Military Coup Attempt in Qatar?

Middle EastAugust 2009 • Views: 7,907

The MEMRI Blog notes that several Arab media sources are reporting a failed military coup attempt in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar.

Various Arab websites are reporting on the sudden firing of senior Qatari military officials after they staged a failed coup attempt.

According to the report on the liberal Saudi website Alssiyasi, Qatar’s chief of staff Hamad bin Ali Al-Attiya might also have been involved in the coup attempt.

The Jordanian online daily Al-Haqiqa Al-Douliya noted that following the coup attempt, the Qatari Emir is considering reducing the powers of senior regime officials, including of the prime minister and foreign minister Hamad bin Jasem Aal Thani.

After the Qatari chief of staff’s visit to Iran early last month, the Elaph website reported on disagreement among top Qatari officials on foreign policy.

Sources: Elaph.com, July 13 and 30, 2009; Alssiyasi.com, August 2, 2009; Factjo.com, August 3, 2009

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87 comments

Kragar Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:25:27pm

Don't we have a special forces base and a regional C&C based out of Qatar?

calcajun Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:26:17pm

Very ungood.

Sharmuta Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:26:54pm

After the Qatari chief of staff’s visit to Iran early last month, the Elaph website reported on disagreement among top Qatari officials on foreign policy.

Can we get preconditions now, Mr President?

ArmyWife Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:27:36pm

This is not good - a lot of R&R takes place it Qatar. I have a Starbucks mug from there, in fact.

Kragar Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:27:36pm

re: #3 Sharmuta

Can we get preconditions now, Mr President?

Does "NOT IN THE FACE!" count as a precondition?

Silvergirl Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:27:48pm

Heads will roll.

Kragar Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:27:59pm

re: #6 Silvergirl

Heads will roll.

literally

The_Vig Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:28:45pm

I am unsure of which side to be on in this coup, so I'll just choose the side that wins.

J.D. Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:29:06pm

re: #7 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

literally

*Gulp*

Sharmuta Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:29:20pm

Sounds to me like Iran wanted to have a puppet regime to control the Gulf.

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:30:34pm

Mad Mullahs making a play to be more of a regional power.

lawhawk Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:30:41pm

re: #1 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Yes. US Central Command has facilities there, and we have significant logistical capabilities there as well (prepositioned forces and ships)

But it's not like we don't know that there's serious instability in the region. We've known that for some time. From April 1, 2000, courtesy of Gen. David Petraeus:

The Arabian Peninsula commands significant US attention and focus because of its importance to our interests and the potential for insecurity. These Arab states on the Peninsula are the nations of the AOR most politically and commercially connected to the US and Europe. They are more developed economically and collectively wield defense forces far larger than any of their neighbors, and they are major providers of the world’s energy resources. However, many Gulf Arabs suffer from degrees of disenfranchisement and economic inequity, and some areas of the Peninsula contain extremist sentiment and proselytizing. As a result, the Peninsula has been a significant source of funding and manpower for extremist groups and foreign fighters. These internal troubles are often aggravated and intensified by external factors, such as the Iranian regime’s destabilizing behavior, instability in the Palestinian territories and southern Lebanon, the conflict in Iraq, and weapons proliferation.

Because of the Peninsula’s importance and its numerous common security challenges, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are key partners in the developing regional security network described above. CENTCOM ground, air, maritime, and special operations forces participate in numerous operations and training events, bilateral and multilateral, with our partners from the Peninsula. We help develop indigenous capabilities for counter terrorism; border, maritime, and critical infrastructure security; and deterring Iranian aggression. As a part of all this, our FMS and FMF programs are helping to improve the capabilities and interoperability of our partners’ forces. We are also working toward an integrated air and missile defense network for the Gulf. All of these cooperative efforts are facilitated by the critical base and port facilities that Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and others provide for US forces.

Kragar Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:31:51pm

re: #10 Sharmuta

Sounds to me like Iran wanted to have a puppet regime to control the Gulf.

