Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a friend of the Trump White House and a business partner with Jared Kushner. He deploys the Saudi spy service, known as the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) to suppress critics at home and, Turkish prosecutors say, to assassinate them abroad. Turkish officials have indicted 18 men in connection...
Category: Saudi Arabia
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‘Electronic Authoritarianism:’ How MBS Rose to Power in Saudi Arabia
A new biography of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), by Ben Hubbard, describes how he perfected “electronic authoritarianism.” From Fred Hiatt’s review in the The Washington Post the most fundamental change the headstrong crown prince has brought about, Hubbard shows, is to turn a “soft-gloved autocracy” that featured multiple centers of power, and...
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Sen. Murphy Asks Intelligence Agencies to Probe Bezos Phone Hack
Last week’s story about the hacking of Jeff Bezo’s phone won’t go away.The U.N> is investigating and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) wants the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence to investigate as well. From The Hill “The information we have received suggests the possible involvement of the Crown Prince in surveillance of Mr. Bezos,...
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Jeff Bezos’ Phone Was Hacked by Saudi Crown Prince, Say British Reports
The Guardian had the scoop first, based on anonymous sources. The FInancial Times confirmed the story citing cybersecurity experts hired by the Amazon mogul. These experts are said to have “medium to high confidence” that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) was involved, says FT. MBS has established a close relationship with President Trump and...
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How Israel Covers Up Corruption by its Spies, Soldiers and Arms Dealers
From the well-informed, politically independent Israeli journalist Yossi Mellman Israel’s law enforcement authorities have proven time and time again that despite political and other pressures, they are determined to respect the rule of law. The indictment against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, court sentences – which sent former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Moshe Katsav, Finance...