The Real Jesus Christ | Biblical Documentary | Timeline


After the death of Jesus, his followers split into two factions. They held radically different views about their leader – his identity, his message and his vision of the future. One of those factions flourished under the guiding genius of St Paul – and eventually wrote its version of the story in the Gospels of the New Testament. The other faction withered and died away, leaving behind no written records. But what if the losers in this power struggle had written their version of the story? The Real Jesus Christ reconstructs that lost biography of Jesus: an alternative version of his life as it would have been told by those who lost the battle for the succession, but who knew him better than anyone else – his closest followers and his family.

John Kerry: Supreme Court Fight Will Cost the Country


Former Secretary of State John Kerry tells CNN's Michael Smerconish the Brett Kavanaugh fight will cost the Senate and country. Kerry also responds to Mike Pompeo's charge that he shouldn't have spoken to Iran.

'We Will Pay Nothing for Our Security': Saudi Arabia Disregards Trump's Warnings


The crown prince of Saudi Arabia says his country doesn't owe the US a cent in unpaid weapons bills. His remark was a response to Donald Trump, who issued a warning to the Gulf kingdom.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

Gorbachev and the Opportunity for Peace Wasted | DW Documentary


Mikhail Gorbachev wrote world history with his politics: from the 1985 elections to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. [Online until: 02.11.2018]

This documentary looks at one of the most gripping chapters in contemporary history from the election of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War four years later. It features exclusive interviews with the former Soviet leader and leading politicians and statesmen active on the international stage at the time. Mikhail Gorbachev was elected Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985. His policies of "glasnost" - "openness" - and "perestroika" - "restructuring" - ultimately ended in the collapse of Moscow’s empire and changed the course of world history. But in the end, his legacy is still at best an ambiguous one. This documentary examines one of the most exciting chapters in contemporary history since the Second World War and talks to former French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine and German politician Horst Teltschik, both of whom played important roles in German reunification. Gorbachev's former national security adviser Alexander Likhotal and others also chart the way nuclear weapons have continued to spread throughout the multipolar world that grew out of the end of the Cold War. Could this new arms race bring us to the brink of nuclear war again? The film draws on the wisdom and experience of men who ushered in the end of the Cold War to ask how real peace can be achieved.


Why Lisa Murkowski Opposes Brett Kavanaugh | The Last Word | MSNBC


Lawrence looks at the markedly different standards Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins had for how they weighed their decisions on Brett Kavanaugh and why they ultimately decided the way they did. Maya Wiley, Jill Wine-Banks, and Lisa Graves discuss.

Jeffrey Toobin: Roe v. Wade Will Be Overturned


CNN's chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin gives his take on what effect Brett Kavanaugh will have on the Supreme Court now that he's secured enough votes for confirmation.

Friday, October 05, 2018

Thanks To Trump, The World Hates America Again


Donald Trump loves to tell us that the US is once again “respected” around the globe, but that’s a claim that is easily rebutted with the available facts. According to the latest round of polling, a huge majority of citizens from all over the world say that they have no confidence in the United States anymore, and Trump is the primary reason. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Is SC Nominee Brett Kavanaugh So Damaged He Can't Be A Fair Jurist? | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Hours ahead of a crucial vote on his confirmation, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a new WSJ opinion piece that he might have been 'too emotional' in his congressional testimony last week. The panel discusses.

Eve Ensler to White Women Supporting Kavanaugh: Stand with Survivors & Fight This Nomination


Opposition to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is growing across the country as the Senate prepares to vote on his nomination, just one day after senators were given their first chance to see the FBI’s new investigation into Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s claims that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when she was a teenager. More than 300 protesters were arrested Thursday during a massive sit-in on Capitol Hill against Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple women. The Senate is planning to hold a key procedural vote on his confirmation Friday morning. A final vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation is expected on Saturday. The decision rests on four senators who have not yet announced how they will vote: Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as well as Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. We speak with Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright and author of The Vagina Monologues. She is also the founder of V-Day, a movement to end violence against women and girls. She recently published “A Letter to White Women Who Support Brett Kavanaugh” in Time Magazine. She says to sexual assault survivors watching the Kavanaugh nomination unfold, “Your pain matters. Your experience matters. The trauma that you have faced matters. And there are many of us, many of us supporting you, loving you, holding you as you try to heal from this experience.”