So can we get involved in this or would it be considered meddling?

Silvergirl Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:34:33pm

This says 30 were arrested Thursday.

yochanan Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:34:45pm

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

frankly I put the anus on the arabs

Sharmuta Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:35:08pm

re: #13 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I'm pretty convinced it will be pressure from the Saudis and others in the region that will lead to US action being taken against the Iranians.

ArmyWife Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:37:05pm

re: #16 Sharmuta

Sadly, I think you are right. Our friends the Saudis. Sigh.

Altermite Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:37:09pm

re: #15 yochanan

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

frankly I put the anus on the arabs

Sorry for the downding. Before I saw the link, I thought you were talking about Qatar.

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:37:22pm

re: #13 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

So can we get involved in this or would it be considered meddling?

LEFTY LOGIC

It's only meddling if the USA gets involved with any country but our own

It is NOT meddling if another country does it. Thats just a 'regional dispute" best left to the UN to arbitrate

BLUE HELMETS FOR ALL

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:37:54pm

re: #16 Sharmuta

I'm pretty convinced it will be pressure from the Saudis and others in the region that will lead to US action being taken against the Iranians.

Iran is ready to build an N-bomb - it is just waiting for the Ayatollah's order

Iran has perfected the technology to create and detonate a nuclear warhead and is merely awaiting the word from its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to produce its first bomb, Western intelligence sources have told The Times.
The sources said that Iran completed a research programme to create weaponised uranium in the summer of 2003 and that it could feasibly make a bomb within a year of an order from its Supreme Leader.

Sooner than later.

pegcity Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:37:58pm

so how long until this is blamed on the jews

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:38:20pm

re: #18 Altermite

Sorry for the downding. Before I saw the link, I thought you were talking about Qatar.

You can go back and fix your ding...

Sharmuta Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:39:14pm

re: #17 ArmyWife

Sadly, I think you are right. Our friends the Saudis. Sigh.

It will be a new experience for us to hope the President listens to the Sauds.

LionofDixon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:44:51pm

Obama wanted to react from the gut and blame somebody for acting stupidly, but he was unsure as to whom.

pegcity Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:45:57pm

re: #24 LionofDixon

Obama wanted to react from the gut and blame somebody for acting stupidly, but he was unsure as to whom.

come on you know he wanted to blame this on the settlements right.

The Curmudgeon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:46:21pm

I hope Obama swiftly defuses the situation by apologizing for everything the US has done over the past 200 years.

Last Mohican Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:46:49pm

re: #24 LionofDixon

Obama wanted to react from the gut and blame somebody for acting stupidly, but he was unsure as to whom.

George Bush!

(duh)

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:46:57pm

re: #23 Sharmuta

New?

There have been times in our hisory that it was advisable to "listen to them"

In 1939 when they severed diplomatic contacts with Germany (well before the US ever really got involved)

Prior to Gulf War 1 when they were telling Bush the Elder about the dangers of Saddam
Do they suck? Yeah, sometimes they do. But sometimes my friends suck too! (and sometimes I suck as a freind!)

Altermite Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:47:22pm

re: #22 jcm

You can go back and fix your ding...

Ah, thanks. I didn't realize it worked that way.

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:47:37pm

re: #26 The Curmudgeon

I hope Obama swiftly defuses the situation by apologizing for everything the US has done over the past 200 years.

Even for the War of Northern Aggression?

Wow!

//;-P

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:48:31pm

re: #26 The Curmudgeon

I hope Obama swiftly defuses the situation by apologizing for everything the US has done over the past 200 years.

As long as it's a teaching moment!

BEER
HOPE
CHANGE

Render Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:49:04pm

Only mildly related to the topic...

