Saudi Conspiracy Theories

Last night I heard at least two different individuals on two different news networks question why it was that the Saudis could kill al-Moqrin after Johnson was killed, but not before. The implication was clear, and in at least of the cases quite explicit: the Saudis simply didn't care about saving Johnson, even though they probably could have,

Now, such speculation strikes me as highly problematic for at least two reasons. First, within hours of the event there was hardly sufficient information to lead to such a conclusion. Second, it strikes me that the Saudis had every incentive to stop the Johnson killing, as if the terrorists are successful in scaring off US workers from the oil industry, the the Saudi economy will suffer. As much as we need Saudi oil, they need as well to help get the oil out of the ground, among other things.

It seems that with the scant information available, that the logical conclusion is that something about the disposal of the body or the delivery of the video tipped off the Saudi security forces leading to al-Moqrin's whereabouts and his subsequent death.