It is an astonishing turnaround: A Mideast leader vilified just five years ago for the murder and dismemberment of prominent democracy advocate Jamal Khashoggi is now being eagerly courted by Washington and its Western allies.
Not because Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has done anything to mend fences with his international critics. He has shrugged off human rights concerns, touting his vision of his country as a less oil-dependent economy, a leading player in world sports, and a major power on the world stage.
