In politics, most questions are rhetorical. And note, I’m not asking why Senator Graham is obsessed. That one is old news.

Members of the Trump administration briefed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday evening about an investigation, ordered by members of the panel last year, into Khashoggi’s death.

But Republicans on the committee appeared underwhelmed by the meeting, indicating that they didn’t learn new information. 

It didn’t inform them that…

1. Jamal Khashoggi was a Qatari lobbyist

2. An old friend of Osama bin Laden

3. A supporter of Muslim Brotherhood expansionism

That’s not new stuff. But it would be new to this gang.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the panel, told reporters that it was “a complete waste of time.” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) added that he heard nothing that changed his mind about the killing.
 
“The Senate will have to decide whether it’s going to impose its own sanctions,” Rubio said. 

I didn’t realize the Senate was run out of Doha. But I agree with Senator Graham, just not in the way he means it.

This is a waste of time.

Khashoggi was killed, either at the behest of his Turkish Islamist hosts, or by the Saudis, due to a conflict between them and the Qataris over the Muslim Brotherhood. The only connection to America is that the Washington Post allowed the Qataris to plant their propaganda in its paper. 

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said that the briefing was “frustrating” for many members of the panel. 
 
“We learned very little,” Romney added.

Just when it seemed like the Islamist caucus was short a member.