Qatar’s Way

President Trump appeared to side with (and even take credit for) the Saudi-led decision to isolate Qatar. “So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding… extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!” (Well, this and a handful of timely tweets…)

+ “Trump’s visit changed the calculus. His speech emboldened the main Sunni powers not only to step up their confrontation with Iran and its ‘proxies’ but also to cut off Qatar.” Fred Kaplan on Qatar: It’s complicated. “As recently as last week, U.S. officials were singing Qatar’s praises for its role in combating terrorism.”

+ AP Analysis: “Gulf Arab nations often get considered one giant family, as many ruling tribes intermarried and have long ties stretching back to the days before oil turned dusty fishing villages into skyscraper-studded metropolises. But if the last day has proven anything, it’s that every family fights.”

+ And, about that $110 billion arms deal with the Saudis…

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