The split between Qatar and other Gulf Arab states, dominated by Saudi Arabia, continues to loom large in Middle East diplomacy today with the other nations in the region feeling obliged to react. The Maldives has cut ties with Qatar, as have the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, and the Tobruk parliament in Libya.
Israel also issued a statement backing the general idea of hostility toward Qatar, although they didn’t really have relations to break in the first place, with Defense Secretary Avigdor Lieberman excitedly calling it an “opportunity” for Israel.
On the other side of the coin, Turkey’s President Erdogan issued a statement of disapproval toward the moves against Qatar, saying that they believe the region needs unity now more than ever. Iran had also issued a statement the previous day criticizing the move.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Hayder Abadi issued his own statement on the matter, saying that Iraq is eager to not take sides in the dispute, and hoping they can keep good relations with everyone on both sides. It may serve them well to stay out of the incident, which is economically costly for all involved, but with everyone else picking sides it may be hard to sustain neutrality.
Well, if israel approves…
Step one to a boycott, sanctions and invasion of Iran.
My, but how our Empire does so love to orchestrate
such grand and awesome things.
Israel sees an opportunity! Enough said.
When it comes to Iraq, I think that the difficulty in remaining neutral is being misinterpreted. The difficulty is NOT in not being able to stand up to Saudi Arabia — but to stem the dangerously built up hatred of Saudi Arabia in the mind of average person. For years, Saudis are fuming against anything Shia. It is Saudi interference that has resulted in weaponizing Wahhabi-adoring cults, be that ISIS or any of the thousands local fanatics. It is Saudi Arabia — and only Saudi Arabia, that is fanatically opposed to Shia population having a voice in their own countries — be that Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Kuweit. With Kuweit being on the border of both Iraq and Iran, and having 40% Shia population — it is sheer madness for Saudis to lean on all Gulf countries to support its anti-Shia rant. It is sheer maddness to say that Iran, being the largest Shia country is thus in charge, and controlling all Shia population whereever they may live. So, the challenge for Iraq is just to prevent popular outrage to get out of control, to insure that Saudi baby — ISIS — does not regroup. To that end, Iraq is closing some border points with Saudi Arabia. This preventative and defensive move — is actually putting Saudi Arabia in notice.
One has to keep in mind that Saudi Arabia in fact does not have much support. Egypt has opportunistically joined in — to just show its dissaproval of the Moslem Brotherhood branch in Qatar. This has become a red herring — but the one Egypt has to staunchly uphold for the sake of its own stability. Al-Jazeera WAS an independent voice — but ONLY until 2014, when US supported Saudi Arabia against MB Morsi election. After the pressure was put on Qatar — the then Emir of Qatar abdicated, and his son took over. From that point on, Qatar was not really involved in regional issues, and Al-Jazeera became another CNN. To our viewers it may sound accurate and independent — but it has not been since 2014. In fact, it has been used in a classical imperial style — publishing information that was guaranteed to poke at our allies, as a unique two-by-four. It became what most media in Eastern Europe is today — a means to put pressure on internal politics in favor of globalist goals. At this point, such Al-Jazeera is not needed by anyone. For example, the globalist owners’ pressure on Beirut branch of Al-Jazeera to limit and twist their reporting on Syria resulted in the entire Bureau to hand in notice — starting with bureau chief. The reason MB is tolerated in Kuweit is simple: just to keep pressure on Egypt and pry concessions in the name of democracy. Saudi Arabia is angry with Qatar for NOT giving a full throated support against Iran. But Egypt just cares about ending the Al-Jazeera regular praising of democratic virtues of Morsi election. Egypt has been confronted at the time with a dangerous rebellion of Saudi sponsored Salafi movement. This is the side of Egypt’s story that is being kept out of standard narrative. The reason is, it is in nobody’s interest to talk about it. Saudi Arabia radicalized millions of poor masses, and they are a constant threat to Egypt’s stability. Moslem Brotherhood, a secular version of governance is a huge threat to monarchies, and Egypt’s military had to sacrifice it to prevent civil war. Now, Egypt must stay the course — not allow either MB nor Salafi parties to get out of control.
What is Egypt looking for to resolve in this spat? For one, to get the globalistsbout of Qatar, those same types that run A-Jazeera and give a platform to a strange mix of MB and Salafi globalism. Egypt has no Iran issue. As for such luminaries as Maldives, the non-existent Saudi sponsored “government” of Yemen — it is not worth wasting words. Tobruk government in Libya does what Egypt does. With UAE having a large Iranian population, and Bahrain oppressing over 80% of their population, with Kuweit being nervous, and Oman on the sidelines — Saudi Arabia cannot find support for its Sunni alliance against Shia. As for US, it will just try to get better deal for its base. But this is a short sighted position.
With Iraq intent in securing borders with Syria and in cooperation with Syria — US bombing Syrian positions that are advancing to borders — is another stupidity. Instead of working with the givernments and securing US interests — it is still working with marginal players and terrorists of all stripes.