Saudi Writer Jamal Khashoggi 'Disappears after Consulate Visit' | Al Jazeera English


Friends and colleagues of prominent Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi fear he's been taken while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Khashoggi, who has been living in self-exile in the US, entered the consulate's premises at around 1pm (10:00 GMT) then disappeared, according to the Arab21 news website.

According to two Turkish officials, the journalist remains inside the consulate, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Al Jazeera's Nastasya Tay has more.


#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 5, 2018


Thursday, October 04, 2018

Trump Faces Probe Into Tax Fraud After NYT Exposes How He Helped Parents Scam Millions From Government


The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has opened an investigation into President Trump for fraud and tax evasion following a major exposé by the New York Times revealing that Trump inherited nearly half a billion dollars of his family’s wealth through tax dodges and outright fraud. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has also called for a city probe, and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has urged the IRS to investigate the president. The Times’ 13,000-word investigative report found the late Fred and Mary Trump transferred more than $1 billion in wealth to their children, paying less than 5 percent of the $550 million in taxes they should have paid under inheritance tax rates. Donald Trump also helped his parents undervalue real estate holdings by hundreds of millions of dollars on IRS tax returns in order to reduce taxes. We speak with David Barstow, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and the lead author on the new investigation, “Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father.” Barstow shares a byline with Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

NYT Exposé: “Self-Made Billionaire” Donald Trump Built Empire on Father’s Money, Tax Dodging & Fraud


President Donald Trump built his personal brand and presidential candidacy on the claim that he was a self-made billionaire whose only head start was a “small loan of a million dollars” from his father. But a New York Times exposé has revealed that Trump inherited much of his family’s wealth through tax dodging and outright fraud, receiving at least $413 million in inflation-adjusted dollars from his father’s real estate empire. We speak with David Barstow, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for the New York Times and the lead author on the new investigation, “Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father.” Barstow shares a byline with Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 4, 2018


Kavanaugh's College Roommate: He Was Lying


James Roche, the college roommate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper about his experience with Kavanaugh at Yale.

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Mental Health Experts Demand Psychological Assessment of Kavanaugh for Drinking, Instability


Donald Trump openly mocked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at a rally Tuesday, casting doubt on her claims that Brett Kavanaugh had tried to rape her in high school just days after calling her a very credible witness. As the FBI continues its investigation into Dr. Blasey Ford’s claims, a group of mental health experts are calling for Kavanaugh to undergo a full psychological and substance abuse assessment before the Senate votes on his confirmation. We speak with Dr. Bandy Lee of the Yale School of Medicine, the lead author of a letter titled “Mental Health Experts Urge Examination Based on Warning Signs in Kavanaugh Testimony.” The letter reads, “Judge Kavanaugh exhibited behavior that, if engaged in during his possible tenure as a Supreme Court Justice, would yield a dangerous combination of instability and power.”

Trump Officials Headline Neocon Iran Regime-Change Summit: Inside UANI


John Bolton and Mike Pompeo headlined the annual United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) summit, where speakers celebrated the strangling of the Iranian economy under U.S. sanctions and cheered on regime change. We report from inside

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — October 3, 2018


‘Outright Fraud’ : Bombshell NYT Investigation Obliterates Trump’s Self-Made Myth | Deadline | MSNBC


NYT’s David Barstow, Daily Beast’s Sam Stein, former DOJ spokesman Matt Miller, NBC’s Heidi Przybyla, WaPo’s Ashley Parker and Jennifer Rubin on the in-depth investigation detailing the alleged Trump family tax schemes

Bombshell: Trump Being Investigated for Tax Evasion and Fraud


Sunday, September 30, 2018

Kellyanne Conway: I'm a Victim of Sexual Assault


Counselor to President Trump, Kellyanne Conway, tells CNN's Jake Tapper that she is a victim of sexual assault while discussing the testimonies of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.