Did Iran-ally Qatar buy Trump envoy Steve Witkoff? | Think Twice скачать в хорошем качестве

Did Iran-ally Qatar buy Trump envoy Steve Witkoff? | Think Twice

How does Qatar get away with it? That’s the question that JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is asking. Qatar is not only a close ally of Iran and a funder of Hamas but also doing the most to spread Islamist ideology and hatred for Israel in America. But it’s also gotten away with posing as an honest broker in the Middle East and a U.S. ally. He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by veteran Middle East analyst and former U.S. military officer Michael Pregent who has some of the answers to the question of Qatar’s successful influence operation. According to Pregent, it starts with American leaders in both parties who want to be flattered but it also is largely driven by the Gulf emirate’s buying of influence among opinion leaders, business people and politicians. As Pregent points out, there are a lot of lobbyists and other Washington DC figures who “couldn’t pay their mortgages” without the money they get either directly or indirectly from Qatar. The most prominent example is Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. While many have been puzzled by Witkoff’s public comments, including those made on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, in which he declared, contrary to the facts, that the Qataris are loyal U.S. allies, honest brokers and not allied with Iran and Hamas. As Pregent points out, this clueless endorsement of the emirate must be seen in the context of Qatar’s decision to bail him out on a real estate deal gone bad to the tune of $623 million. That calls into question Trump’s decision to allow Witkoff to be the lead negotiator in a new diplomatic initiative aimed at persuading the Iranians to give up their nuclear program. As Pregent points out, while the Obama and Biden administrations had envoys who were determined to appease Iran, they did so because they believed in that dangerous policy. Witkoff is a diplomatic novice who is being played by people that helped him financially. But Witkoff is just the most outrageous example of how a rogue nation is exploiting its financial clout to influence American policy. Pregent says that examples of Qatar’s influence peddling abound in the United States, including its efforts to gain support from members of Congress—including both Republicans and Democrats—and its funding of Middle East studies departments at universities where anti-Zionism has been mainstreamed. On top of that, Qatar owns Al Jazeera, the Islamist propaganda outlet that is often treated as a reliable source of information by many in the West. Chapters 00:00 Qatar's Strategic Position in U.S. Foreign Policy 03:01 The Influence of Qatar on U.S. Politics 06:06 Negotiating with Adversaries: Qatar's Role 09:02 The Complexity of U.S.-Qatar Relations 11:46 The Weakness of U.S. Diplomacy 15:08 Qatar's Support for Terrorism and Its Consequences 18:11 The Role of Steve Witkoff in U.S.-Qatar Relations 20:49 The Future of U.S.-Iran Negotiations 23:52 The Impact of Personal Relationships on Foreign Policy 29:23 Qatar's Strategic Influence and Real Estate Ventures 32:28 The Right's Vulnerability to Qatari Influence 33:59 The Misconceptions of War and Military Strategy 38:07 Qatar's Political Influence and Media Manipulation 40:39 Al Jazeera's Role in Qatari Influence Operations 46:25 Qatar's Influence on Israeli Politics 51:34 The Dangers of Misunderstanding Syrian Leadership Listen/Subscribe to weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube Channel. This episode of “Think Twice” is sponsored by The Jewish Future Promise—ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for Jews and Israel. Sign the promise: https://jewishfuturepromise.org/jns/ JNS will host its inaugural International Policy Summit on Monday, April 28, 2025. This daylong event will convene government officials, policymakers, diplomats, security experts, leaders of pro-Israel organizations, and influencers for vital discussions aimed at addressing Israel’s critical challenges and opportunities in a post-Oct. 7 world. Registration at this point is for invitees only. However, you can submit a request for registration using the following link: https://reg.eventact.com//welcome?For...