Despots Stepping Up the Violence and Killing Enemies

PizzaReverend · 2018-10-08T15:36:54.307Z

This is something I wanted to bring up the past couple days while we were all focusing on Kavs ascension. But some really scary stuff is happening in the world, and surprisingly, it’s best summed up by a tweet:

twitter.com

Daniel W. Drezner

@dandrezner

In the past few days, China has disappeared two prominent citizens, Russia has killed a prosecutor, and Saudi Arabia has apparently murdered a journalist in one of its consulates. In the old days a US administration would’ve cared about these things & that would have mattered.

9:14 PM - 6 Oct 2018 20K 8.6K

Here are links to full stories:

nytimes.com – 7 Oct 18

Interpol Chief Meng Hongwei Quits and Is Detained by China (Published 2018)

Days after he was reported missing, a Chinese agency announced it had Mr. Meng under investigation. Hours earlier, his wife said he had sent her an emoji of a knife.

The Chinese disappeared the head of Interpol, and didn’t tell anyone why until today - accusing him of corruption.

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Russian Prosecutor Linked to Trump Tower Lawyer Dies In Chopper Crash

A top Russian official accused of directing Natalya Veselnitskaya, the lawyer who met with senior officials of U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign in Trump Tower in 2016, has died in a helicopter crash.

This Russian Prosecutor linked to Natalya Veselnitskaya - yes that Natalya Veselnitskaya - died suddenly in a helicopter crash. Clearly a freak accident, especially the part where bullets were found in the pilots body:

Metro – 8 Oct 18

Two bullets 'found in body of pilot' flying Putin prosecutor linked to Trump

The official version is that the 'overloaded' helicopter crashed after clipping trees in Russia.

And then even more brazenly and horrifically…

CNN – 7 Oct 18

Erdogan on Saudi journalist missing in Turkey: 'I am chasing' investigation |...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that he is following up on the investigation into Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul last week.

A Washington Post journalist is believed to have been murdered inside the Saudia Arabic consulate in Turkey.

The Authoritarians are getting bolder and harsher. This is just a small number of things Russia, China and the Saudis have been getting away with.

Has the President (or really any American) addressed any of this?

MichaelScarn · 2018-10-08T15:38:36.881Z

Tough guys. Strong leaders. Not like that wet noodle Obama.

WildRose · 2018-10-08T21:22:48.810Z

Such disappearances have been happening in communist countries for a hundred years in far larger numbers than you are outlining above.

In many cases hundreds of thousands, or even millions have been disappeared completely never to be heard from again for hears, decades, or eternity.

This is part of why we consider them to be very bad people.