Media Fault Pompeo for Defending Saudi Assassination of Journalist

 

Pompeo argues Khashoggi was a not as important as US troops

by Jason Ditz 

Posted onJanuary 25, 2023CategoriesNewsTagsPompeo, Saudi Arabia

Released this week as part of an effort to kickstart his presidential campaign, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo caused considerable controversy in addressing, and ultimately dismissing, Saudi Arabia’s 2018 assassination and dismemberment of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi is his memoir.

The Trump Administration did little in response to the killing, and Pompeo’s State Department led efforts to argue that Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) likely orchestrated the matter, but still ought not be held accountable.

The direction of this argument in the new book was both villifying Khashoggi and downplaying his value as a reporter.

Pompeo claimed Khashoggi was “an activist” with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and claimed he mourned Osama bin Laden. Khashoggi’s wife dismissed these claims, as did media outlets he was connected with.

Pompeo argued Khashoggi was only a journalist in as far as his writing were being published,but also claiming he and other officials had things published too but “did other things” on top of that.

Pompeo described Khashoggi as a “part-time stringer,” and said that the lack of recriminations for killing him “made America safer.”

While offering a concession that Khashoggi oughtn’t have been killed, Pompeo said he life wasn’t more important than US troops.

Pompeo said the killing was no surprise, saying that’s just the sort of thing that happens often in the Middle East, where MBS is a great historical figure.

Publishers called Pompeo’s comments shocking, DAWN Director Sarah Leah Witson added it was “despicable that a senior American official is suggesting that it’s ok to kill a journalist if his political views are ones he doesn’t like.”

Trump and Pompeo worked to keep the report on the killing from the public, with Trump bragging he “saved his ass.” Pompeo’s comments suggested he was comfortable enough that no saving was necessary.

https://news.antiwar.com/2023/01/25/media-fault-pompeo-for-defending-saudi-assassination-of-journalist/