"The truth about Qatar" Topic

"The Qatar I lived in for eight years is unrecognizable from the television ads running in Washington. In these Saudi-sponsored spots, Trump administration officials denounce Qatar's aid to terrorists while fires burn in the background. This is a harsh and largely unfair judgment of the peaceful, globalist city-state I knew.

Qatar is a wealthy, militarily weak mini-state in an unusually dangerous neighborhood, and yet it has prudently pursued a foreign policy designed to avoid making enemies — of being "friends to everybody." This has clearly included quiet support for groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and likely radical jihadists that many would label terrorists. But it has also meant hosting the enormous Al Udeid Air Base, the regional headquarters of the U.S. Central Command housing more than 10,000 Americans in comfort and safety. And the U.S. military was welcomed in Qatar after being pressured to leave Saudi Arabia. Even now, the U.S. military does not express alarm about its hosts' alleged ties to terrorists.

Qatar itself has pursued liberal globalization with a vengeance, a pursuit that meshes with Western values far more than with its fundamentalist neighbors. Leaving aside its vast investments in Western economies, Qatar's public policies have aimed to make it a respected global citizen…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The truth is, my son is a chaplain and has been sent to Qatar. I find the sudden emergence of the place in the Medía, coinciding with his posting there, quite ironic. We worry when our family members are sent overseas anyway. But to have a flare up almost the instant my son goes to his first foreign assignment just feels weird.

Best of luck for him my friend!.

Amicalement
Armand

Like its neighbour, Janus, pursuing goals that do not fit with the facade.
Successfully.

My brother was stationed Al Udeid several rotations and some during the shooting war, with no issues. He called it "doing the Deed in the Gutter". It was a safe enough post then.