Ploughing a lonely
Furrow
Qatar is a country that is part
of the greater Arab fraternity, especially when seen geographically in the
context of the Arab peninsula. It is pertinent to note the actions coming from
that country appears to lend credence to the belief that it is following a separate
& lonely course. Look at it from its actions in the Arab world, especially
with regard to its immediate interests with relation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, UAE & Yemen commonly known as the GCC countries.
The Al Jazeera channel which is majorly
owned by the Royal family of Qatar was hugely critical of the Bahrain
government in its handling of the uprising in that country. One would have
expected Qatar to keep the tone and tenor subdued keeping in mind the age old
relations and family connections. Incidentally the fourth wife of the King of
Bahrain is of Qatari origin.
The Saudi monarchy had a problem
with the Shia population in the eastern provinces around Al-Khobar where a mini
revolt on the lines of the Bahrain uprising was dealt with a heavy hand, which
was also highlighted by this channel, with no consideration to the fact that
Saudi Arabia is a mighty military power in the confederation of nations in the
Arabian Peninsula many times larger in all parameters compared to Qatar.
The GCC (Gulf cooperation Council)
sent a military force to Bahrain to protect the government against home grown
rebellion. This force had majority participation from Saudi Arabia, UAE &
Kuwait but only a token representation from Qatar. The Qatari Emir also did not
take a lead in denouncing the uprising nor did it issue critical statements in
the intervening period.
Consider this with the Libyan uprising
against Gaddafi, where Qatar jumped ahead of other stronger nations in the
Peninsula to offer Oil trading and funding for the rebel faction. It was ready
to act as if it was a major force in the region and took no time in supporting
the Islamists. The same act is repeated in Syria where it is believed that the
Qatari government is keen on helping the Islamists and not the secular rebels
which the Saudis and the other confederation of Arab nations support. All the
GCC countries have their currencies pegged to the US Dollar; however Qatar has
recently started making noises on delinking the Qatari currency to the US
Dollar. Qatar has allowed the Taliban to open its overseas office in the
country, when others are fighting them on their borders.
When the Morsi government came to
power in Egypt, it was this confederation of states led by Saudi Arabia,
including Qatar that offered a huge financial package to the new government to
tide over financial difficulties. Even as the Morsi government falls and there
are whispers of US withdrawing its yearly grant, the Saudi Government has
already announced its support to the military establishment in Egypt. Qatar is
nowhere in the picture here, probably because it has already shown its cards by
backing the Islamists in the region. This may be a way to keep them away from
its own hinterland.
Again while Iran flexes its
muscle in the region, and has dreams of extending its hegemony in the Persian
gulf region, the Saudis, Kuwaitis,
Bahraini’s and the UAE government have been shouting hoarse over its covert
operations and influence on terrorists and anti-social elements, here too Qatar
seems unruffled and unaffected and not unduly worried of the consequences.
No matter how small a state Qatar
is, it is always trying to tread a different path from the other GCC countries,
probably trying to appease the Islamists and their backers to keep them off its
back. In the process Qatar is ploughing a lonely furrow hoping to be a regional
powerbroker bigger than its size and scope. There seems to be less
consideration for brotherly ties and deep rooted cooperation with the other GCC
countries where the bonds of cultural and family ties are deeply entrenched.
Robin Varghese
August 19, 2013
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