Posted on 06/04/2017 10:18:49 PM PDT by Rabin
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels also expelled Qatar from its alliance because of Doha's practices of strengthen terrorism. Qatar has categorically denied supporting; Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and is confidant US President Donald Trump will not last in power.
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
Veterans of the U.S. military were paid thousands of dollars in travel costs and hotel bills by Saudi Arabia to lobby Congress against a law allowing the families of victims from the September 11, 2001 terror attacks to sue the Kingdom.
The AP reported that the veterans, some of whom did not know the Saudi government was paying for the trips, were recruited by lobbyists, asked to don their medals and lobby lawmakers in Washington, warning them of the possible unintended consequences of the law.
http://www.newsweek.com/saudi-arabia-paid-veterans-lobby-congress-against-911-lawsuit-law-607655
Saudi Arabia has greatly expanded its spending on influence peddling during the past two years. Since 2015 the kingdom has expanded the number of foreign agents on retainer to 145 individuals, up from 25 registered agents during the previous two-year period.
One of Saudi Arabia biggest allies, however, is the United States, which also happens to maintain its biggest concentration of military personnel in the Middle East at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.
The sprawling base 20 miles southwest of the Qatari capital of Doha is home to some 11,000 US military personnel.
The base, which boasts one of the longest runways in the Persian Gulf at 12,500 feet, is a strategically important facility that can accommodate up to 120 aircraft.
http://www.kitv.com/story/35588018/qatar-hosts-largest-us-military-base-in-mideast
Some of the most notable Qataris who have financed terrorists abroad are:
Abdulrahman Al-Nuaimi:
Abdulrahman Al-Nuaimi is one of the most prominent financiers of terrorist groups, primarily al-Qaeda. According to the US Department of the Treasury, Al-Naimi transferred large sums of money from Qatar to al-Qaeda in Syria via al-Qaeda representative Abu Khaled al-Suri.
US intelligence revealed that al-Nuaimi also financed al-Qaeda in Iraq back in 2001 by sending $2 mln per month to the organization for a year.
Furthermore, the US Treasury proved that Al-Nuaimi financed Al-Shabaab Militant group in Somalia after he had converted a quarter of a million dollars in mid-2012.
Khalifa Muhammad Turki al-Subaiy:
Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan also had a large share of Qatari funds, through Khalifa Muhammad Turki al-Subaiy.
He is a former employee of the Central Bank of Qatar and has been accused of providing financial support to al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and al-Qaeda fighters in Syria who moved from Afghanistan.
Abdul Latif Al-Kawari and Issa Al-Baker:
Abdul Latif al-Kawari and Issa al-Baker were also officially accused of funding al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
In early 2012, al-Kawari facilitated the international travel of a courier carrying tens of thousands of dollars designated for Al Qaeda. Later that same year he, according the US Treasury Department, “worked…to coordinate the delivery of funding from Qatari financiers intended to support Al Qaeda and to deliver receipts confirming that al-Qaeda received foreign donor funding from Qatar-based extremists.”
Saad al-Kaabi:
A donation campaign by Saad al-Kaabi was also carried out in favor of the Nusra Front in Syria three years ago.
Salim Hasan Khalifa and Rashid al-Kawari:
The two Qatar partners Salim Hassan Khalifa and Rashid al-Kawari, who are listed on the international terrorism list, are accused of funding al-Qaeda with hundreds of thousands of dollars, providing logistical support and facilitating the transfer of extremist elements to Afghanistan.
Perhaps Qatar/Jazeera will publish a similar list of Saudis ;-)
Arab Countries gave #Qatar citizens 14 days to self deport and are ejecting diplomats.
https://twitter.com/peddoc63/status/871697548871962624
Is Saudi planning this:
It is not hard to see, that if Saudis are considering a military or Crimean-style annexation, the right time to act would be now. In a year or two the Saudi Arabian armed forces would have to use considerably more force to defeat Qatar. Prolonged operation against Qatar Armed Forces would stretch Saudi forces, that already battling both domestic extremists and Houthi-rebels in Yemen, very thin.
A situation where Qatar, equipped with the cutting edge weaponry, decides to align itself with the Iranians to fend of Saudi aggression is something that no-one in Riyadh is willing to risk.
https://medium.com/@pmakela1/saudi-arabia-sees-a-window-closing-with-qatar-e65d6d9721fa
Is that a picture of the Clinton Library? Looks like something from a trailer park.
Libya and Maldives has stopped diplomatic relations with Qatar. Jordan next?
x x x x x
A diplomatic rift between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours may cost them billions of dollars by slowing trade and investment and making it more expensive for the region to borrow money as it grapples with low oil prices.
