U.S. seen trying to calm waters between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

[webfact]

U.S. seen trying to calm waters between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

By Arshad Mohammed and Steve Holland

REUTERS

 

A map of Qatar is seen in this picture illustration June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will quietly try to calm the waters between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, current and former U.S. officials said on Monday, arguing that the small Gulf state was too important to U.S. military and diplomatic interests to be isolated.

 

U.S. officials were blindsided by Saudi Arabia's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar in a coordinated move with Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the current and former officials said.

 

In announcing the decision to cut ties, Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of providing support to Shi'ite Iran, which is in a tussle for regional supremacy with Riyadh, and to Islamist militants.

 

Washington has many reasons to want to promote comity within the region. Qatar is host to the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East at Al Udeid, a staging ground for U.S.-led strikes on the Islamic State militant group that has seized parts of Syria and Iraq. U.S. Donald Trump has made defeating Islamic State a priority of his presidency.

 

Further, Qatar's willingness to welcome organizations such as Hamas, which Washington brands a terrorist group, and the Taliban, which has fought U.S. forces in Afghanistan for more than 15 years, allows contacts with such groups when needed.

 

"There is a certain utility," one U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. "There's got to be a place for us to meet the Taliban. The Hamas (folks) have to have a place to go where they can be simultaneously isolated and talked to."

 

The current and former U.S. officials said they were unable to identify precisely what may have triggered the four countries' coordinated decision to cut ties, which was later followed by Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives.

 

They said the Saudis may have felt empowered by the warm embrace that Trump gave them when he visited Riyadh in May and adopted a harsh anti-Iran stance.

 

"My suspicion is (they felt) emboldened by what Trump said on his visit and ... that they feel they have got some kind of backing," said a former U.S. official. "I don’t know that they needed any more of a green light than they got in public."

 

A senior administration official told Reuters the United States got no indication from the Saudis or Emiratis in Riyadh that the action was about to happen. The White House said on Monday it was committed to working to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf.

 

In Riyadh, Trump made an impassioned appeal to Arab and Islamic leaders to "drive out" terrorists, while singling out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups.

 

SEEKING RECONCILIATION

 

U.S. officials in multiple agencies stressed their desire to promote a reconciliation between the Saudi-led group and Qatar, a state of 2.5 million people with vast natural gas reserves.

 

"We don't want to see some kind of permanent rift and I suspect we won't," said the senior Trump administration official on condition of anonymity, adding the United States would send a representative if the Gulf Cooperation Council nations met to discuss the rift with Qatar.

 

The GCC includes six wealthy Arab nations: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

 

"There’s an acknowledgement that a lot of Qatari behavior is quite worrisome not just to our Gulf neighbors but to the U.S.," said the senior administration official. "We want to bring them in the right direction."

 

Marcelle Wahba, a former U.S. ambassador to the UAE and the president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington think tank, said the United States had leverage but would use it discreetly.

 

"The U.S. will step up to the plate. How we will do it? I think it will be very quiet and very much in the background," she said. "I doubt very much we will sit on the sidelines and let this crisis get more serious."

 

Qatar's backing of Islamists dates to a decision by the current ruling emir's father to end a tradition of automatic deference to Saudi Arabia, the dominant Gulf Arab power, and forge the widest possible array of allies.

 

Qatar has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes. But Egypt and the Gulf Arab states resent Qatar's support for Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, which they see as a political enemy.

 

"We are engaging with all of our partners ... to find a way to reassemble some GCC unity to support regional security," said another U.S. official, saying it was critical to "maintain the fight against terrorism and extremist ideology."

 

(Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Mark Hosenball, Phil Stewart and Matt Spetalnick; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-06

[Jingthing]

Calls their world cup into question?

 

https://www.ghanastar.com/news/gulf-crisis-threatens-qatar-2022-world-cup/

[Thaidream]

Trump's foreign policy is a disaster- He and his minions refuse to take advice from those at the State Department who are experts on the Middle East and relationships.  The Saudis played Trump- knowing full well they were going to break relations and Trump fell for it.  I doubt whether Trump even realizes that Qatar is home to thousands of American military forces and a senior US Military Command that is in charge of fighting ISIS in the Region.

 

Every day that goes on is another reminder that Trump is unqualified to be President and may have colluded with the Russians to be elected.  The Republican leadership needs to think about actions to remove Trump under the 25th Amendment before he starts a chain of events that leads to a catastrophe. 

[Thaidream]

Unfortunately the 39% that like Trump still believe in his lies and that he will put money in their pockets and that all the rest of us are spouting fake news.  Josef Goebbels-Propaganda Minster of the Third Reich stated- that all you have to do is keep lying and eventually people will believe it is the truth. Unfortunately, he was right.

[Scott]

A post with an aberrant spelling of Trump's name has been removed.   It is trolling.   His family's original name is not the one used now.  

