By Aaron Miller-
How the U.S will fully hold the Saudi government to account is a burning question only the White House itself can answer.
It is one of the toughest questions for the U.S administration to answer given the instant conflict of interests it faces. Washington has immediate economic and political losses to incur if it the Saudi government are fully held to account as declared. America will no doubt play its role in giving the Saudi government a hard time over this horrendous killing, but how far this will go to fulfilling its commitment to holding the oil rich nation to account is another question.
U.S Defense Secretary, James Mattis has declared America’s commitment to “holding accountable” those responsible for killing Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, whose death “undermines regional stability.U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has revoked the visas of Saudis suspected in the killing and said that President Donald Trump had vowed “to get to the bottom of it” and get Congress involved.
“Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most,” Mr Mattis said. Billions of dollars in arms sale to the Saudi region is something America is not prepared to loose. Trump has already stated that although Khashoggi was resident in the U.S, he was not American, an indication he did not want to be burdened with dealing with a crime committed outside the U.S .
Trump’s priority is American; solving crimes committed by other government’s is not a course the American president would normally want to commit to. It could mean interfering with the affairs of every rogue State where shameless murders are committed.
Yet, with the full glare of the international community on a murder committed against one resident in the States, and by a country with whom America has phenomenal economic ties, the script couldn’t be more complex, yet seemingly straightforward in its moral requirements. Implementing sufficient sanctions against Saudi’s will be hurtful to America itself. That’s the picture facing president Trump; or at least that’s how he and his administration really view it.
Trump is also mindful not to forfeit political assistance being relied upon by the Saudi Government on Iran. It is one of the most serious dilemmas he faces if he were to implement full sanctions against the Saudi government.
Amid the international condemnation of Mr Khashoggi’s killing, there is growing pressure in Congress to cut off US assistance to the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen, including aerial refueling of Saudi fighter jets and intelligence. There is one thing that makes this difficult. Huge financial loss. The despotic rule of the Saudi’s did not begin with Khashoggi’ murder, it has been there for a very long time.
America ca seize the opportunity of this horrifying murder that has shocked the world to summon the Saudi’s to not only be co-operative with the Khashoggi investigation, or cease the bloody attacks in Yemen, but also to completely change its mindset and attitude in respecting human rights