? HOW FAR MALI SAGA GOES

Removing the name of Robert Mali from official twitter accounts of US State Department simply implies that he has been suspended indefinitely and for uncertain time. It is, however, certain that he will never ever returns to his previous job to reassume the highly sensitive and critical works he used to do for a while. But we have not to lose sight of the fact that this will not be the end of the saga neither for Mali himself nor for Biden administration now entrapped with various problems. Now Federal Bureau of investigation has already been in the fray and will continue until the reasons for Mali abdication is quite clear at least for the Congress that is following the case seriously. Moreover this case apparently is not only an administrative misappropriation that usually can be dealt with in State Department. In other words when FBI comes in, it is certainly something beyond that and probably will have legal and illegitimate consequences for Mali ,State Department and the US administration at large. Though there are different observations on the part of mass media, independent circles as well as congress, nobody may reject what Mali has done, mainly, is related to what Israelis   have not been opting to, and liked.  Second, still worse, response of US Department of State has not either meaningful or convincing to Congress and it has asked the department to report and disclose the story at least behind the closed doors. It has also warned, should the State Department reaction not be convincing, and then it would turn to independent observers to investigate for enlightening the facts.  Undoubtedly here again the pressure of Israel lobby   is present. On the other hand if the Mali has not only misappropriate his job and his doings, then it  falls within illegal and criminal grounds, and it will be anybody guess, as already being  a motto in Washington circles,  another” GATE”!! must be expected. There is no doubt it will be a heavy price the Biden Administration must probably pay.

There are reports around that American public (at least %50) have not approved his economic policies that has brought nothing but inflation and people are worse off. Moreover, the great challenge now President Biden faces is his ability to lead, mostly because of his age. He is now 82, the oldest president in American history. It is worthy to note that presidential election is coming forth and this may be a good opportunity for Bidens’ rivals, mostly Republicans, to seize.

By and large, the future scope for President Biden seems a little murky and quiet challenging and the potential “Mali- Gate” definitely will not help him.

Abdolreza Ghofrani

Senior International Analyst

Tehran 15 July 2023