Word: qatar
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...Qatar's new al-Udeid Air Base could serve as the command-and-control center for any American-led war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Such a center already exists in Saudi Arabia, but the regime there is hesitant to let the U.S. use it in a new confrontation, for fear that anti-American sentiment would rebound against them. Qatari officials, on the other hand, are eager "to handcuff themselves to the U.S.," as a Western diplomat puts it. The emir is gambling that, in return, Washington will provide protection for the country against a resurgent Saddam...
...establishing the Jazeera Satellite Channel, which delights in criticizing other Middle Eastern leaders and giving airtime to the likes of Osama bin Laden as well as Israeli officials. Balancing acts are Hamad's trademark. Al-Jazeera's sensational talk shows and its Arab-nationalist perspectives are a counterweight to Qatar's pro-American tilt...
...make Qatar the gulf's most democratic country, the emir is drafting a new constitution that creates a parliament based on universal suffrage, even if he will appoint a third of the seats. The emir wins praise for scaling back military purchases; he believes they encourage corruption and that Qatar is too small to defend itself against a major attack anyway. Hamad has begun to reform the education system, with the ambitious aim of upgrading it to U.S. standards...
With a per capita income of more than $21,000 a year, on par with much of Western Europe, Qatar has found that wealth keeps discontent down. Still, many ordinary Qataris display anger over U.S. policies in the Middle East. "If you are coming for peace, good," says computer-science student Mohammed Lari, 21. "But if you are coming to fight a war, then we don't like...
Nobody is tracking Qatar's political winds more closely than the U.S. troops stationed at al-Udeid. Meeting journalists last month, the force's buoyant commander, Colonel Timothy W. Scott, said Qataris seemed pleased by the growing American presence. "You drink a lot of tea, you talk, and you get to know each other," he said. "It's just a real friendly environment." But days later, after two terrorist attacks on U.S. troops in Kuwait, Scott canceled the passes that had allowed his troops to head into Doha on their days off to down some burgers at the local Chili...