It has now been three months since the governments of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have together isolated Qatar diplomatically and banned its aircraft and maritime vessels from using the anti-terror quartet’s sovereign air and sea corridors. The action is necessary to force the government of Qatar to see the error of its ways by continuing to support those who spread sedition, extremism and terror, and to ensure Doha lives up to its international commitments and responsibility in fighting the voices and forces of terrorism across the region.
From the very outset, the quartet has asked for Doha to abide by 13 commitments that would see it renounce its support of the forces of extremism, take action against persons and organisations that aid and abet sedition forces, and cease and desist from cosying up to nations and groups that are intent on destabilising the Gulf and the region.
And from the very beginning of this chapter, Doha has steadfastly refused to cooperate or concede to any of the quartet’s 13 requests. Indeed, throughout, Doha has acted with aloofness, refusing to concede on a single point, and instead has acted in a manner that is counterproductive, antagonistic and simply not in the best interests of a nation that has been traditionally aligned with its Arab brothers in the Gulf.
The scourge of extremism has divided nations across the region as never before. Whether it be in Iraq or Syria, dangerous sectarian forces are at play. In Yemen, the meddling of Iran has resulted in two years of misery and mayhem for our Arab brothers and sisters there, and have set the circumstances in place where cholera and malnutrition fester and thrive. These sectarian forces must be challenged and overcome.
Qatar’s failure to come to terms with the forces of extremism and sedition has resulted directly in the creation of division and disunity — exactly the dangerous conditions where those intent on spreading sedition seize opportunity.
Over the course of these past three months, Qatar has set out to antagonise and provoke the quartet by befriending and reaching out to nations that seek to further their own influence for their own narrow agendas in this region, and have extended diplomatic relations to Tehran.
Doha needs to be reminded — once again — that the quartet will not be dissuaded from this proper and necessary course of action. All it takes for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing — and for Doha to continue to act pettily and petulantly.
