Saudi Arabia Is Said to Have Tortured an American Citizen

[Yosemito]

Source: New York Times

A dual citizen of Saudi Arabia and the United States had been imprisoned in the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh for about a week when he heard a knock on his door.

Guards dragged Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained physician, to another room, according to a friend who took down the prisoner’s detailed account of his treatment. Dr. Fitaihi told the friend he was slapped, blindfolded, stripped to his underwear and bound to a chair. He was shocked with electricity in what appears to have been a single session of torture that lasted about an hour.

His tormentors whipped his back so severely that he could not sleep on it for days, his friend said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals. The doctor had described the physical abuse, in general terms, to his relatives as well, a person close to them said.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-torture-american-citizen.html

---

Trump is gonna ask Prince Mohammed if it's true.
Prince Mohammed will say no.
Trump will say he believes him.
The end.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

1. Why not? Fat Donnie gave them a pass with Khashoggi's murder.

Same for Otto Warmbier's death in North Korea. If you're an authoritarian leader and you say you didn't do it, well, that's good enough for Trump.

#WeakestPresidentEver

[ck4829]

25. He really is weak

[NCjack]

2. Senate Majority Leader McConnell is the only person in USA who can coerce SaudiAgent-45 to

to get humane treatment and justice for Dr. Fitailhi. And, McConnell always acts to please SaudiAgent-45, so no help form USA is expected.

We all need to send campaign donations to McConnell's opponent in 2020.

Be sharp, be smart. Don't every go to Saudi Arabia for any reason. They don't respect basic human rights.

[47of74]

7. As long as MitchMcFuckstick is in office I'm avoiding Kentucky as much as possible.

[Volaris]

18. I drove through part of Kentucky to help a friend drive her son back to his dad in fl.

As someone who makes the trip on a pretty regular basis, the conversation went like this :

I'd slow down, this is a very rural, wooded area watch out for deer cause it's night.

I've made this trip like 6 times in 2 years. I've NEVER seen a deer. Know why ?

No, why?

This is goddamn Kentucy. Not even DEER want to live here.

Lol.

[dalton99a]

3. The Saudi government does not recognize U.S. citizenship for dual citizens

A State Department official who declined to speak for attribution said: “We routinely request consular access to all American citizens that have been detained in Saudi Arabia. In cases where the detainee possesses both Saudi and United States citizenship, the host government often does not recognize United States citizenship and denies consular access.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/world/middleeast/saudi-american-prisoner-walid-fitaihi.html

[sandensea]

5. And in turn, Republicans don't recognize U.S. citizenship for anyone named Walid Fitaihi

Or Jesús Rodríguez or any other name that doesn't sound "Uhmerican."

The times we live in.

[Volaris]

19. I vote for the day when we manufacture enough solar and wind power domestically

That some American president can not only cut regular diplonatic ties with this government of savages, but impose sanctions because we no longer NEED what they want to sell us .

If they didn't have oil, we would have let the CIA destroy their government already.

Like all nation's, I have no grudge or ill-will toward any of their people. But it's past time to tell their Ruling Family to fuck OFF, and MEAN IT.

[Grasswire2]

21. Hasn't that dependency changed?

I really don't' know, but I thought WE were exporting energy, not dependent on theirs.

[Volaris]

22. That's part of it. The acceptance of Iran as a regional player

AND potential ally in the region is the other. Small steps, but as long as they're FORWARD, I'm not opposed.

[stevesinpa]

23. it's not that they have oil,

it's that the royal family is friendly to our government. if they weren't friendly, then the CIA would have replaced them with a government that would be friendly.

[madashelltoo]

4. White House has declared

Open Season on Americans abroad. Nothing will be done because we have a draft dodging, money grubbing punk in the White House. He has defended no one foreign or domestic. He has not defended his gang members who lie for him until they can’t. Suddenly, he barely knows them. If he drops his gang like hot potatoes, any American citizen who thinks he’s coming to their rescue is stupid.

[duforsure]

6. Just another example of how weak and uncaring trump really is,

He's normalized Americans being murdered by ruthless lying corrupt dictator friends of his around the world now. We all know he is jealous of them, and how they can do anything they want to opposition without consequences.

[Devil Child]

8. Saudi Arabia has killed more American citizens than any Central or South-American dictator

The US government will continue to write them blank checks to do whatever they chose without consequence.

[llmart]

9. Boy, that Jared is really an effective ambassador for our country.

So glad he's working in the Middle East to solve all of our problems.

[miyazaki]

10. Another new meaning to a night at the Ritz. nt

[SWBTATTReg]

11. Thank god that they didn't have a bone saw readily available...scary. NT

[mwb970]

12. Get ready for trump to deny it ever happened.

MBS knew nothing about this, of course.

[FakeNoose]

13. There's no explanation in the OP as to why this doctor is being held

He's certainly not a military target or security risk. Why can't our Secretary of State make a phone call?

[defacto7]

17. I was wondering the same thing, not that it matters.

[Honeycombe8]

14. I hope that dr. left Saudi Arabia immediately and doesn't return.

Americans take their lives in their hands when they go to some ME countries. The people there don't have rights like we do, and non-citizens have even less.

[kag]

15. Unfortunately...

Thanks to W and the new head of the CIA, Gina Haspel, we (the U.S.A.) have no moral high ground here.

[SunSeeker]

16. K & R for exposure.

[lame54]

20. They deny it and I believe them

[ck4829]

24. Oh my...

[raccoon]

27. Tell you one thing, I wouldn't be caught dead in Saudi Arabia. Nt

[Blue_Tires]

28. Greenwald and Scahill were unavailable for comment

[brooklynite]

29. "RETREAT TO OUR FIVE-STAR RIYADH HOTEL IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA"

Among the most majestic five-star hotels in Saudi Arabia, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, takes guests on a captivating journey throughout its 52 acres of lavishly landscaped gardens, spacious and sumptuous accommodations, fine-dining restaurants and 62.000 square feet of elegant event space. The address of choice for discerning travelers to Riyadh, one of the city's most respected five-star hotels offers a tempting array of amenities, including:

492 guest rooms and suites, including two-bedroom Royal suites and one-bedroom Executive suites
62,000 square feet of event space, including state-of-the-art conference rooms and two grand ballrooms
Gentlemen’s-only spa offering signature rituals and treatments catering to business travelers
Majestic indoor heated pool offering garden views from its floor-to-ceiling windows
Collection of dining experiences highlighting international and local cuisine

"any publicity is good as long as they spell your name right..."