Thread by @AndyKimNJ

I just finished reading the declassified memo on killing of #Khashoggi. I’ve read thousands of intel reports in my career in national security, but this one stands out. Here’s why we need to take this seriously and why we need to do more to hold Crown Prince accountable. THREAD

HIGH CONFIDENCE: The memo starts with “We assess that…” While that doesn’t seem like a blistering opening, for me, it’s like a hammer. Lack of phrases like “low/medium confidence” is striking and rare. Unusual to have such a clear and definite assessment without modifier. 2/15

WHO WROTE THIS? The summary says questions to be directed to the NIO for Near East. This is important. NIO stands for National Intelligence Officer who sits on the National Intelligence Committee at the CIA and is the most senior analyst on the Middle East in our government. 3/15

WHAT’S MISSING?: Memo leaves out how Khashoggi died. Strangled dismembered with a bone saw, potentially while still alive. Audio of death supposedly shared with CIA and likely listened to by NIO who authored this memo. Killer says “I know how to cut.” None of that in memo. 4/15

I’ve worked on Middle East diplomacy for years and that work sometimes put me in the same room with people that undoubtedly had blood on their hands. I learned that a willingness to work alongside a country should never translate into a blank check to violate our values. 5/15

Criticism/penalty are not just for enemies. If America is truly going to be seen as a leader in the world, we need to hold allies accountable. In this case accountability means taking actions against the Crown Prince. Otherwise we need to reassess what it means to be an ally 6/15

ABSOLUTE CONTROL: In this memo, those two words stood out to me. Crown Prince had absolute control over security and intel operations. Supported violent measures to silence dissidents. Aides were unlikely to question orders for fear of firing or being arrested. 7/15

WHAT KIND OF KING MIGHT HE BE: This is how a 35 year old in line to be King acts. It presages what we would potentially expect for decades to come. If we accept this behavior now, what does that mean for the next half century? 8/15

Why did the Crown Prince think he could get away with this? Because he didn’t expect us to act on accountability. That is a sign of a deeply unhealthy alliance. Now some are saying we need to back down to preserve the relationship because too many interests are at stake. 9/15

Why is it always on us to take steps to preserve the relationship? Why isn’t it on the Crown Prince or others that have betrayed values? His decision to murder a resident of America set this in motion. Should be on him if they want to repair. 10/15

Yes, sanctions were announced, and that is an important step in the right direction, but the lack of action against the Crown Prince sends a clear message across the globe that those at the top can escape consequences. 11/15

When we make exceptions for our allies in situations like this, we project to the rest of the world that our values only go as far as our relationships. We show countries like Russia and China that we may have convictions, but consequences are never guaranteed. 12/15

The world is facing a critical moment of monumental change. We’ve seen the rise of strongmen and the fall of basic freedoms. MBS targeting Khashoggi, Putin targeting Navalny, Duterte targeting thousands of his own citizens are all abhorrent acts. 13/15

If we make exceptions to upholding those values out of convenience or fear, they’ll mean nothing. I hope that we will not only respond to the magnitude of the acts confirmed in this memo, I hope we raise the standard so that these acts are never repeated. 14/15

Khashoggi should be alive today. In his last column, he called out the trend of actions that, “trigger condemnation quickly followed by silence.” Let’s not have our condemnations be followed by silence. For Jamal and for our country. 15/15