[impulse]

2 hours ago, Thaidream said:

Trump's foreign policy is a disaster- He and his minions refuse to take advice from those at the State Department who are experts on the Middle East and relationships.

 

 'Cause taking their advice for the past 16 (or 40) years has worked out so well?

 

[Thaidream]

One does not just take the advice of the State Department- but also the Ambassadors and military attaches on the scene to include the CIA and Defense Intelligence agencies. Trump ignores all this expertise and relies on people like Steve Bannon and his son in law Jared  who have no experience in dealing with any foreign issue. These people are ideologues who want to shape foreign policy to fit with their alt right narrative.  One learns how to deal with foreign policy issues through historical perspective and from those who have lived it. He is not reaching out to the experts like General Powell; Henry Kissinger; and many other retired secretaries of State and that is why his foreign policy is in shambles.

[Srikcir]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Saudi Arabia's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar in a coordinated move with Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates

Qatar recently paid a ransom payment of up to $1 billion to Iranian and Al Qaeda-linked forces in Syria that may have been the tipping point for Qatari-Gulf Arab relations for the release of 26 members of a falconry party, some of whom were members of Qatar's royal family who had been hunting in southern Iraq"

http://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-ransom-al-qaeda-iran-falconry-2017-6

 

[Trouble]

6 hours ago, Thaidream said:

Trump's foreign policy is a disaster- He and his minions refuse to take advice from those at the State Department who are experts on the Middle East and relationships.  The Saudis played Trump- knowing full well they were going to break relations and Trump fell for it.  I doubt whether Trump even realizes that Qatar is home to thousands of American military forces and a senior US Military Command that is in charge of fighting ISIS in the Region.

 

Every day that goes on is another reminder that Trump is unqualified to be President and may have colluded with the Russians to be elected.  The Republican leadership needs to think about actions to remove Trump under the 25th Amendment before he starts a chain of events that leads to a catastrophe. 

If you weren't so quick to blame Trump and you were to read about things you might find that this has probably little to do with Trump's foreign policies in the area.  It seems to have much to do with Qatar funneling money to Iran and terrorist organizations through a ransom payment.  Might be a good idea to be informed before making remarks about something you apparently know little about. Please do enlighten us as to the Trump Administration's foreign policy in the Middle East and how it is a disaster.  It seems like the last eight years of the previous Administration's policies have lead us to where we are today.

[Jingthing]

Who knew the Middle East was so complicated?

Um.

Everyone.

Except the man baby clown president.

 

 

 

Quote

 

How Trump Made the Qatar Situation Worse

It was far more complicated than he could have imagined.

..

Trump thought he would unify and strengthen the Sunni leaders when he spoke to them in Saudi Arabia last month. That visit, his first stop on his first trip abroad as president, was more enthusiastically greeted than his later stops in Europe. But Trump’s speech there, too, was a disaster, though of a different sort, heralding a new U.S. policy of taking the Sunni powers’ side in their sectarian wars against Shiite powers, especially Iran. What Trump clearly did not foresee was that his speech would also deepen a wedge among the Sunnis—and, possibly, intensify the conflicts in the region.

 

 

 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/06/how_trump_messed_up_the_qatar_crisis.html

[iReason]

1 hour ago, Trouble said:

If you weren't so quick to blame Trump and you were to read about things

you might find that this has probably little to do with Trump's foreign policies in the area.

Might be a good idea to be informed before making remarks about something you apparently know little about.

Please do enlighten us as to the Trump Administration's foreign policy in the Middle East and how it is a disaster.

"read about things"  

 

"Please do enlighten us as to the Trump Administration's foreign policy in the Middle East and how it is a disaster."

 

OK. How about for starters, a colossal $350 Billion dollar lie?

 

US-Saudi Arabia seal weapons deal worth nearly $110 billion immediately, $350 billion over 10 years

"The United States sealed a multibillion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the White House announced on Saturday, a move that solidifies its decades-long alliance with the world's largest oil exporter just as President Donald Trump begins his maiden trip abroad as leader of the free world."

 

"Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest defense contractors whose technology was part of the U.S-Saudi accord, said in a statement that the deal "will directly contribute to [Saudi Arabia's] Vision 2030 by opening the door for thousands of highly skilled jobs in new economic sectors."

 

"This package of defense equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats, while also bolstering the Kingdom's ability to contribute to counter terrorism operations across the region, reducing the burden on the U.S. military to conduct those operations," the White House said in a statement."

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/us-saudi-arabia-seal-weapons-deal-worth-nearly-110-billion-as-trump-begins-visit.html

 

 

The $110 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia is fake news

"Last month, President Trump visited Saudi Arabia and his administration announced that he had concluded a $110 billion arms deal with the kingdom. Only problem is that there is no deal. It’s fake news."

