By ALI AL-AHMED , FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR GULF AFFAIRS
President Joe Biden won’t punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. And that’s a wise decision—even though it comes as a disappointment to human rights activists.
In late February, the Biden administration published an intelligence report that confirmed what the world had long suspected: Mohammed bin Salman—often dubbed MBS by fans and critics alike—personally approved the 2018 killing of Khashoggi.
Some activists hoped that the definitive report would lead to direct sanctions on the Saudi crown prince. But in early March, the White House announced it would “recalibrate, not rupture” its relationship with the desert kingdom. Officials reiterated the State Department’s visa ban on 76 Saudi individuals who have threatened dissidents overseas—but didn’t take any new action against MBS himself.
Comments are closed.