If the Saudis admit to a "rogue" killing or a failed abduction, it still means 1) they tried to kidnap a journalist on foreign soil for long-term imprisonment; 2) every single denial and claim that Khashoggi left through the back entrance was, to put it nicely, a lie
(Also, the "rogue killers" theory is both silly and laughable, considering that the killing would have happened inside the Saudi consulate)
One hopes Trump doesn't fold in a negotiation like he tends to do under duress, but if he does, it means only that the Saudis have gotten a pass from this administration. It will be up to Dems to make Saudi Arabia a key campaign issue (Bernie has admirably led the way on this)
The main lesson from this disastrous episode remains the same, regardless of what the Saudis admit to: MBS is reckless, brazen, and is all too willing to act without the slightest regard for US interests. Even if morality meant nothing, the crown prince is a liability
The Saudis have been lying to the US (a supposedly close ally) for 13 days in any of the above scenarios. Saudi leaders have been acting with incredible disrespect toward the US, threatening oil market manipulation and "greater action" in an official press release