"A leader cannot abrogate the responsibilty of leadership, a fact accepted even by reactionary kings."
-Robert B. Asprey 1975 War in the Shadows

"...if any princes or ministers should find disagreeable truths in this work, let them remember that, being public men, they owe the public an account of their actions; that this is the price at which they buy their greatness; that history is a witness, not a flatterer; and that the only way to compel men to speak well of us, is to do good."
-Voltaire

"Each President remains accountable at the bar of public opinion for every act of his administration."
-Andrew Jackson

HERE'S
LOOKIN
AT YOU,
R

bunny Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:49:47pm

re: #19

The exception is Israel. It's ok to meddle in Israeli affairs.

[deleted] Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:51:22pm

LionOfDixon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:51:30pm

This sounds like a coup, contrecoup injury...in that, as noted above, head will roll.

anotherindyfilmguy Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:51:32pm

re: #16 Sharmuta

I'm pretty convinced it will be pressure from the Saudis and others in the region that will lead to US action being taken against the Iranians.

Mebbe sometime in 2013...

Render Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:54:11pm

re: #20 jcm

"Iran," "perfected," and "technology."

Three words that cannot be placed together in the same sentence and retain any hope of veracity...

ALMOST
GAME
TIME,
R

LionOfDixon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:55:18pm

Joe Biden has already suggested that the coup leaders, the emir, Biden and Obama try to hash it out and make up over some whiskey, pork and porn.

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:55:53pm

re: #37 Render

"Iran," "perfected," and "technology."

Three words that cannot be placed together in the same sentence and retain any hope of veracity...

ALMOST
GAME
TIME,
R

IRAN ,,, FIRST STRIKE ,, ISRAEL

Not three words, but I don;'t want to see them strung together either

albusteve Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:55:59pm

re: #37 Render

"Iran," "perfected," and "technology."

Three words that cannot be placed together in the same sentence and retain any hope of veracity...

ALMOST
GAME
TIME,
R

NOT
GONNA
HAPPEN, USA,
AS

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:56:52pm

re: #37 Render

"Iran," "perfected," and "technology."

Three words that cannot be placed together in the same sentence and retain any hope of veracity...

ALMOST
GAME
TIME,
R

Your mouth to God's ear...

[deleted] Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:57:10pm

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:57:20pm

Whatever happened, this doesn't bode well at all.

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:57:56pm

re: #38 LionOfDixon

Joe Biden has already suggested that the coup leaders, the emir, Biden and Obama try to hash it out and make up over some whiskey, pork and porn.

Biden got a head start

Youtube Video

albusteve Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:58:01pm

go IAF!
fuck BO
he does not count

SasquatchOnSteroids Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:58:16pm

Whee, the hits just keep a comin'.

Beer, anyone ?

HelloDare Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:58:49pm

Joe Biden = The three stooges in one good suit.

haakondahl Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:58:52pm

re: #37 Render

"Iran," "perfected," and "technology."

Three words that cannot be placed together in the same sentence and retain any hope of veracity...

ALMOST
GAME
TIME,
R

Iran is a functionally modern state saddled with a dysfunctional archaic tyranny.

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:59:07pm

IAF rocks,
Iranian AF sucks ass
game over

Randall Gross Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:59:17pm

Any signs of Qods force involvement?

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:00:04pm

re: #45 albusteve

go IAF!
fuck BO
he does not count

Gonna' need some of these...

haakondahl Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:00:16pm

re: #43 pingjockey

Actually, in a way, I think it does.

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:00:57pm

re: #50 Thanos
I keep seeing that Qods force, is that the IRG special ops knot heads?

freetoken Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:01:02pm

re: #26 The Curmudgeon

SC - saw your latest article about the sale of the Weekly Standard to Anschutz. It's beginning to look like there will be no "conservative" media remaining that will not tow the creationist line.

ArmyWife Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:01:43pm

re: #37 Render

R -
Mr. Armywife is still at work and not able to talk at the moment. Curious as to what you know, but respect you not divulging. Could just be a briefing or alert, and very possibly it's totally unrelated. But I can't help but get a bit nervous.

pink freud Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:01:50pm

Large American academic population in Qatar.

EDUCATION CITY

Weill Cornell Medical
Texas A&M
Virginia Commonwealth
Georgetown
Carnegie Mellon

Randall Gross Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:01:55pm

re: #53 pingjockey

I keep seeing that Qods force, is that the IRG special ops knot heads?

