Qataris opted not to give info on Kushner, secret meetings to Mueller

[demmiblue]

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — Qatari officials gathered evidence of what they claim is illicit influence by the United Arab Emirates on Jared Kushner and other Trump associates, including details of secret meetings, but decided not to give the information to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for fear of harming relations with the Trump administration, say three sources familiar with the Qatari discussions.

Lebanese-American businessman George Nader and Republican donor Elliott Broidy, who participated in the meetings, have both been the focus of news reports in recent days about their connections to the UAE and Trump associates.

It is unknown whether Qatari officials were the source of the recent news stories detailing activities by Nader and Broidy published by The New York Times and CNN.

NBC News previously reported that Qatari officials weighed speaking to Mueller during a visit to Washington earlier this year, and has now learned the information the officials wanted to share included details about Nader and Broidy working with the UAE to turn the Trump administration against Qatar, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/qataris-opted-not-give-info-kushner-secret-meetings-mueller-n855326?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma

[Laxman]

1. Now Look At This Story In Context......

with these two stories. Everything happens for a reason.

Qatar crisis: What you need to know

The tiny oil- and gas-rich Gulf state of Qatar has been cut off by some of its powerful Arab neighbours over its alleged support for terrorism.

Qatar refused to comply with an initial list of 13 demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.

The emirate has now been told by its neighbours that they want it to accept six broad principles on combating extremism and terrorism.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40173757

Qatar Refused to Invest in Kushner’s Firm. Weeks Later, Jared Backed a Blockade of Qatar.

Jared Kushner’s father met with Qatar’s minister of finance last April, to solicit an investment in the family’s distressed asset at 666 Fifth Avenue, according to a new report from the Intercept.

The Qataris shot him down.

Weeks later, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates organized a blockade of Qatar. The Gulf monarchies claimed that this act of aggression was a response to Donald Trump’s call for the Arab world to crack down on terrorists — after taking in the president’s majestic sermon in Riyadh, the Saudis simply couldn’t live with themselves if they didn’t take action to thwart Qatar’s covert financing of Islamist extremism.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/weeks-before-blockade-qatar-denied-money-to-kushners-firm.html

[Duppers]

3. Important context.

Thank you.

[dchill]

4. So, what they're saying is that terrorists are a better risk...

than Jared Kushner.

[karynnj]

6. They also house the largest US military base in the area

Not to say that they have not funded terrorists - as Saudi Arabia and UAE did as well. What was hypocritical about the boycot was that it was not directed against ANY country that has ongoing funding of terrorists -- instead, it declared, rather than even ennumerated Qatar funding of terrorists - and demanded a long list of actions they needed to take. (Some like closing Al Jeezira were not related to terrorism, but were things that SA and UAE wanted for their own advantage. )

The more you look at those countries, the more you see a huge amount of duplicity, where their public statements often are later shown by leaks to differ from what they are doing.

Beyond the Kushner duplicity, it should be very concerning that the role of Elliot Broidy. Here is a BBC story from a week ago that is even more interesting in light of the article in the OP. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43281519

Mr Broidy's defence company Circinus has hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts with the UAE, according to the New York Times newspaper. < snip>

According to a memorandum he prepared of the meeting, Mr Broidy urged continued support of US allies the UAE and Saudi Arabia and advised Mr Trump against getting involved in last year's row with Qatar.

Mr Broidy called Qatar "a television station with a country" - alluding to broadcaster Al Jazeera - and said it was doing "nothing positive", according to the emails.

He said he touted a regional counter-terrorism force being set up by the UAE that his company was involved with, and suggested that the US president "sit down" with Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and a top UAE military commander.

The article's main subject is how UAE leaked emails attacked Secretary of State Tillerson. What is clear is that UAE, likely with SA, contributed to the terrible US policy chaos around Qatar. This raises the question of who is setting US policy in the volatile Middle East. This might be part of the newly stronger allignment of the US/SA and UAE/Israel against Iran. Admittedly, these have been the countries we have considered allies for decades, however it appears that we are no longer leading them, but being led by them.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Corrupt as hell

A cover-up of collusion with foreign powers for personal gain.

[Volaris]

5. If Mr. Mueller is asking for it,

It likely means he already has it heh..

[Marcuse]

7. Kushner: Nice country you have there, Qatar. It would be a shame if something happened to it.

[orangecrush]

8. Kick and Rec