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Tensions Rise Between Qatar And Saudi Arabia Over Coup Attempt
Source is Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily. Sorry no link...The GCC foreign ministers gathered in Doha to discuss both routine matters and the growing regional tensions, but the apparent calm of Doha â and the meeting itself â belied significant animosities between GCC member states Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The animosity was over the fact that Qatari officials were aware that the coup attempted against the Government on October 12-13, 2002, had been undertaken by Iranian-trained and directed assets, who were given Saudi land-access to Qatar and Saudi funding to attempt the mission. We were wondering about this reported coup. This has been confirmed to GIS by a number of well-placed Saudi and Qatari sources. Specifically, the key Saudi official behind the attempted coup was named as Deputy Prime Minister and Crown Prince âAbdallah bin âAbd al-âAziz al Saâud. You heard it here first, folks. Crown Prince Abdallah tried to overthrow the Emir of Qatar. Very senior US officials were reportedly extremely angry that Prince âAbdallah was directly involved, specifically in order to ensure the removal of US forces from Qatar. Gee, I wonder why? Meanwhile, the Crown Princeâs actions were only part of the move to suppress Qatar and its relationship with the US. Crown Prince âAbdallah and Arab League Secretary-General were, according to reliable GIS sources, behind the funding of a new international broadcasting venture â Arab Broadcasting Company (ABC) â designed to rival and eliminate the Qatari-based al-Jazeera satellite TV station. Trying to shut them up. Guess they don't like what they are hearing. In the climate of concern over the Iraq issue, and over GCC member statesâ concerns over US plans vis-Ã -vis Iraq, the US embassy in Qatar announced in late October 2002 that it had been decided to postpone the week-long military maneuvers set for November 2002 with Qatar, ostensibly to ensure that the necessary time was available for the full arrival of equipment in order to carry out these maneuvers. We heard about that. However, this merely masked the fact that the Iranian- and Saudi-led coup attempt in Qatar had caused a major clampdown in the Emirate. Senior Qatari and US sources confirmed to GIS that the postponement of the planned exercises was, in fact, determined by the preoccupation by Qatari troops with maintaining internal security measures in the wake of the attempted coup dâetat on October 12-13, 2002, against the Government of the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Internal security is the primary mission of all arab armies. The attempt was allegedly led by several members of the Qatari Royal family, Islamic organizations and several army officers of Yemeni and Pakistani origins. The usual band of suspects. It was also reported, but not confirmed, that US forces from al-Udaid provided support to Qatari forces in containing the threat, as a result of which some 140 military and civilian men were reportedly arrested. No info on this, but I'd bet US Forces were guarding the Emir while his hard boys went after the plotters. Qatari sources had reportedly told some Arab journalists that they believed Saudi Arabian funding and planning were behind the attempted coup. GIS sources have confirmed the Saudi rÃŽle, and specifically that of the Crown Prince, but also highlighted the Iranian involvement. That's all the info about the coup I have seen. This did not go over very well with President Bush, I'll bet. That move to Qatar by CENTCOM appears to be bothering the Crown Prince. I wonder why? I bet the Emir of Qatar will be happy to let us launch a few strikes from there in the future. Guess which direction. Posted by: Steve 2002-11-21 |
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