Yes, two flavors : Basiji Militia in country, Qods force for ops in every country near Iran.

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:02:24pm

re: #52 haakondahl

Actually, in a way, I think it does.

How so?

If there is a coup, theres a change. A change wouldn't bode well for the US as since 2003 we've had access to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. A change in leadership may change that

LionOfDixon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:03:14pm

re: #44 sattv4u2

High-larious. Even though I am unsure whether it's him, I do not have any problem imagining him doing it...which is probably a distinction without a difference.

David Simon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:03:51pm

Hmm. Thousands of airmen at Al Udeid, and a CENTCOM forward headquarters. If the story is true, that's bold.

Randall Gross Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:03:57pm

CIA World Factbook entry for Qatar

[Link: www.cia.gov...]

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:05:21pm

re: #59 LionOfDixon

High-larious. Even though I am unsure whether it's him, I do not have any problem imagining him doing it...which is probably a distinction without a difference.

It's him

[Link: www.google.com...]

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:05:43pm

re: #45 albusteve

go IAF!
fuck BO
he does not count

re: #49 pingjockey

IAF rocks,
Iranian AF sucks ass
game over

IMHO the problem for IAF isn't will. It's the targets.

We know they can get in, they proved that by spoofing the Syrian radar with that nuc facility strike.

The Iranian nuclear program is dispersed and buried at the extreme range of IAF capability. Doing the job is a multi-strike mission, etc... and if you miss anything re-striking may be necessary.

Can the IAF do it? I believe so. It's no cake walk, hitting multiple targets like that and ensuring they are neutralized.

NY Nana Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:06:21pm

/Oh, dear (*sob* *sob*)

Whatever will happen to Qatar Airlines?

They play their commerial here on TV and the radio endlessly. Hmmm. I wonder if they serve kosher food.;)

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:07:43pm

re: #57 Thanos
Merci buckets. Like to catch some of those guys and publicly have them get the scimitar to the neck treatment and have it shown on Al jazzera

Randall Gross Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:08:41pm

Ten percent of the population is Iranian. So speculation could lead you there, or it could be Wahabbist hardliners upset over the women cabinet members.

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:08:51pm

re: #63 jcm
You are correct. I would assume, as sharp as the IAF is they have the tools to do the job.

sattv4u2 Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:11:26pm

re: #64 NY Nana

/Oh, dear (*sob* *sob*)

Whatever will happen to Qatar Airlines?

They play their commerial here on TV and the radio endlessly. Hmmm. I wonder if they serve kosher food.;)

I've actually flwn on them. Atlanta to Washington DC to Kuwait

Nice people. Comfy ride

jcm Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:12:05pm

re: #67 pingjockey

You are correct. I would assume, as sharp as the IAF is they have the tools to do the job.

It would be so much easier for us. In every way.

Especially with the political fallout, the Arab countries would bluster, but be secretly thankful the job was done, Russian and China would yammer for a while be let it go.

Render Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:14:02pm

re: #55 ArmyWife

As per usual, I either know way too much, or not nearly enough. The hazards of relying solely upon open source intelligence.

Until or unless Iran actually (and successfully) test something in Dasht-e-Kavir (Salt Desert) it's no different from the dozens of other fraudulent missiles and other weapons systems they've "perfected" over the last three decades.

Given the sources (N. Korea, Pakistan) of their "perfected technology" I have my doubts about its perfection...

===

OTOH, I have little doubt that Quds Force is involved in this failed coup in Qatar. They've been working on it for quite a while. That's what they do...

GOTTA
GO
KILL,
R

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:16:15pm

re: #69 jcm
Yep. Because the islamist will howl like mad if the IAF does it. I see nothing but trouble for Israel if they have to do what we should do.

Randall Gross Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:17:43pm

If you google 'qods force" you will see the extent of their ops. They have social networking groups in Peru.

