Khashoggi’s Watch
In a plot twist straight out of a Hollywood horror flick, Jamal Khashoggi’s Apple Watch may have recorded his death. Khashoggi’s “interrogation, torture and killing were audio recorded and sent to both his phone and to iCloud,” Turkish media reported. U.S. intelligence agencies–probably the NSA–had advance notice of Saudi intentions to waylay Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Jared Kushner, friend and ally of Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman was not informed ahead of time, according to an unnamed official who spoke to the Washington Post.
The disappearance of this prominent critic has rattled the Washington-Riyadh alliance revived by President Trump. In response to threat of U.S. sanctions, Saudi Arabia is vowing retaliation, according to Al Jazeera. The once-acquiescent Congress is threatening not to approve any more arms deals, which worries defense contractors who love Saudi contracts.
Will the flap over Khashoggi disrupt Trump’s campaign, launched with Saudi support, to confront Iran diplomatically and militarily? Lobelog says maybe. The Khashoggi story has driven Iran off the front pages but I doubt it will disrupt Washington-Riyadh-Tel Aviv axis that wants to reverse Iran’s gains in the regime.
NSA Questions
Are the NSA, FBI Listening to Donald Trump’s Calls With Foreign Leaders ? — Rand Paul wants to know. FBI director Wray avoids answering. The NSA wants first-hand accounts of China chip hacking, as alleged by Bloomberg News. Apple denies the hack ever happened.
Russian Hackers
A high-profile trial in Russia has cyber crime fighter on trial for treason, allegedly for passing information about the GRU’s Fancy Bear hacking collective to the FBI, supposedly for $10 million. Now one of the defendants is very sick. (Meduza)..
OPINION
Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia, and the Path to Fascism–Muhammad bin Salman is more of a rogue than a reformer. (Fars News)
