Fudge Country
The tiny Arab emirate of Qatar is actively seeking to become a land where extremes coexist.
Can Bin Jassem seal the deal?
When Aljazeera was first launched in Qatar, it sported a slogan considered to be a novel idea back then in the Arab world: “The opinion and the other opinion”. Their Anchor Faysal el Qassem became notorious for banging heads from opposite sides of political spectrums together, resulting in spirited and often nasty debates.
Qatar, a tiny state with one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, raised many eyebrows by managing to simultaneously host Aljazeera (an Arabist, sometimes demagogical pan Arab TV station), the largest American Military Air base in the region and conferences which invite Israeli officials like Tsipi Livni to Doha to address Arab leaders.
It seems Qatar has a unique ability to have things both ways. It has managed to have a good relationship with both Syria and Saudi Arabia (a relationship that has thawed considerably of late), it gets along with both Hezbollah and Israel, it hosts both Ahmedinejad and Bin Laden, and it pleases both the American military elite and the much vaunted anti-American “Arab street”
Today will mark the start of the ultimate trial for Qatar: Will it be able to use its skills to fudge a deal between the two most irreconcilable of foes, the Lebanese majority and its opposition?
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Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.
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If you’re a zillionaire, you can do whatever the hell you want. Hey not even Hezbtizi will call you names for talking to Israel.
As to hypocrisy, it’s always been a big plus in the Arab world.
Also,
I say “fudge” both the majority and the minority, and if Qatar keeps all the “fudgers” over there for good, the nation of Leb will be forever grateful.
I second that motion !
What JoseyWales said.
Ummm, Qatar has as many people as Lebanon.
Why are Lebanese so deluded as to their insignificance? You’re like a corner prostitute. Everyone has a go at you and you can’t do anything about it.
Qatar could buy and sell your country 100 fold
I too am an american, and I also wish to say disparaging things about the lebanese in this blog. did I say I was an american? thats a person from america, and as an american I have a low opinion of lebanese, them being all the way over there and totally not in america. and I even talked to all my american friends and they wish to tell you similar sentiments. we’re not sure exactly where lebanon is, but we’re damn sure we don’t like it. so remember, I’m american and this is my opinion as an american from america. thank you very much.
Great Explanation !!
I can count on you when I’m off dozing in other type of news.
Population of Qatar: 928,635 (July 2008 est.)
Population of Lebanon: 3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/le.html
GDP of Qatar: $57 billion
GDP of Lebanon: $40 billion
Source: Same as those linked above
Was responding to “Ummm, Qatar has as many people as Lebanon.”
what now bitch?
[...] Beirut Spring also explains Qatar uniqueness in bringing together opposing sides and asks whether it will be able to do that for the Lebanese groups: Qatar, a tiny state with one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, raised many eyebrows by managing to simultaneously host Aljazeera (an Arabist, sometimes demagogical pan Arab TV station), the largest American Military Air base in the region and conferences which invite Israeli officials like Tsipi Livni to Doha to address Arab leaders. It seems Qatar has a unique ability to have things both ways. It has managed to have a good relationship with both Syria and Saudi Arabia (a relationship that has thawed considerably of late), it gets along with both Hezbollah and Israel, it hosts both Ahmedinejad and Bin Laden, and it pleases both the American military elite and the much vaunted anti-American “Arab street” Today will mark the start of the ultimate trial for Qatar: Will it be able to use its skills to fudge a deal between the two most irreconcilable of foes, the Lebanese majority and its opposition? Posted by Moussa Bashir Share This [...]