Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Articles & Testimony
The crisis casts doubt on whether Western officials can continue excusing the crown prince’s domestic authoritarianism.
This could be a chaotic week for U.S. policy in the Middle East and for oil. Responding in advance to expected comments by President Trump on “60 Minutes” last night, Saudi Arabia issued a statement of “total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it.” Al Arabiya News Channel wrote an editorial warning of 30 potential retaliatory measures against any U.S. sanctions, including “$100 oil, $200 oil, double that.” President Trump spoke this morning with King Salman and later said “rogue killers” could be responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance, but many may consider the Saudi response an admission of guilt...
