The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia was broken long before the apparent murder of Jamal Khashoggi. It’s far past time for a fundamental break in the relationship. The United States must view the Saudis not as flawed partners, but rather as malign actors undermining US interests.
Khashoggi’s presumed murder in Turkey – where he disappeared after entering a Saudi consulate – has shocked the world. But no one should have been surprised. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy that rules through repression. Freedom House ranked Saudi Arabia as “not free” in 2018, while the 2017 US Human Rights report on Saudi Arabia detailed abuses by government including, “unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention,violence and official gender discrimination against women”.
The above excerpt was originally published in The Guardian.
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