Kashoggi

[Dillon Levenque]

It really is a bizarre story. If the Saudis had just arrested him for some bullshit charge and spirited him away, I don't think they'd be hesitant to say so. I'm sure they could fake some religious offense to hold him. I mean, they have public executions outdoors for religious crimes. They're not bashful. Yet they say nothing other than that he left the embassy under his own power, which is manifestly untrue. I mean, we'd see him then, wouldn't we?

I don't know if Erdogan's story is accurate (after all, he's Erdogan) but it is certain that something bad happened. Very bad. I've been following this on BBC Online since it started, and stories change almost daily. If nothing else, it would be nice if the world could see some convincing proof of exactly what happened. We've already got a crime against diplomacy—a man walked into his embassy and never walked out again—but what the hell happened?

 

[EmpressOfCommunism]

I'm not sure if he's dead, but he's probably in some secret prison if alive. People like this, with this much corrupt power, don't just want their enemies to die. They want them to SUFFER.

 

[Cristiano]

Apple watch worn by Saudi journalist may have transmitted evidence of his death, Turkish paper reports

 

[Ellie]

Apple watch worn by Saudi journalist may have transmitted evidence of his death, Turkish paper reports

CNN specialist (ETA Robert Baer, former CIA operative) said today it was very unlikely the watch was able to transmit data from inside the embassy due to the distance involved, suggesting Turkey had it bugged & was listening to the whole incident but citing the phone data to cover their rears.
Idk but some of you who use these devices may well have more of an idea?
Plus why have 15 guys fly in in private planes to do this? Overkill (literally) much?

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

CNN specialist (ETA Robert Baer, former CIA operative) said today it was very unlikely the watch was able to transmit data from inside the embassy due to the distance involved, suggesting Turkey had it bugged & was listening to the whole incident but citing the phone data to cover their rears.

What? That doesn't make any sense. The article says the audio was uploaded to the iCloud. All that requires is a cell connection, so what is this about "distance"?

 

[Ellie]

What? That doesn't make any sense. The article says the audio was uploaded to the iCloud. All that requires is a cell connection, so what is this about "distance"?

It was not immediately clear whether it would have been technically feasible for Khashoggi's Apple Watch to transfer audio to his phone, which he had given to his fiancée before entering the consulate. CNN cannot independently verify the Sabah report and is seeking comment from both Saudi and Turkish officials. CNN intelligence and security analyst Robert Baer cast doubt on the claim, saying it was too far for a Bluetooth connection and that Khashoggi was unlikely to have anticipated transmitting a recording in advance. "I think what's happened, clearly, is the Turks have the Saudi consulate wired, they have transmitters," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "The Turks don't trust any diplomats and they have been into most embassies and most consulates in Turkey and they listen to what's going on -- and if indeed there are tapes proving that he was murdered, I think that's probably how they know. But the Turks are very reluctant to admit that."

I really wouldn't have any idea what is possible tech-wise, but hoped someone here might explain.

 

[Tigar]

I'm seeing NOTHING about this on most news stations, just on Twitter. The base has no clue, and since it's about the Middle East, I'm sure they think the guy deserved what he got

NPR has been covering it, but the rethuglicans won’t listen to that.

 

[Cristiano]

What? That doesn't make any sense. The article says the audio was uploaded to the iCloud. All that requires is a cell connection, so what is this about "distance"?

The article is referring to bluetooth distance. If he had the watch on but did not have his phone on him in range, it would be an issue unless he had the model with its own cell radio in it.

 

[Jolene Benoir]

The article also states that the Turks have said that the murderers attempted passwords numerous times before finally getting into the device using his fingerprint. Apple states that is not a feature of the device.

That gives some credence to the idea that they might be sharing what they know from other sources such as having it bugged, but wouldn't want to admit to that.

 

[Kara Spengler]

And whatever happened to that inauguration money?.

Well, he needed it for MASSIVE crowds (booing him from home), right?

 

[Pamela]

Opinion | Will you work for a murderer? That’s the question a host of ex-generals, diplomats and spies may soon face.

“
So how might, say, a retired Air Force colonel explain his work when his daughter asks, “Daddy, why do you work for a murderer?”

“Well, it helps to pay your future college tuition,” he might answer. “And besides, I finally get to fly business class. Riyadh is no picnic, but they always spring for a couple of nights in a five-star hotel in London or Abu Dhabi on the way over and the way back. . . . And if I don’t do it, someone else will.”

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

The article is referring to bluetooth distance. If he had the watch on but did not have his phone on him in range, it would be an issue unless he had the model with its own cell radio in it.

Yeah that's the thing. Last year's Apple Watch has LTE, it doesn't need a Bluetooth connection with a phone, except during initial setup.

 

[Cristiano]

Yeah that's the thing. Last year's Apple Watch has LTE, it doesn't need a Bluetooth connection with a phone, except during initial setup.

You can buy that model without the LTE:

Apple Watch Series 3 (non-LTE) review: third time’s the charm

That assumes he had that model anyway. All of it is just speculation at this point.

 

[Pamela]

What I wonder, if the watch story is true, why would he not announce at some point that everything is being recorded.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

What I wonder, if the watch story is true, why would he not announce at some point that everything is being recorded.

Speculative, of course: even if he didn't realize he was a dead man the moment he was accosted by the kill team, he knew he was completely at their mercy. If he told them about the watch, they would just remove and destroy it and THEN torture and kill him. Whereas if he doesn't tell them it's recording, it catches everything and by the time they even start caring about his watch it's too late for them, evidence-wise.

I don't agree with the CNN analyst's doubt that Kashoggi would've thought to turn on the recording feature of the watch before entering the embassy. He's a journalist, and he knows that he has criticized Saudi royals in the past. If he was aware enough of the possible risks of entering the Saudi consulate to leave his phone with his fiance, he was aware enough to start recording before he went in.

But, if Apple watches can't actually be accessed by a fingerprint, that's a big hit obviously to the story. In light of that I do think the incident was more likely recorded by other means and the Turkish government is trying to protect those methods.

 

[Pamela]

I imagine something like “Ow, stop hitting me, Muhammed, I am sending recordings to the cloud right now!”

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Yeah that's the thing. Last year's Apple Watch has LTE, it doesn't need a Bluetooth connection with a phone, except during initial setup.

Even if the watch had a cell radio, can it link directly to a phone using it? Or does the watch have an iCloud app that supports streaming from the watch to iCloud storage?

I've got an old Samsung watch that has a cell radio but, as far as I know, it still requires Bluetooth to link to my phone.

 

[Cristiano]

Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation, sources say

 

[Jolene Benoir]

Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation, sources say

Holy Shit. Why would there even be an interrogation? The man went there to get papers for his upcoming wedding.

These fuckers. 9/11. Never held accountable. Killing journalists. What's a little dismembering among allies? Fuck me.

Edit: And...screw Obama for this.

Why Obama Vetoed the 9/11 Saudi Arabia Lawsuit Bill - The Atlantic

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Well, the name and family of Khashoggi is for sure not unknown. Adnan Khashoggi was a world famous and very rich, somewhat shady arms dealer.