With an estimated US$335 billion of assets in its sovereign wealth fund, Qatar looks able to avoid an economic crisis over the decision on Monday by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to cut air, sea and land transport links.
The tiny state’s newly expanded port facilities mean it can continue liquefied natural gas exports that earned it a trade surplus of US$2.7 billion in April, and import by sea goods that used to come over its land border with Saudi Arabia, now closed.
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/ramifications-could-be-huge-qatar-and-its-gulf-neighbours-could-lose-billions-from-spat-in-middle-east
That's a MUCH bigger deal than staying at a Trump Hotel and paying the same room rate as anyone else... right?
Good catch, Liz
....” and foreign donors make up more than half of those who have given more than $5 million.” “
Well.....isn’t that special......... : )
The average Joe American committing this crime would have been wasting away in a deep dark cell at Supermax years ago.
Both the Emir of Qatar and the Saudi king are claiming that they are “the true descendant” of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Abd_al-Wahhab
Not easy to solve this as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqcLjcSloXs
The best solution is to get rid of both.
The battle is clear. Qatar targets regimes by weakening them or toppling them. It is inevitable for such actions to be responded to in the same way. Therefore, it is best for this misbehaved cat of ill repute to wave the white flag instead of being dragged behind its propaganda and believing it itself.
It is threatening and warning that the confrontation will be similar to what happened at the “Safwan tent” but we fear for Doha as it may be like the “Rabaa Square!”
Gulf states are considering forcing allies to choose between doing business with them or with Qatar if the tiny peninsular state refuses to meet their demands, including an end to its alleged support for terrorism.
Omar Saif Ghobash, the UAE ambassador to Russia and a leading voice on the crisis, said countries could deal with either the Gulf Co-operation Council or Qatar, but not both. “You’d be forced to choose between wanting to do business with an extremist agenda or wanting to do business with people who are interested in building an acceptable Middle East,” he said in London.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/choose-qatar-or-us-arab-bloc-warns-western-allies/news-story/4c0ce6ed4586459a5b770294c34a1789
Former Crown Prince (who knows how to handle with terrorists in Saudi) is in house arrest on order by Salman:
After the announcement, Mohammed bin Nayef returned to his palace in Jidda to find that his trusted guards had been replaced by guards loyal to Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi and a former American official. Since then, he has been prevented from leaving the palace.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/middleeast/deposed-saudi-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef.html
I was an intern at a SANG (Saudi Arabian National Guard) hospital and most people there were angry about the Vision because their salaries were being cut. The soldiers around here are also angry because they work all the time. It's unfair to take SAR 1000 ($266.50) from a 5,000 salary. My military father is angry because most of his salary and allowances have been cut. Some people’s incomes have already been reduced by 30% (except if you are a soldier in the south). It seems that the government wants to solve the current economic problems by force. They are doing this by raising taxes but not explaining anything to us. Prices keep rising regardless!
“You know that the top 11 Twitter handles here are Salafi clerics, right? We are talking more than 20 million people who hang on their every word. They will not accept this sort of change. Never,” the youth said.
https://www.theglobalist.com/saudis-crown-prince-a-youthful-gambler/
“The biggest gainers will be the US frackers,” says Matsopoulos. “With an extremely wide break-even range from $32 to $55 per barrel, an increasein the oil price to levels higher than $50 will make the overwhelming majority of them smile. The US will soon be able to finance its trading deficit and solidify even more its position as a major oil exporter. Thelonger a potential crisis in the Middle East lasts, the more the market share of the US companies will increase — because apart from prices and commodities the political stability of the USA can act as a guarantee for a smooth supply of oil for many consumers.”
That’s why Washington may do little if anything to stop a direct war between the two old adversaries. And Russia may go along with this scenario, as higher oil prices will benefit its own oil producers.
Paradoxically, a direct war will benefit the Saudi Kingdom, too. Higher oil prices will pave the way for its Aramco IPO; and give a very much needed break to its over-exploited oil wells.
The oil price https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/CO1:COM
Since so much depends on energy, oil prices are more than just financially important. In Saudi Arabia, oil revenue has enabled the government to create patronage networks public and private alike. It has also enabled Riyadh to be the de facto leader of the Middle East. Without oil revenue, the government could not fund its Sunni Arab proxy groups in the battle for regional control, finance the war in Yemen or even maintain social stability.
The story is much the same in Russia. Financial reserves have dwindled. Russia is considering cutting defense spending in the coming years (something it rarely does) and is struggling to finance state pensions. Now that its Reserve Fund is being depleted, Moscow will have to switch over to its National Wealth Fund, which has a little over $70 billion but which is, for various reasons, much more difficult to tap into.
http://www.mauldineconomics.com/outsidethebox/shale-oil-another-layer-of-us-power#
Foreign assets of Qatar is 335 bn USD https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-11/qatar-sovereign-wealth-fund-s-335-global-empire
Saudi Arabia could be bankrupt within five years, IMF predicts
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-could-be-bankrupt-within-five-years-imf-predicts-a6706821.html
Maybe the idea in Saudi is that if they get 335 from Qatar it will fill a hole in their budget, and perhaps Saudi repeat for Qatar what Saddam did to Kuwait. Will that cause Operation Desert Shield 2.0 ?
