Trump Defends MBS on Khashoggi, Citing 'Jobs'
NPR reports Trump's defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) regarding the brutal killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with Trump citing significant arms deals and the jobs they create. This isn't just about 'jobs'; it's about the decades-long US policy of prioritizing arms sales and strategic partnerships—no matter how despotic—over human rights. Remember, the US
has provided Saudi Arabia with over $100 billion in arms over the past decade, including during the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen that has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. So, when a President rationalizes alleged state-sponsored murder with economic figures, it's not a defense of an ally; it's a cold, calculated transaction. The 'jobs' argument is a convenient wrapper
for continued military industrial complex profits, ensuring the flow of weapons to regimes with horrific human rights records. One might wonder how many more journalists or civilians must be summarily dispatched for the sake of 'economic interests.' It appears some lives are simply valued less when they interfere with the quarterly earnings report of defense contractors.