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>> that's a key point, because what we are obsessing on is the let's prove they did it. because americans have fascination and an obsession with due process, because if it happened here, that's the mode we'd be in. but it's pretty clear what happened. the more vexing question is what do you do about it? and the assumption from the administration, the spin to us is, hey, we cannot mess with this relationship. it's fragile. it is pivotal. and if we lose it, what we want for the middle east, gone. billions of dollars and weapons, gone. jobs by the thousands and thousands, gone, so be careful. >> ...

Else with their arm sales. now, again, i support the arm sales, and i hope some way can be found through this. but in diplomacy and in state craft, particularly in defense state craft, you don't take all or nothing. you look at what your situation is. and i, if i were advising the president, and i hope and trust that this is some of the advice he's getting, is you're in a strong position here. and by the way, we've needed to kind of reset this anyway for quite a while. i was very disappointed, chris, in their contributions to the counter-isis campaign. i asked again and again, including mohamm...

For the middle east, gone. billions of dollars and weapons, gone. jobs by the thousands and thousands, gone, so be careful. >> you should always be careful. but in state craft, things are never walk away or give in. you lose -- you use the leverage that you have. we have substantial leverage over the saudis. this gives us even more leverage. >> more? >> yes, because they're in a disadvantaged situation with respect to us and it is bared to everyone of how needful they are in this relationship. remember, oil isn't what it used to be. and so they need us. for example, their military isn't that p...

Given that there is still, i think, no clarity as to what has happened to mr. khashoggi, "the washington post" journalist. >> i am planning ongoing at this point. if more information comes out and changes, we can look at that. but i am planning ongoing. >> thank you. well, i guess a lot of people are going over to the investment conference. he was partially over there anyway. a lot of people are going over to the investment conference. >> joining us now michael iskov, and evelyn farkas, former deputy assistant secretary of defense and msnbc analyst. evelyn, there are plenty of harrowing things...

Evelyn, there are plenty of hauroihau haroiha harrowing things that happen in state craft, but it seems to make it an extraordinary breach. what presidents or historical context do you think of when you look at this, and what more, afghanistan, should the united states do? >> i mean, ari, it's shocking. first of all, i'm appalled at the fact our administration is behaving as if they don't know anything, because i think it's probably pretty credible as "the new york times" and other media outlets have reported that the turkish officials have said that they already told the united states and gav...