( One minute read )

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A CRY FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA. INSTEAD, WE HAVE TO WITNESS THE HYPOCRISY OF ARM SELLING COUNTRIES JUSTIFYING THEIR SALE OF ARMS.

Saudi Arabia has called the accusations it ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul consulate “lies and baseless allegations”.

Whether it turns out to be both it has shone a light on the hypocrisy of major foreign policies conducted by the USA, England, and others.

It’s absolutely essential that the international community says clearly that this is not something that can happen.

If it turns out that a run of the mill blok was murdered by a hit squad on foreign soil in the embassy of any country it should represent a fundamental break in how the world deals with that country.

Saudi Arabia has long been a police state.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite marketing himself to the West as a progressive reformer with positive headlines and handshakes, the Saudi government has, with our help, continued a brutal war in Yemen, with dire consequences for civilians which is spiraling into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. THE WAR HAS KILLED OVER 10,000 SO FAR.

Up to recently, Saudi has harassed women-driving activists. It has bullied Qatar. It’s detained the crown prince’s own family members — at his behest. It’s punished Canada for the mildest of deeds.

The sad fact right now is that the weapons purchasing power of Saudi outweighs human life.

In Saudi Arabia, where a hierarchical culture favors remote, direct leadership, Khashoggi has challenged core Saudi national values, offending not only the royals whose legitimacy he threatened but also ordinary Saudis who rely on these power structures to negotiate the difficulties of everyday life.

President Donald Trump’s response has been pitiful.

To date, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States have registered their “concern” about Khashoggi’s disappearance, but have yet to press Riyadh robustly for answers.

The catch 22 is:  If they do apart from arms deals the price of oil could rocket if any sanctions are applied.

All human comments appreciated. All like clicks chucked in the bin.