"Qatar Talks About Pan-Arabism, Liberation, and Struggle, While Their Soil is Home to the Largest U.S. Military Base"

"At a time when outstanding regional issues are inching towards resolution, Qatar is once again back to searching for a role; however, this time around the crisis is greater and all the major players have started maneuvering, leaving Doha with nothing to do but to conjure up the worst kinds of abuse and attacks [characteristic of the Middle East in] the 1960s.

"The maneuvering done by the major player – and by this I mean Saudi Arabia – has led the Qataris to go out of their minds, and thus we see and hear their blatant attack on Riyadh and against all those seeking to stabilize the region.

"The problem with the Qatari leadership is that it has neither credibility nor political weight, and the first to attest to this are the parties honeymooning with them.

"Qatar talks about pan-Arabism, liberation and struggle, while their soil is home to the largest U.S. military base. They talk about religious tolerance, while Doha has become a visual media outlet where Al-Qaeda brings in its films in order to broadcast its poisonous ideology. One of its reporters is currently in prison for collaborating with Al-Qaeda.

"They talk about the Palestinian cause, yet they are the first to hurry to Israel. [However], when Israel wanted to discuss the Arab initiative – which is King 'Abdullah Bin 'Abd Al-'Aziz's initiative – the first one that Israel ignored was Qatar."

Qatar's Policy in Beirut Was One of "Deception and Incitement"

"At the same time that Doha was proclaiming its dedication to Lebanon, smart bombs were being transported from its soil to Israel during the 33-day war. At the same time that the Qatari Emir talked about the 'long-awaited victory' in Lebanon, his Foreign Minister, even when he was aboard his plane, was updating the Israelis on the tiniest details following the conference in Beirut, which he attended en route from Israel.

"When the Qataris talked about their fear for the future of Lebanon, their policy in Beirut did not differ from that of the 'Abu Adas' TV station [i.e. Syrian television] – one of deception and incitement. Everybody saw how the Qatari rulers skipped out on the Paris III conference [on rehabilitating Lebanon].

"The same goes for [Qatar's position vis-à-vis] Baghdad. They have been the source of dissension in everything relating to Iraq…"

"Big Issues Require Statesmen, and Not Traders in Crises or Microphone-States"

"Here is Qatar, searching for a role that is oversized for its [limited] political significance and credibility. Today the Palestinians are better off after the Mecca agreement, and the Iraqis are discussing national reconciliation, and their delegations have begun to flock to Riyadh. The Iranians have done away with the Syrians and the other mediators, and have come [to talk] face-to-face with the Saudis. Big issues require statesmen, and not traders in crises or microphone-states like Doha and its rulers.

"Accordingly, the Lebanese are discussing solutions, solutions that may prove fruitful and beneficial, under a Saudi-Iranian umbrella. Israel is scrutinizing, maneuvering, and moving to reconsider the Arab initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia, and the Americans are acting [in concert] with Riyadh for the sake of all these pending issues in the region.

"And finally, the Arab summit set to take place in Saudi Arabia is on the horizon, and all [of the preceding] accounts for Qatar's errant behavior – though [in fact] this has been their usual behavior towards Riyadh since the ousting of its [previous Emir]. Of course, the best and ideal response to this behavior is for Riyadh to continue its political work. Qatar is a drop in the ocean and will have no influence whatsoever. After all, in times of distress, it is the laws of nature that prevail, cutting everyone back down to size."