Khashoggi affair: Joe Biden suffers criticism from his own camp

Joe Biden at the White House, February 27, 2021. AP - Pablo Martinez Monsivais

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3 min

In the aftermath of the publication of the CIA report on the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, US President Joe Biden faces heavy criticism in the press and from elected Democrats.

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With our correspondent in New York,

Loubna Anaki

For Adam Schiff, more must be done.

The day after the publication

of the CIA report on the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

, the head of the intelligence committee in the House of Representatives estimated this Saturday on CNN that the sanctions taken by Washington were not sufficient.

“ 

We cannot impose sanctions against those who participated in the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and do nothing against the person who gave the orders,

 ” said Adam Schiff.

Because if sanctions have been taken against Saudi figures who participated in this assassination, the Biden administration has taken no action against Prince Mohammed ben Salman, yet directly implicated in this report. 

The elected Democrat believes that the crown prince should be banned from entering the United States.

Joe Biden shouldn't invite him, meet him, or even talk to him, says Adam Schiff. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren considers that all arms sales to Saudi Arabia should be suspended, the time to redefine relations with Riyadh. 

The

New York Times

and

Washington Post

columnists

make similar criticisms.

They judge that if Joe Biden has changed his tone compared to Donald Trump by ordering the publication of the CIA report, nothing really changes if no sanctions target the crown prince. 

All recognize, however, that the situation is delicate and understand that Joe Biden does not want to sever relations with Saudi Arabia.

But, for the

Washington Post

, where Jamal Khashoggi wrote, it was an opportunity for the tenant of the White House to send " 

a strong message to Mohammed ben Salman, but also to all the dictators who do not hesitate to kill journalists to silence them

 ”.

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  • United States

  • Saudi Arabia

  • Joe biden

  • Mohammed bin salman