Qatar: A tiny country asserts powerful influence

When Qaddafi's compound finally fell, Qatar's flag could be seen flying over the ruins.

Bin Jasim: This is the first fruitful coalition between the Arabs and the NATO to help an Arab country.

Simon: How did you feel when you saw the Qatari flag go up over Qaddafi's old compound?

Bin Jasim: Well I believe that leaders should limit their stays. That's where the problem is happening.

That didn't really answer our question, so we tried again.

Simon: How did you feel when you saw the Qatari flag go up in Tripoli?

Bin Jasim: I was trying to get out of this question.

Simon: No kidding.

Bin Jasim: Yes. Seriously, I was trying to get-- well, I'm proud that we-- we help the Libyan people. Let us put it this way.

Simon: Must've been a great moment for you.

Bin Jasim: It is-- it is a new experience for us.

So is the emir's emergence as the most influential leader in the Arab world. In England, he was hosted by the queen. And last April, President Obama thanked him for helping promote democracy in the Middle East.

But the emir also has good relations with Hamas - the militant Palestinian group that runs Gaza - which the U.S. labels a terrorist organization.

Simon: Do the Americans ever come to you and say, "Hey, will you cut it out with Hamas, it's really bothering us?"

Bin Khalifa: They didn't like our relation with Iran, with Hamas, with Hezbollah. But maybe if you go to the other side, the Iranian, they don't like to see our relation with Israel. Hamas, they don't want to see our relation with Israel. So it's-- it's completely mixed.

The emir appears to have no ideology and, critics say, no loyalties. When his close personal friend Syrian President Assad refused to stop killing his people, the emir abandoned him. Today, he talks tougher than any other world leader on what should be done in Syria.

Simon: Would you be in favor of Arab nations intervening in Syria?

Bin Khalifa: I think for such a situation to stop the killing, we have some-- some troops should go to stop the killing.

The killing is worlds away from Qatar. What you see here is contentment. There have been no protests, no calls for democracy. After all, what could an opposition offer that Qataris don't already have? But the emir just bought himself some additional insurance. He raised the salaries of all Qatari government workers by 60 percent. Soldiers and policemen got 120 percent. The prime minister insists this has nothing to do with politics.

Bin Jasim: We have one obsession-- is how to continue to let the people live in the same standard. That's very difficult target. We are trying to do that target.

Simon: Excellency, can you think of any other country in the world that has a better standard of living?

Bin Jasim: Well there is good living standard in many places in the world. But the main thing is what sort of quality of people you produce. We would like our people not to be spoiled by this. We need our children not to be spoiled by this. That's, I think, the big challenge for us.

And, there's a bigger challenge. Here is Qatar's military on parade at last month's National Day celebrations. Picturesque, but not very intimidating, not when your next door neighbors are Iran and Saudi Arabia. So how does the emir keep his island of happiness afloat when the seas are getting rougher every day?

Simon: It often seems as if the basis of your foreign policy is to be friends with everyone.

Bin Khalifa: Don't you think this is a good policy for a small country?

Simon: Yes, it is if you can pull it off.

Bin Khalifa: Well, we are trying.

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[tvsmokey]

I think that he is the Anti-Christ! Plays it off like such a great place but then yu realize he is the main cause for the fighting in the arab nations and its only ge3tting worse!

[offthefence]

It's refreshing to see the leaders of a natural resource wealthy country actually putting the wealth to good use by building hospitals, schools, museums and infrastructure for the indigenous population.

So much of the hate that has been fostered in the world has been due to monarchies using the wealth generated from the land on themselves and their lavish lifestyles while neglecting the needs of the people and the country as a whole. Then, blaming Israel and the west for the poverty and squalor they impose on the population.

It is a brave new world out there and these people are discovering there is nowhere to hide anymore. Al-jazerra and the internet are letting people see for themselves and more importantly, decide for themselves.

[littlerockbob]

Too add: The cost of the airline tickets were outrageous; US Centcom purchased 1-way tickets for myself and 3 co-workers (cost to taxpayers 10K one-way)

[littlerockbob]

I am retired Air Force and was deployed to QATAR in the summer 2004. Of course, US Centcom also hires immigrant workers but for the most part they enjoyed working on-base. I became good with a Filipino and would played cards in the rec-center. The downside was reading the Qatar's English newspaper quoting Airline hit record profit but the article didn't point out all the American purchasing Business class airfare (must be business class to get a full refundable ticket -All the military purchase overseas).

Unfortunately many immigrant workers are being treated like slaves; complaining about not getting paid, passport confiscated, try to make a complaint to the police only to be fined. Oh and the poor Qatar women dress all in black 125-133F.

[madison201101]

I lived and worked in Qatar for a year. While I was there there was at least 1 attempted coup on the Emir. The Emir gave all Qatari citizens a 60% increase in salary after a failed coup late last year. The country is very shiny on the surface but the treatment of the labor force is inhuman and women have absolutely no rights whatsover. There is certainly no freedom of press within the country and I was often worried about being arrested for very minor infractions. No freedom to leave the country at will. Bottom line is that it is still a very conservative muslim state.

[sergihno2022]

I am currently working and living in Qatar. I enjoy the country and my students. It's very peaceful here and the people are very friendly. The people here agree with the news clip of 60 minutes. They say it is a true depiction of the country. Kudos to Qatar and its people. I wouldn't live any place else.

[Danize]

I think Qatar rhymes with guitar and cigar...

[mahadevan11]

1. Qatar has no religious freedom for non-Islamic religions.
2. Non-Qatari citizens do not get any of the benefits free mentioned in the article.
3. Al Jazeera is muzzled in covering Qatar.
4. Qatar plays Iran vs the West to get advantages from both.
5. They are now indirectly controlling Libyan government through arms supplied to their supported militia.

[minoush2001]

Then I guess you have never driven by the huge acres of land that contain the Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, and Protestant churches. Or you have never been to the malls or schools where you see Christians proudly wearing a cross around their neck or ash on their foreheads.

[usunus]

The Qatar boss is the new dictator in the U.S portfolio because he has cleverkly switched to the American side after the Arab Spring.

[Zann-Zel]

So everything a person needs is paid for. What I'd like to know is whether they have the freedom to practice any religion they want? Wear what they want? Love who they want?

And how "happy" are all those immigrants doing the work? How well are they paid?

[FreedomThought]

That is a good question. Qatar is a country that is being built on the backs of immigrant workers, often being referred to as modern day slavery. I am actually surprise that 60 mins did not bring this up and now I question their intentions for this story. Was this story done in order to build U.S. relations with Qatar? According to 60 mins there are only 250,000 residents but there is actually 1,448,446 residing in Qatar, a country according to this has an immigrant population of 83% and most of these residents only have temporary status.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100604.htm
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5437.htm

[Zann-Zel]

LOL...I want information Dan, that's why I read the news!