Qatar running out of cards to play with

The founder of Saudi Arabia King Abdulaziz said: “My principle (in conflict) has always been not to initiate but to wait, for when there is no place for patience I strike and the blow is final”.

If Emir Tamim and his father acknowledged this statement by King Abdulaziz, they would have not only been able to understand King Salman but all the sons and grandsons of Abdulaziz and not be surprised by the Kingdom's decisive stand against Qatar and their continuous contention.

For the Kingdom may appear patient to the provocative actions of others, especially the ones closer to it, but when enraged it responds as you would only see and not hear.

I have no doubt that Tamim and his father as well as advisor Azmi Bushara were shocked when the kingdom has taken this last stand against them that put them in a penultimate standoff, rather quandary, that the history of Qatar or the al-Thani family have ever faced.

Saudis who know King Abdulaziz and his sons and grandsons are not surprised because his philosophy is the main reference for governance in the kingdom and as he said: “For when there is no place for patience I strike and the blow is final.”

Hamad bin Khalifa’s problem and by association Tamim is that they are irresponsible, lack the skill to read the facts as they present themselves. They also lack judgement in dealing with the future with a comprehensive vision.

In their own trap

Normally people with such endemic tendencies end up falling in to their own traps and the best example is the current issue they are dealing with and not knowing how to get out of it.

Reading the Qatari situation you will find that are no cards to play except the “media card”. Their calls that they are being victimized by a blockade are just efforts to throw sand in the public eyes to take the focus away from the reasons behind the standoff. The support for terrorism.

The three countries that have severed ties with Qatar have sufficient evidence that has proven Qatari support for terrorism as well as interference in the affairs of its neighbors.

Tamim and his father are mistaken to continuously deny, dismiss and persevere in their fabrications despite evidence being laid out, even by Qataris themselves, who have been put in an unenviable position by their government and leadership.

Believe you me government of Qatar that today is unlike yesterday. Qatar during the Obama administration is not Qatar under the Trump administration so therefore objectivity and prudence requires you to refrain from your problematic actions and engagements.

Politics is and has always been an art and there is no running away from the reality that you face. God has mercy on he who knows himself.

This article is also available in Arabic.
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Mohammed Al Shaikh is a Saudi writer with al-Jazirah newspaper. He tweets @alshaikhmhmd.