Qatar vs all others

[Gilrandir]

It looks like a string of Arab states fell foul of Qatar to the extent of cutting all relations:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...over-terrorism
Too harsh a reaction to a statement on the neccessity of dialogue with Iran?

[Shaka_Khan]

I wonder what this will do to the World Cup?

[Beskar]

I wonder what this will do to the World Cup?

Were my thoughts too.

[Fragony]

Should be boycotted anyway,it's graveyard

[AE Bravo]

nvm delete

[Gilrandir]

Some people think it is an artificial scandal aimed at raising oil prices. Otherwise it was overdoing it on the part of Saudis and their lot.

[Dâriûsh]

During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar - look!

Regime change in Doha imminent, eh?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Regime change in Doha imminent, eh?

Would it be change or just another "c'est le meme chose" sort of event?

[Gilrandir]

And Al Jazeera is closed in Saudi Arabia (and other countries are to follow suit any time soon?)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-0...rrorist-groups
I wonder if it will eventually undermine Qatar's influence in the Arab world.

[Dâriûsh]

Would it be change or just another "c'est le meme chose" sort of event?

In my humble opinion, if Saud gets a puppet in Doha, then quite a lot would change. Most of the mass media would be pro-Saudi, for one (like a while back when the emir in Doha chummed around with the Saudis), and most of the Islamic organizations around the world would suddenly find themselves bereft of any other benefactor, other than those who furthers the Saudi-aligned agenda.

Let us see if it comes to that. In any case, they will want to beat Doha into submission, or at the very least, scare them away from any future interaction with Iran.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

In my humble opinion, if Saud gets a puppet in Doha, then quite a lot would change. Most of the mass media would be pro-Saudi, for one (like a while back when the emir in Doha chummed around with the Saudis), and most of the Islamic organizations around the world would suddenly find themselves bereft of any other benefactor, other than those who furthers the Saudi-aligned agenda.

Let us see if it comes to that. In any case, they will want to beat Doha into submission, or at the very least, scare them away from any future interaction with Iran.

I have trouble with the current agenda of Iran and it's theocracy, so seeing Doha shift away from Iran's influence would be fine by me. Not happy that it would in furtherance of the Saud family, but I've had mixed feelings as to them for some time now.

[Fragony]

Tbis could just be a classic fake-news it seems

[Dâriûsh]

Tbis could just be a classic fake-news it seems

I really have to ask what you consider fake about this?

[Pannonian]

I really have to ask what you consider fake about this?

It hasn't appeared on his social media feed.

[Fragony]

I really have to ask what you consider fake about this?

Because it's really dangerous when it's genuine. I can also understand why tensions should be relieved after all that shit and the media means well in their own way. But this isn't the way it's deception

[Idaho]

I have trouble with the current agenda of Iran and it's theocracy, so seeing Doha shift away from Iran's influence would be fine by me. Not happy that it would in furtherance of the Saud family, but I've had mixed feelings as to them for some time now.

Qatar is mildly pro Saudi, in the Saudi-Iran axis. However the other Arab states have not forgiven it for allowing such a free press (free-ish) - and one that was seen as instrumental in the Arab spring uprisings.

[Gilrandir]

Meanwhile in Qatar people seem to be taking active steps against possible food shortages.
http://www.france24.com/en/20170605-...diplomatic-row

[Furunculus]

i've been reading articles for years describing how little Qatar liked using its oil wealth to fund a foriegn policy on the cheap via beardy chaps with strong moral views.

now little Qatar is getting bitch-slapped by bigger neighbours in consequence of that foriegn 'policy'. oh well! #sadface

[a completely inoffensive name]

Good move by Trump. I didn't want Qatar as our vassal anyway.

[Gilrandir]

Erdogan puts his spoke in:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pre...&NewsCatID=510

[Sarmatian]

i've been reading articles for years describing how little Qatar liked using its oil wealth to fund a foriegn policy on the cheap via beardy chaps with strong moral views.

now little Qatar is getting bitch-slapped by bigger neighbours in consequence of that foriegn 'policy'. oh well! #sadface

Interestingly enough, BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins disagrees:

This is a region largely of absolute monarchs - kings or emirs - who have in common a very firm grip on politics at home to head off any dissent that could represent a threat to their individual regime survival.

But the emir of Qatar pursues a series of policies that simply don't fit into the rigid orthodoxy expected by most of the others, notably Saudi Arabia, the superpower of Sunni Islam.

His unconventional foreign policy is seen as a threat to Sunni solidarity, particularly because the emir and his ministers promote dialogue and a search for good relations with the rival regional superpower, Shia Muslim Iran.

Saudi Arabia is deeply hostile to that approach, and now feels empowered to turn that hostility to action, in the certain knowledge that a new US president, Donald Trump, is at Saudi King Salman's side.

