By Hussein Ibish[The National] When Donald Trump tweeted strong support for the Arab coalition confronting Qatar, the final window of hope slammed shut on Doha. Qatar's only practical way out of the crisis was to hope that Washington would mediate the crisis in a spirit of strict neutrality and press all sides to return to the status quo ante. That’s clearly not going to happen.
Qatar may drag this out, but it knows it will have to capitulate eventually. And just as it is openly working with Turkey and quietly with Iran to maximize its options and minimize the damage, it is simultaneously now taking steps to reach out and seek a resolution.
Qatar also knows that it can not end the crisis without agreeing to a series of measures the Arab bloc is demanding, especially insofar as they are also insisted on by Washington. Doha is therefore moving towards negotiating the terms of its inevitable climb down, and limiting the price it must pay. Doha cannot endure current circumstances, let alone an additional significant escalation. Qatar has no choice.