 

"I’ve spoken to contacts in the defense business and on the Hill, and all of them say the same thing: There is no $110 billion deal."

 

"The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the arms sales wing of the Pentagon, calls them “intended sales.”

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2017/06/05/the-110-billion-arms-deal-to-saudi-arabia-is-fake-news/

http://theweek.com/speedreads/703652/trumps-110-billion-arms-sale-saudi-arabia-all-smoke-mirrors-defense-expert-argues

 

 

Was Trump’s $110 Billion Saudi Arms Deal ‘Fake News?’ 

"It looks like the $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and promises of huge jobs gains that President Trump announced

to great fanfare during his trip to the Middle East last month was seriously oversold."

 

"At the time the deal was announced, Trump touted it as the largest arms deal in US history -- which it was if the numbers involved were taken at face value. “Tremendous investments in the United States,” Trump promised. “Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.”

 

"The announcement refers to “potential future defense capabilities” and “intended sales” that could end up “potentially supporting tens of thousands of new jobs in the United States.”

https://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2017/06/06/Was-Trump-s-110-Billion-Saudi-Arms-Deal-Fake-News

 

'Jobs, Jobs, Jobs' Trump Signs Historic Mega-Billion Deal with Saudis

"In his first overseas trip since being elected, President Donald Trump signed a $110 Billion deal with Saudi Arabia's 81-year-old King Salman."

 

"That was a tremendous day," Trump said after signing the deal with Saudi leader King Salman. "Tremendous investments in the United States. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs." 

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2017/may/jobs-jobs-jobs-trump-signs-historic-mega-billion-deal-with-saudis

 

 

Trump in Saudi Arabia heralds ‘tremendous investments’ and 'jobs, jobs, jobs'

“Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said, according to a White House press pool report."

 

"That was a tremendous day. Tremendous investments in the United States.”

 

"I can't imagine another business day that's been as good for the United States and the Kingdom," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Bloomberg on Saturday.

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/334380-trump-heralds-tremendous-investments-in-us-by-saudi-arabia

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/20/trump-first-saudi-meetings-will-bring-americans-jobs-jobs-jobs/

 

Lies, lies, and more lies.

The inept buffoon in the White House is the disaster.

 

 " Might be a good idea to be informed before making remarks about something you apparently know little about."

 Good advice.

 

But the Lemmings, albeit reluctantly, lapped it up.

[sujoop]

1 hour ago, Trouble said:

 Might be a good idea to be informed before making remarks about something you apparently know little about.

 

Donald Trump tweets support for blockade imposed on Qatar
 

The president’s remarks on Tuesday will come as a shock to Qatar, which regarded itself as an ally to the US and is home to 10,000 US troops, and will delight Saudi Arabia, which until recently had been fighting off claims in Washington that Riyadh was the chief sponsor of terrorism.
 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/06/qatar-panic-buying-as-shoppers-stockpile-food-due-to-saudi-blockade

 

Edited June 6, 2017 by sujoop

[coulson]

Well.....the tweets in folks....and contrary to what US diplomats were attempting to do, the President has finally cut to the chase.

 

Excuse the url misleading title, but the correct article is in the below link

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/06/qatar-panic-buying-as-shoppers-stockpile-food-due-to-saudi-blockade

 

 

[anon4546543]

US foreign affairs, always a joke has now turned into a total farce. Not one country except Russia knows if US is an ally anymore

[spidermike007]

It will never be possible for the US to make peace, broker peace, or solve these kinds of complex problems, while Cheeto is "commander in chief". He refuses to read his briefs, he refuses to study history, he refuses to listen to his intelligence experts, and continues to question their sincerity and veracity, he refuses to appoint a real chief of staff, and instead sticks with Tiny Priebus, the smallest mind and least qualified person to ever occupy that position, in the history of the nation, he refuses to listen to his chief of staff, or other defense experts, he cuts the budget of the state department, when it should be increased, and he continues to engage in taunting nations relentlessly. He gets outplayed by the Saudis, and then disrespects our long time allies in Europe. Each and every one of the men and women he met with in Europe has 10 times the intelligence, sophistication, knowledge and elegance of this crumpet of a man child. Now, he gets outplayed by Macron, who makes him look like the arrogant, bullying neophyte he really is. This goombah cannot get out of his own way. He shoots himself in the foot, on a daily basis. I doubt he will last four years. He is the least presidential person in history. He makes Nixon look honest and well intentioned. 

[maewang99]

a Trump success.

stirring things up in the Middle East... could there have been a better place to visit right away?

no. not for Trump.

