Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
White House: The US is monitoring a troubling Serbian military deployment along the border of Kosovo that is causing tensions.
White House: Serbia and Kosovo must fulfill their commitments and avoid taking any provocative steps.
White House spokesperson John Kirby urges Serbia to withdraw its forces from its borders with Kosovo.
Hezbollah condemns terrorist blasts carried out against worshippers in Pakistan.
NATO: Decision to deploy additional forces to address the current situation in Kosovo.
Al Mayadeen correspondent reports more than 50 people were injured when a bomb exploded in the Mastung area of the Pakistani province of Balochistan.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: The assassinations were scheduled to be carried out on Saturday with the aim of stirring up national and sectarian strifes in the country
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: A series of attempts to assassinate a number of Sunni scholars, judges, and IRGC officers was thwarted
Twin shootings in Rotterdam led to multiple deaths: Dutch police
Dutch Police: Rotterdam shooter arrested

"Democracy": US reporters restricted in Jeddah, live coverage cut off

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Wall Street Journal
  • 17 Jul 2022 00:08
  • 4 Shares
  • x

Censorship and silencing are what Riyadh does best.

  • President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, far right, attend a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Associated Press)
    President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince MBS at a GCC meeting on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (AP)

Washington's double standards could not exhibit themselves more clearly: Employing "democratic values" as an excuse for intervention has become too old a tradition in destroying nations around the world that one cannot see how every US administration favored interest over values. 

The summit's reaction to the reporters came to show that not only doesn't the US take its own "democracy-o-meter" seriously, but it was also indicative of Biden's intention to reset relations with Saudi Arabia, regardless of its history of human rights violations. 

In today's episode of this theatrical showcase, US reporters with pressing questions - in other words, questions that made the Saudi de facto Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman uncomfortable - were met with plenty of censorship. 

Sensitive topics were brushed upon; analysts, according to the Wall Street Journal, are saying the Saudis have expressed outrage at some of the questions asked, such as the killing of Washington Post's journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, and whether Biden still considers Saudi Arabia a "pariah" state as it had in his political campaign. 

One US reporter asked whether MBS would apologize to Khashoggi's family - after which Saudi officials expressed outrage, in private. Upon being asked this question, MBS forced a smile, though sour, which analysts are saying is an act of defiance. Bin Salman gave a response asserting that Biden came all the way to Jeddah to ask for the Kingdom's forgiveness, especially in light of his previous campaign promises to treat Riyadh like a pariah. 

لاحظوا إضطراب محمد بن سلمان عندما سألت الصحافة الأمريكية بايدن عن جريمة إغتيال جمال خاشقجي
ملاحظة الصحافة العربية لم تجرؤ
ملاحظة ثانية قناة العربية قطعت البث بعد مرور هذا السؤال

الصحافة الأمريكية تسأل بايدن عن دم الشهيد خاشقجي أمام المسؤول عن مقتله وجريمة اغتياله pic.twitter.com/brR1lK69Km

— درة السيد (@DorraEssayed) July 15, 2022

Related News

Khashoggi's widow to sue Israeli NSO for spying on her

Khashoggi ally takes KSA, Israeli NSO to court over Pegasus hacking

Read next: Two 'once pariah, not anymore' Saudi delegations to visit US

In an attempt to prevent awkward moments, the Saudi royal court instructed its employees to prohibit any transmission equipment or boom microphones from entering the room, especially so that American journalists wouldn't be able to hear Biden's brief remarks with the Crown Prince during the meeting. 

As soon as reporters began asking the Saudi Crown prince questions, the country's broadcasting agency, Al Arabiya, cut off the live feed. 

But, that's not all. Behind closed doors was another scenario - a more real one.

According to two Saudi officials familiar with the matter, in a closed-door meeting, bin Salman was not having it when fingers were being pointed at him and his Kingdom regarding the murder of his dissident. The situation resembled a personal "but you!" back-and-forth between Biden and the Crown Prince. Bringing up the murder, bin Salman bit back by pointing out Washington's weak response to human rights issues, including the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, and the recent assassination of Palestinian reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. 

See more: The US and Saudi Arabia: Who's on top of human rights violations?

Bin Salman argued that the US cannot impose its values on Saudi Arabia, pointing to Washington's failed adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

While Washington markets itself as the beacon of human rights and the savior of the planet, the compromisation of its own fake values clearly comes to exhibit its priorities in the domestic and the international arena. Saudi Arabia is none other than a piece of the puzzle in its imperialist project in West Asia, and its human rights record looks close to that of its very close ally - drenched in blood.

  • Jamal Khashoggi
  • Mohammed Bin Salman
  • Joe Biden
  • Jeddah summit
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • 24 Sep 2023
BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
BBC to restrict top hosts' social media usage
Europe

BBC to restrict hosts' social media for chiding anti-migration remarks

Germany, 'Israel'
Europe

Germany signs 'historic' deal to acquire Israeli-made Arrow 3 system

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media briefing at the State Department, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
Europe

'Never say never': Blinken on Biden-Putin meeting in the future

Plastic found in clouds may contaminate everything we consume
US & Canada

Microplastics in clouds cause 'plastic rainfall', infect everything

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS