Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince, Khashoggi Murder Now 'Pardoned'
The mainstream media breathlessly reports on Donald Trump rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, complete with fly-bys and gala dinners, marking his first US visit since journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered. It appears the collective memory of the press, much like that of certain political figures, has a remarkably short shelf-life when defense contracts
and strategic alliances against Iran are on the table. The Crown Prince, despite not being the head of state, receives honors typically reserved for one, demonstrating just how much a lavish reception can whitewash a state-sponsored assassination. One might wonder if the same level of 'lavish welcome' would be extended to a leader from any other nation accused by the UN and US intelligence of
orchestrating the dismemberment of a journalist. But then, not every nation can guarantee lucrative arms deals or geopolitical leverage against 'adversaries.' The real story isn't the pageantry, but the cynical calculus behind it: human rights abuses are merely footnotes when oil flows and weapons sell. How convenient that 'first visit since the Khashoggi murder' barely registers as a diplomatic
footnote.