Death in the Post-Truth Era
Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen who wrote for the Washington Post, is probably dead.
He was exiled from his homeland. He made the cardinal sin of criticizing the Saudi Royal Family, and particularly the new leader of the Kingdom, Mohammad Bin Salman. At thirty-three, the young leader doesn’t tolerate criticism, particularly written by his own citizens in Washington, DC newspapers that go straight to his friends in the White House.
Khashoggi seemed safe in the United States. But he fell in love with a Turkish woman, and went to Istanbul, Turkey with her. In order to marry, he had to have some paperwork from the Saudi government; documentation of his prior divorce. When he called the consulate to get it, they asked him to make an appointment.
On the appointed day, fifteen Saudi “hit-men” flew into Istanbul. When Khashoggi left his fiancé in the consulate parking lot, the squad was waiting for him. He entered, and disappeared.
There are gruesome stories emerging from Turkish authorities: bone saws and plastic bags; a body “dissolved.” The “hit-team” disappeared as well, boarding two different private jets and flying to different airports, eventually going back to the Kingdom.
In our current era, it has become more and more common for authoritarian leaders to “get rid” of criticizing journalists. In Russia, dozens, and perhaps even more, have died at the hands of Vladimir Putin. In Turkey, a dozen have been murdered under Recep Erdogan.
The United States has always stood up for the right of journalists to report, and the power of the free press to keep governments honest. But, while President Trump has said some “appropriate words” about the Khashoggi disappearance, the Trump Administration has been signaling otherwise for quite some time.
The President has made his views on the media quite clear. From constantly claiming the media lies, crying “fake news” at every story critical of his administration, to showing open and public disrespect for journalists. As recently as last week, he made a public comment about ABC journalist Cecilia Varga, saying “…I know you’re not thinking, you never do.”
Insulting NBC’s Chuck Todd, CNN’s Jim Acosta, the “failing” New York Times, the “Amazon Washington Post” all set an example of the American government’s view of the press. If Trump can do that, what will those with absolute power do?
He has also shown his respect for the authoritarians of the world. Putin, Erdogan, Kim of North Korea, Xi of China: the President of the United States has had high praise for all of them (and perhaps “love” for Kim.) As for bin Salman, the President sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to gain Salman’s trust. In fact, Kushner stayed with bin Salman the week before all opposition leaders in Saudi were rounded up and put in custody, an operation the US probably signed off on.
And now it is emerging that US Intelligence intercepted messages from bin Salman ordering an operation to bring Khashoggi back to Saudi. While the Intelligence agencies have a “duty to warn” if harm is intended towards an individual, they don’t have to warn of an intended “arrest.” Khashoggi knew that bin Salman was after him, but he didn’t think it was with murderous intent.
When the “leader of the free world” ignores the importance of a free press, and shows a clear disdain for their role in American life; it’s not too much of a stretch for the authoritarians of the world to get a message: do whatever you think you need to do. Certainly the way President Trump acts, threatening news agencies and seeing the media as an impediment to his message, it would be a stretch for him to defend a “free press.”
The disappearance of Khashoggi is probably not the Trump Administration’s fault, though it’s not out of the range of possibility that they had some warning of it. But their clear attitude about the media has made it “open season;” if you silence the press, you won’t hear the US complain. It’s not what we stand for.
