Trouble in the Gulf: Ties to Qatar cut

[luiz]

Fair enough. Got any documented citations by credible sources on what the Quataris are doing? This hasn't been on my radar

If you have the time, read this whole thing (it's wiki but has citations a-plenty).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_and_state-sponsored_terrorism

Qatar has been so shameless in its financing of extremism that it would be comical if it were not so tragical.

 

[warpus]

Hey thanks for actually providing a credible source, that almost never happens when I ask

 

[innonimatu]

And they will fail. That base is way too important to our Central Asian and Middle Eastern operations to just give up.

This happening so soon after Trump's visit, I cannot believe it to be a mere coincidence. It may have been discussed. Or be a result from that visit.

 

[Kyriakos]

It was about time they killed Qatar and left the region with the nice guys like Saudi.

/facepalm

 

[Commodore]

This happening so soon after Trump's visit, I cannot believe it to be a mere coincidence. It may have been discussed. Or be a result from that visit.

I've thought of that. Could also be they took his talk of cracking down on terrorism in the region seriously. Of course the only way they would do that is if Trump made some pretty serious threats when the cameras weren't looking.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I've thought of that. Could also be they took his talk of cracking down on terrorism in the region seriously. Of course the only way they would do that is if Trump made some pretty serious threats when the cameras weren't looking.

Could be that they recognized "This idiot will let us get away with anything for the next few months rather than risk 'looking stupid' for kissing our butts right before we went off the rails."

 

[Leoreth]

It's not like this is in any way bad for Trump. He already has two easy options:

1) do nothing
2) endorse this as fighting Iran or ISIS, which is the same in Trump world anyway

The Trump administration does not care about throwing strategic allies under the bus so it doesn't matter.

 

[red_elk]

Iran offered to send food aid in case if SA and Emirates cut exports.
Russia only "expresses deep concerns".
Naturally, Qatar should come to the dark side.

 

[innonimatu]

This is one weird situation.

According to the published news, it appears that it was a saudi initiative, designed to pressure the ruler of Qatar to change policy. But unless he's sufficiently easy to intimidate or a real threat is hanging (coup?) the end result can be the opposite, the saudis lose an ally and Iran gains one. What is it that we do now know?

 

[Cutlass]

Saudi Arabia pretending that anyone else is responsible for Islamic extremism is irony on steroids.

 

[danjuno]

Look at the map.
Qatar is like an airstrip aiming at Iran, on the same natural gas field as Iran.

And how do you handle individual rich citizens of the Arab world to fund Islamism ?
During the UK-IRA conflict, with lots of terrorist attack, the prime funding source of the IRA were rich US citizens.
When Thatcher asked Reagan to stop this, it decreased, but never stopped.

EDIT
Total casualties of that conflict 3.5k, half of them civilians.

As far as I can tell, Saudi and the rest are upset with Qatar being too friendly with Iran.

All the crying over support for terrorism and whatnot is rich, coming from these people...

Saudi Arabia pretending that anyone else is responsible for Islamic extremism is irony on steroids.

Coincidentally, it's equally as rich as the British Government labelling the IRA terrorists. "You see, it's only terrorism when non-state actors do it."

 

[red_elk]

Saudi Arabia pretending that anyone else is responsible for Islamic extremism is irony on steroids.

Qatar is responsible for wrong sort of Islamic extremism, which is not approved by Saudi Arabia!

 

[Zkribbler]

I'm amazed to see that all these governments have been funding groups which have vowed to overthrow them.

I'd like to stay and discuss the matter further, but I forgot my aluminum foil hat, and I feel under dressed.

 

[Takhisis]

I will celebrate if the Saudi government is punished too.

I knew that you had it in you to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

 

[Ajidica]

I'd like to stay and discuss the matter further, but I forgot my aluminum foil hat, and I feel under dressed.

Dealing with proxy conflicts and militant funding in the Middle East requires a permanent aluminum hat. Even then, sanity is not guaranteed.

 

[Takhisis]

Nor required!

Naturally, Qatar should come to the dark side.

What do you have in the form of baked goods?

 

[luiz]

I knew that you had it in you to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

I would reply, but apparently criticizing the Great Leader, the Hugo Chavez of the British Isles, is against forum rules.

So going back to Qatar. It's worse than Saudi Arabia, it's the main sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world, it openly supports Hamas (much like the Great Leader)... So screw them.

Moderator Action: Criticising our Great Leader (long may he reign!) is not against the rules, but discussing moderator actions in public is. FP
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Tahuti]

Well, Trump says he wants to pivot to Russia. If he is serious about that, the most logical choice would be to root for Qatar, then normalise relations with Iran with Qatar's help. That way, the US and Russia will be more closely aligned on ME policy.

 

[luiz]

Well, Trump says he wants to pivot to Russia. If he is serious about that, the most logical choice would be to root for Qatar, then normalise relations with Iran with Qatar's help. That way, the US and Russia will be more closely aligned on ME policy.

I don't think even Trump knows what he wants at this point. If anyone had any doubts that US foreign policy could become any weirder and more conflicted, those doubts have been answered.

 

[Hrothbern]

Coincidentally, it's equally as rich as the British Government labelling the IRA terrorists. "You see, it's only terrorism when non-state actors do it."

That's why I stated: "During the UK-IRA conflict, with lots of terrorist attack..."
But between all the violence there were also actions of the IRA that I consider as of a terrorist nature

Back to Qatar. I did now a lot of reading on the state support of Qatar and the other Arab countries to all kind of organisations and I do agree meanwhile with @luiz that Qatar is the worst of the regio.

Whether that support is the reason why this sudden action took place of the other Arab countries ?
Could also be that they just don't like a fellow absolute monarchy supporting grassroot movements nearby.