Qatar bankrolls Syrian revolt with cash and arms

[dkf]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86e3f28e-be3a-11e2-bb35-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2dZB4hGrq

The gas-rich state of Qatar has spent as much as $3bn over the past two years supporting the rebellion in Syria, far exceeding any other government, but is now being nudged aside by Saudi Arabia as the prime source of arms to rebels.

The cost of Qatar’s intervention, its latest push to back an Arab revolt, amounts to a fraction of its international investment portfolio. But its financial support for the revolution that has turned into a vicious civil war dramatically overshadows western backing for the opposition.

In dozens of interviews with the Financial Times conducted in recent weeks, rebel leaders both abroad and within Syria as well as regional and western officials detailed Qatar’s role in the Syrian conflict, a source of mounting controversy.

The small state with a gargantuan appetite is the biggest donor to the political opposition, providing generous refugee packages to defectors (one estimate puts it at $50,000 a year for a defector and his family) and has provided vast amounts of humanitarian support.

[Arctic Dave]

1. If the US was serious about ending suffering in Syria

they would put a leash on their Qatar and Saudi dogs.

[dkf]

2. Qatar and SA are about oil and money.

What leverage do we have over Qatar anyway?

[Arctic Dave]

3. Military hardware.

Without us, the royals would be bloodstains in the sand.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. I thought the US telling other sovereign countries what to do is imperialistic bullying...

[Arctic Dave]

6. Everyone else calls it, stopping their conspiracy to commit murder and larceny.

But you just go on with your bad self.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Perhaps the US shouldn't even get involved

That would make the most sense.

[Arctic Dave]

8. That would be the best course of action.

Either directly or selling arms.

[Waiting For Everyman]

4. Well since the rebels have this local backing, what are we being drawn in for? nt