Salamantis Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:18:57pm

re: #42 buzzsawmonkey

You down with WPP?

Yeah; you know me...;~)

NY Nana Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:19:36pm

re: #68 sattv4u2

I've actually flwn on them. Atlanta to Washington DC to Kuwait

Nice people. Comfy ride

I hear that they are excellent, but to be truthful? I would not use them, as a Jew. I wonder if there are any restrictions about Jews flying them to the Middle East. Can't travel anymore, but if I could, and I was going overseas? I would fly El Al. QA ain't no friend of mine!

Youtube Video

The Curmudgeon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:21:29pm

re: #54 freetoken

SC - saw your latest article about the sale of the Weekly Standard to Anschutz. It's beginning to look like there will be no "conservative" media remaining that will not tow the creationist line.

Try to look on the bright side. There's a wide open market for conservative publications that appeal to rational readers.

NY Nana Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:27:29pm

re: #71 pingjockey

Israel will do what they have to do...they cannot afford not to. They did it so well
with Iraq's nuclear facilities.

Israelis are both tough and realists...I wish with all my heart that it was not Israel's job to do, but they realize that The One will never do anything but wait for Israel to do it, so he can then blame Israel...and have the UN sanction Israel.

The word 'Sabra' means Opuntia ficus-indica, the cactus fruit generally referred to as the Sabra when of Israeli origin, and it is a great description!

David Simon Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:28:22pm

re: #72 Thanos

If you google 'qods force" you will see the extent of their ops. They have social networking groups in Peru.

Trying to hook up with hot Shining Path chicks, no doubt.

pingjockey Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:30:57pm

re: #76 NY Nana
Nana, I have so much respect for that little bastion of democracy amid medieval morons, it isn't funny. I always wanted to emigrate to Israel and be a tanker like Moshe Dayan when I was a kid. Didn't know if he was a tanker or not but the whole eye patch was too cool. So of course I grew up and joined the USN instead! I am proud to say I'm a Zionist. I am for the state of Israel and will always back her up, even if I'm not Jewish!

The Optimist Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:57:11pm

I hope all of our prepositioned military equipment is safe and will not be used against us or our allies including Israel.

NY Nana Mon, Aug 3, 2009 6:59:07pm

re: #78 pingjockey

G-d bless you. It is people like you who are Israel's best friends.

{{{{{{ pingjockey}}}}}}

I do not know what we would do without our Christian Zionist friends...I honestly do not.

OldScouter Mon, Aug 3, 2009 7:11:14pm

Damn, Just read the blurb about Qatar, and the coup attempt. Youngest son is scheduled to deploy there in two weeks. His tour is for six months (Air Force). Hope all is settled quickly.

Cato the Elder Mon, Aug 3, 2009 7:22:46pm

Did this information come from the gutter press?

avspatti Mon, Aug 3, 2009 8:08:50pm

Good grief! We have Qatari students who work for their Olympic Committee. Wonder will happen to them. Great guys, BTW

Macker Mon, Aug 3, 2009 8:32:30pm

re: #78 pingjockey

1,000,000 updings!

Render Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:22:14pm

[Link: www.ccc.nps.navy.mil...]

BACK
ROUND,
R

meh130 Tue, Aug 4, 2009 7:27:08am

re: #1 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Don't we have a special forces base and a regional C&C based out of Qatar?

We have a huge military presence in Qatar. Not just a headquarters, and not just special forces.

As pink freud linked, Qatar is trying to make itself the education center of the middle east, with American universities building branch campuses there.

In addition to Education City, Energy City Qatar is being built as a business center for the energy industry in the middle east, sort of like what Houston provides the energy industry in America.

Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE are the most open countries in the gulf region.

baconeatingkaffir Tue, Aug 4, 2009 2:45:57pm

Strange, I'm in Doha now doing corporate training and this is the first I"ve heard about this. Then again, I dont keep up with the news as I should. I'll have to tread lightly and ask my students about this. My life these days involves teaching followed by hours at the fitness center .

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