11/14/2018

HUMAN RIGHTS/MEDIA/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The ‘America First’ Trump administration has surprised critics with its willingness to sanction human rights abusers around the world. But with the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, that willingness is facing its biggest test yet. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has permitted the use of a relatively new law, known as the Global Magnitsky Act, to slap economic penalties on more than 80 people and entities around the world strictly for human rights violations and corruption. The targets range from Myanmar generals to Nicaraguan officials to a former Gambian president. For the most part, the targets have been people or organizations in places not especially vital to U.S. strategic interests. That’s not the case with Khashoggi’s death, which has been blamed on officials at the highest level of the Saudi Arabia government, a critical U.S. ally in the Middle East.”

Nahal Toosi, “Khashoggi killing tests Trump’s love of sanctions,” Politico, November 14, 2018 8:29 am