Qatar is skilled at playing off both sides, but they know who bats last in the Gulf.I've spent six years total in SW Asia in war and (relative) peace. What you say about Qatar is true. They are nominally in the Gulf Cooperation Council, yet frequently act as agents for the Iranians. They stick it to several policy decisions by the GCC and has on several occasions been isolated by the council and more than once Saudi Arabia has severed relations. The most frustrating thing is the US maintains CENTCOM forward HQ there and we station B-1Bs there (at least the last time I flew in and out). Does anyone in DoD have any sense of the threat at all?
Better to have some who can deliver messages.