According to him, the real reason is that Qatar isn't openly hostile to Iran, and tries to have an independent foreign policy instead of doing what Saudi Arabia says.

[Idaho]

Yep. Don't believe the hype. This is Saudi tugging on the leashes across the region. It genuinely sees its neighbours as vassal states, and sees any independent action as alarming and dangerous. It has sold the line to Trump that they are the only Arabs to trust (and us foreign policy always likes a simple narrative).

[Pannonian]

Yep. Don't believe the hype. This is Saudi tugging on the leashes across the region. It genuinely sees its neighbours as vassal states, and sees any independent action as alarming and dangerous. It has sold the line to Trump that they are the only Arabs to trust (and us foreign policy always likes a simple narrative).

The western crusaders are far less tight with the reins than the local hegemons, Saudi and Iran. Of the two, Iran is less bad, mainly because Saudi sponsors the worst abominations in the region. And both are worse than Israel, who but for their liberals and socialists are way below the standards of the west. The sooner we reduce our energy consumption so we no longer have to rely on these arseholes the better. I prefer to rely on Russia, and I think they're opportunistic, treacherous, imperialistic bastards - but at least they're relatively sane, unlike the middle east.

[AE Bravo]

The western crusaders are far less tight with the reins than the local hegemons, Saudi and Iran. Of the two, Iran is less bad, mainly because Saudi sponsors the worst abominations in the region. And both are worse than Israel, who but for their liberals and socialists are way below the standards of the west. The sooner we reduce our energy consumption so we no longer have to rely on these arseholes the better. I prefer to rely on Russia, and I think they're opportunistic, treacherous, imperialistic bastards - but at least they're relatively sane, unlike the middle east.

The thread topic is not related to your involvement. You keep rolling that tape and snapping back to the same lines. 3,000 of those posts must be you repeating yourself. You come off as unwell, sir.

Stop cramming in your British-centric views onto every topic, it contributes nothing and we know your stance on this already.

[Idaho]

The thread topic is not related to your involvement. You keep rolling that tape and snapping back to the same lines. 3,000 of those posts must be you repeating yourself. You come off as unwell, sir.

Stop cramming in your British-centric views onto every topic, it contributes nothing and we know your stance on this already.

He's on his way to being a self righteous right wing old man.

Have you travelled much Pannonion?

[Pannonian]

He's on his way to being a self righteous right wing old man.

Have you travelled much Pannonion?

I've been around Europe and Asia.

[drone]

Judging from the disconnect between Tillerson and Trump, it looks to me like the Saudis manipulated Trump into giving them the go ahead for this during his visit. Had he consulted with Tillerson (or better yet Mattis), maybe he would have realized that blockading a country in a strategic location hosting 10K US military personnel might be a bad thing.

A nice template for any future foreign presidential trips, throw a lavish bash and you can probably con him into doing anything for you.

[Pannonian]

Judging from the disconnect between Tillerson and Trump, it looks to me like the Saudis manipulated Trump into giving them the go ahead for this during his visit. Had he consulted with Tillerson (or better yet Mattis), maybe he would have realized that blockading a country in a strategic location hosting 10K US military personnel might be a bad thing.

A nice template for any future foreign presidential trips, throw a lavish bash and you can probably con him into doing anything for you.

Read a story somewhere about the Chinese Communists and Nationalists chasing some millionaire's money to fund their war. The Nationalists gave a lavish bash with no expenses spared, while the Communists gave him a bowl of rice with salted vegetables. The millionaire opted for the Communists. Probably a proverbial story concocted by Mao's supporters, with shades of the tomb of Cyrus (supposedly sparsely fitted as befitting a warrior, but decidedly unbefitting archaeological evidence).

[drone]

Read a story somewhere about the Chinese Communists and Nationalists chasing some millionaire's money to fund their war. The Nationalists gave a lavish bash with no expenses spared, while the Communists gave him a bowl of rice with salted vegetables. The millionaire opted for the Communists. Probably a proverbial story concocted by Mao's supporters, with shades of the tomb of Cyrus (supposedly sparsely fitted as befitting a warrior, but decidedly unbefitting archaeological evidence).

Well, the millionaire in the story probably wasn't a raging narcissist so...

[Fragony]

Judging from the disconnect between Tillerson and Trump, it looks to me like the Saudis manipulated Trump into giving them the go ahead for this during his visit. Had he consulted with Tillerson (or better yet Mattis), maybe he would have realized that blockading a country in a strategic location hosting 10K US military personnel might be a bad thing.

A nice template for any future foreign presidential trips, throw a lavish bash and you can probably con him into doing anything for you.

Didn't think of that, that really makes sense

Have no pity for Qatar though, I hope everyone will boycot the WC there, building these stadiums is a nightmare for those doing it, total disregard for lives