List of demands by Saudi Arabia, other Arab nations
1) Scale down diplomatic ties with Iran and close the Iranian diplomatic missions in Qatar, expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and cut off military and intelligence cooperation with Iran. Trade and commerce with Iran must comply with US and international sanctions in a manner that does not jeopardise the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
2) Immediately shut down the Turkish military base, which is currently under construction, and halt military cooperation with Turkey inside of Qatar.
3) Sever ties to all “terrorist, sectarian and ideological organisations,” specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIL, al-Qaeda, Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as the Nusra Front) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Formally declare these entities as terror groups as per the list announced by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt, and concur with all future updates of this list.
4) Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, US and other countries.
5) Hand over “terrorist figures”, fugitives and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired information about their residency, movements and finances.
6) Shut down Al Jazeera and its affiliate stations.
7) End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs. Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for nationals where such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.
8) Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.
9) Align Qatar’s military, political, social and economic policies with the other Gulf and Arab countries, as well as on economic matters, as per the 2014 agreement reached with Saudi Arabia.
10) Cease contact with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over files detailing Qatar’s prior contact with and support for opposition groups, and submit details of their personal information and the support Qatar has provided them.
11) Shut down all news outlets funded directly and indirectly by Qatar, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al Araby Al Jadeed, Mekameleen and Middle East Eye, etc.
12) Agree to all the demands within 10 days of list being submitted to Qatar, or the list will become invalid.
13) Consent to monthly compliance audits in the first year after agreeing to the demands, followed by quarterly audits in the second year, and annual audits in the following 10 years.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/arab-states-issue-list-demands-qatar-crisis-170623022133024.html
It is important to know how the Syrian regime thinks, and the article below is an example of the position of Assad against these two countries:
http://www.mintpressnews.com/salafism-vs-wahhabism-qatar-saudi-arabias-proxy-war-rages-syria/229314/
Nothing will happen today, but tomorrow?
It will not be kinetic yet, despite a lot of rumors in ME. (such as this https://twitter.com/mujtahidd )
Tomorrow one or two more countries will follow the Saudi money and enter the sanctions on Qatar and Qatar will spend more money on lobbying.
But, that is not the solution. It is tempting for Saudi to annex Qatar, but what will happen then?
However, in a few years we will get rid of islamist money from both countries.
Can you tell me how you think this can be done? Gulf countries policing themselves or they will exhaust their treasury in some protracted war between them?
Qatar:
2. Not only one Saudi is wishing to grab the wealth of Qatar (> $335 billion ) perhaps to pay for more weapons, But, they have to do it soon: https://medium.com/@pmakela1/saudi-arabia-sees-a-window-closing-with-qatar-e65d6d9721fa
1 is certain and 2 could happen, and it is more likely if the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Udeid_Air_Base is relocated, but that is not probable in the short run.
If Saudi can put pressure on Qatar to stop funding Islamists related to the Muslim Brotherhood it will be good for all of us.
The Brotherhood seeks to establish a “global Islamic state” under its own control, which implies toppling those Muslim governments that are not Brotherhood-ruled in the long run. And both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi feared that the Brotherhood’s success in Egypt, Tunisia, and beyond would energize underground Brotherhood groups within their respective countries. Indeed, the Emirati government had been working to dissolve the local Brotherhood branch, known as al-Islah, since 1994, and it viewed al-Islah’s traditional influence within the state’s educational institutions as particularly worrisome.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/muslim-brotherhood-qatar/532380/
When the MB support is gone it is easier to handle the funding from the Saudi camp.
There was nary a peep about who kidnap them except vague speculation. Now the picture becomes a little clearer.
Qatari hunters kidnapped in Iraq freed after 16 months
Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's former finance minister, wrote on Twitter shortly after the hostages were released that the deal - brokered by Qatar and Iran - violated Iraq's sovereignty
Hoshyar Zebari
✔ @HoshyarZebari
Release of Qatari hunters in Iraq after 16 months in captivity by a pro Iranian & Hizbulah Shia armed group is a travesty of sovereign Iraq.
The deal was linked the evacuation of thousands of people from four besieged towns in Syria: the northern Syrian villages of Fouaa and Kefraya, which are government-controlled but have been besieged by rebels, and the central villages of Madaya and Zabadani, which were besieged by pro-government forces.
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