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2017 by maewang99

[billd766]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It will never be possible for the US to make peace, broker peace, or solve these kinds of complex problems, while Cheeto is "commander in chief". He refuses to read his briefs, he refuses to study history, he refuses to listen to his intelligence experts, and continues to question their sincerity and veracity, he refuses to appoint a real chief of staff, and instead sticks with Tiny Priebus, the smallest mind and least qualified person to ever occupy that position, in the history of the nation, he refuses to listen to his chief of staff, or other defense experts, he cuts the budget of the state department, when it should be increased, and he continues to engage in taunting nations relentlessly. He gets outplayed by the Saudis, and then disrespects our long time allies in Europe. Each and every one of the men and women he met with in Europe has 10 times the intelligence, sophistication, knowledge and elegance of this crumpet of a man child. Now, he gets outplayed by Macron, who makes him look like the arrogant, bullying neophyte he really is. This goombah cannot get out of his own way. He shoots himself in the foot, on a daily basis. I doubt he will last four years. He is the least presidential person in history. He makes Nixon look honest and well intentioned. 

 

By 'eck. That was subtle. Could you try to be a little more explicit next time.

 

BTW I agree with you 100%.

[Morch]

On 6/6/2017 at 6:25 PM, impulse said:

 

 'Cause taking their advice for the past 16 (or 40) years has worked out so well?

 

 

There's always room for making things worse.

[Morch]

On 6/6/2017 at 11:59 PM, iReason said:

"read about things"  

 

"Please do enlighten us as to the Trump Administration's foreign policy in the Middle East and how it is a disaster."

 

OK. How about for starters, a colossal $350 Billion dollar lie?

 

US-Saudi Arabia seal weapons deal worth nearly $110 billion immediately, $350 billion over 10 years

"The United States sealed a multibillion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the White House announced on Saturday, a move that solidifies its decades-long alliance with the world's largest oil exporter just as President Donald Trump begins his maiden trip abroad as leader of the free world."

 

"Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest defense contractors whose technology was part of the U.S-Saudi accord, said in a statement that the deal "will directly contribute to [Saudi Arabia's] Vision 2030 by opening the door for thousands of highly skilled jobs in new economic sectors."

 

"This package of defense equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats, while also bolstering the Kingdom's ability to contribute to counter terrorism operations across the region, reducing the burden on the U.S. military to conduct those operations," the White House said in a statement."

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/us-saudi-arabia-seal-weapons-deal-worth-nearly-110-billion-as-trump-begins-visit.html

 

 

The $110 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia is fake news

"Last month, President Trump visited Saudi Arabia and his administration announced that he had concluded a $110 billion arms deal with the kingdom. Only problem is that there is no deal. It’s fake news."

 

"I’ve spoken to contacts in the defense business and on the Hill, and all of them say the same thing: There is no $110 billion deal."

 

"The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the arms sales wing of the Pentagon, calls them “intended sales.”

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2017/06/05/the-110-billion-arms-deal-to-saudi-arabia-is-fake-news/

http://theweek.com/speedreads/703652/trumps-110-billion-arms-sale-saudi-arabia-all-smoke-mirrors-defense-expert-argues

 

 

Was Trump’s $110 Billion Saudi Arms Deal ‘Fake News?’ 

"It looks like the $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and promises of huge jobs gains that President Trump announced

to great fanfare during his trip to the Middle East last month was seriously oversold."

 

"At the time the deal was announced, Trump touted it as the largest arms deal in US history -- which it was if the numbers involved were taken at face value. “Tremendous investments in the United States,” Trump promised. “Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.”

 

"The announcement refers to “potential future defense capabilities” and “intended sales” that could end up “potentially supporting tens of thousands of new jobs in the United States.”

https://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2017/06/06/Was-Trump-s-110-Billion-Saudi-Arms-Deal-Fake-News

 

'Jobs, Jobs, Jobs' Trump Signs Historic Mega-Billion Deal with Saudis

"In his first overseas trip since being elected, President Donald Trump signed a $110 Billion deal with Saudi Arabia's 81-year-old King Salman."

 

"That was a tremendous day," Trump said after signing the deal with Saudi leader King Salman. "Tremendous investments in the United States. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs." 

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2017/may/jobs-jobs-jobs-trump-signs-historic-mega-billion-deal-with-saudis

 

 

Trump in Saudi Arabia heralds ‘tremendous investments’ and 'jobs, jobs, jobs'

“Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said, according to a White House press pool report."

 

"That was a tremendous day. Tremendous investments in the United States.”

 

"I can't imagine another business day that's been as good for the United States and the Kingdom," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Bloomberg on Saturday.

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/334380-trump-heralds-tremendous-investments-in-us-by-saudi-arabia

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/20/trump-first-saudi-meetings-will-bring-americans-jobs-jobs-jobs/

 

Lies, lies, and more lies.

The inept buffoon in the White House is the disaster.

 

 " Might be a good idea to be informed before making remarks about something you apparently know little about."

 Good advice.

 

But the Lemmings, albeit reluctantly, lapped it up.

 

Yeah, but it doesn't necessarily imply something negative with regard to ME policy.