October 10, 2018
Revealing Intelligence on Jamal Khashoggi
Washington Post Global Opinions columnist Jamal Khashoggi has been missing since entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2. As of this writing, Turkish officials have said that they believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, and details are emerging regarding the timing of his entry, where Turkish security cameras were located and the entry and exit of Saudi officials precisely around the time of Khashoggi’s disappearance. The Saudi Arabian government denies involvement or knowledge of his whereabouts.
The manner in which Turkish officials have revealed new details raises questions about what other intelligence information the government of Turkey—or other governments—may have available to them that might reveal or confirm what has happened to Khashoggi. Turkish officials are clearly being cautious by speaking to reporters without named attribution, but they are also providing—as evidenced by this New York Times report—highly detailed information regarding their conclusions.
Deciding whether and how much intelligence information to reveal can be a difficult call for a country unaccustomed to revealing its intelligence methods, especially when it involves such sensitivities as diplomatic facilities. But sometimes the gravity of a situation requires exposing intelligence collection activities.
Read the full article on Lawfare.
More from CNAS
-
America’s Middle East Trap is China’s Strategic Windfall
China’s approach to any escalation in the Middle East reflects its broader strategy of free-riding on U.S. security commitments....
By Adham Sahloul
-
The Israeli-Iranian War: How We Got Here & What It Means
Israel’s strikes against Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, as well as its key military and security leadership, shocked the world. How did we arrive here? What did t...
By Rachel Brandenburg
-
‘We Want Peace’: How Attacks Between Israel and Iran Could Impact People in NC
Retired Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan is an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for New American Security. Shanahan provided some context on how the two Middle East countries got her...
By Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan
-
Preventing the Next Middle East Disaster
At play for Washington in the Middle East is the opportunity to keep Russia out of the Eastern Mediterranean, Iran’s proxy network at bay, and scale back China's ambitions in ...
By Adham Sahloul