Why Did Turkey Not Know About Khashoggi’s Assassination Plot?

Despite ongoing debates about the surveillance capabilities and intelligence of various countries involved in Jamal Khashoggi's tragic death, the question of why Turkey was not aware of the Saudi plot to kill him remains contentious. This article delves into the complexities of intelligence gathering, the limitations of surveillance, and the potential reasons behind the Turkish government's apparent lack of knowledge.

The Role of Saud al-Qahtani

Initial reports suggest that the Turkish government may have intercepted a Skype session, possibly involving Saud al-Qahtani, a close advisor to the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. However, this indicates only a potential awareness of a meeting rather than advance knowledge of the assassination plot.

Khashoggi’s Status and Legal Obligations

Despite Khashoggi's status as an American PR/Green Card holder, if he were to be kidnapped or murdered, the United States would have a legal obligation to inform him of such risks. However, given the lack of such information, it is clear that the CIA was not made aware of the planned operation, leaving questions about the extent of their communication with foreign intelligence agencies.

The Organizational Structure of the Assassination

The assassination plot was likely organized in Saudi Arabia by those close to the Crown Prince and trusted by him. The highly secretive and tribal nature of the Wahhabi society ensures that such operations are often kept under strict confidentiality. This underscores the challenges faced by intelligence agencies in predicting and preventing such covert actions.

The Limitations of Surveillance Networks

Given that the Turkish listening devices were placed in the Saudi consulate in Ankara, it is logical to assume that their primary purpose was to collect intelligence rather than to monitor ongoing operations. This focus on intelligence collection implies that recognition of the planned murder would have required ongoing and extensive analysis of recorded conversations, a task that is both complex and resource-intensive.

The Nature of the Plans and Communications

For the assassination plot to be clearly identified, it would have required detailed and explicit communications about the specific target and the nature of the operation. These types of instructions are often conveyed in layers of communication, making it difficult for surveillance systems to gather all necessary information without immediate analysis and interpretation.

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, while Turkey may have had an operational presence to collect intelligence, it faced significant challenges in interpreting and acting upon the information available. The highly secretive and planned nature of the operation, combined with the limitations of intelligence gathering, contributed to the Turkish government's lack of awareness regarding the planned assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.

Key Points:

Initial Turkish surveillance of a Skype session involving Saud al-Qahtani. The United States’ legal obligation to inform Khashoggi of potential risks. The Saudi Crown Prince's trusted advisors organizing the operation in Saudi Arabia. Primary purpose of Turkish surveillance networks being intelligence collection, not real-time operation monitoring. Complex nature of planning and communications required to identify the assassination plot.