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Qatar: A tiny country asserts powerful influence

January 15, 2012 4:02 PM

The Arab Spring is spreading, but not to Qatar, a tiny, oil-rich country wedged between Saudi Arabia and Iran. What keeps the peace in Qatar? Bob Simon reports.

Qatar: A tiny country asserts powerful influence

60 Minutes OverTimeQatar? Easy for you to say...

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by nomadzilla February 17, 2012 10:13 PM EST
Dear Mr. Simon;

How utterly mind-boggling for a program of 60 Minutes' status and integrity to misstate the correct name of the PERSIAN GULF (which it has been for thousands of years) as the "Arabian Gulf."

Furthermore, no questions about women? Polygamy? Immigrant rights? what is going on over there with 60 Minutes??

I believe this story requires a CORRECTION (and a re-telling).
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by lovesmagic February 10, 2012 7:51 AM EST
Proud to be a Canadian living in Qatar.
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by AymanAyad January 22, 2012 3:14 AM EST
US search all the time about self-interest and it is not bad, but please do not try to convince us that you are supporting democracy in the world because simply Qatar has not any democracy , people did not and will not select their leaders or representatives, no one can dream that he will be the president in future, no one can censure the government, freedom is freedom and do not tell me about money.
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by TJ1922 January 20, 2012 1:37 PM EST
Perhaps I am a bit jaded, but what I see in the Emir, his representatives, and the citizens featured here is a healthy dose of intelligence and pragmatism. I'm sure they have their fair share of problems and dirty laundry. This piece leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Still, in a world where nothing is perfect it's hard to argue with widespread wealth, stable government, and worldwide influence. This is particularly true given that this is a tiny country with a miniscule military.
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by intertwangled January 19, 2012 2:23 AM EST
Male or female, if you have credit card debt or a mortgage on your shoulders, you probably have less freedoms than the average Qatari woman. I've always appreciated the following comic, by the way: http://covenantoflove.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Viewpoint.jpg. Really, the largest oppression the two women in the comic experience are their own prejudices about each other. This, to me, speaks volumes about the impaired judgment most of us carry over other people.
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by stagger914 January 17, 2012 4:18 AM EST
Chiicktracy, How easily one can be dubed. The truth is the Qatar is an oasis planation. What's the recipe for such a dreamy place? Start with massive reserves of oil and gas. Add western engineering and technolgy. Mix in near 2 million guest workers/foot-soliders, who make a little more than 100$ a month, to the domestic population which is roughly the size of Des Moines , Iowa. Next add a government which the west heralds as a beacon of stability, and a model for the region. It's not hard to see how the massive wealth trickles down from so much foreign revenue and so many foreign workers, to so few nationals living in the Big HOuse.
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by KiaKam January 16, 2012 8:15 PM EST
Dear Mr. Simon;

How utterly mind-boggling for a program of 60 Minutes' status and integrity to misstate the correct name of the PERSIAN GULF (which it has been for thousands of years) as the "Arabian Gulf."

Furthermore, no questions about women? Immigrant rights? what is going on over there with 60 Minutes??

I believe this story requires a CORRECTION (and a re-telling).
Reply to this comment
by Musayyeb January 16, 2012 5:34 PM EST
A shame for CBS to misname the Persian Gulf as Arabian Gulf. It turned the episode to an attempt to magnify the size of a midget...
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by chiicktracy January 16, 2012 9:48 AM EST
This is amazing. This is where I wish I can live. A country that cares about its people. Where humans don't die of disease and other **** because they can't afford health insurance. The amazing thing is that a country CAN run this way. Free electricity, no taxes? I don't understand what the difference between Qatars leaders and the US Leaders. Why can't we have the same concepts here? Why do I work hard ever day, yet Im living from paycheck to paycheck to pay all the **** the allows me to just make it? Why won't my employer give me health coverage yet they benefit financially from my labor? why why why..
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by livinginthesand January 16, 2012 8:28 AM EST
I always find it interesting to see so many comments from people with no first hand experience. I'm a US expat who has lived in Qatar for a few years. Just like any country, there are many issues that should be criticized and many points that are positive. Yes, there is definitely an issue with the treatment of laborers, specifically in construction and with maids. But, these same issues exist in many countries, including the US. I've met many workers who are happy to be in Qatar and plan to stay as long as possible (nobody except qataries have guaranteed residency). I teach in American university and I am privy to access to our students, male and female, and their families... Qatari and other expats from the region. Yes, a few meet stereotypes that may exist, but many are very well educated and have very strong personalities. I always laugh when the whole 'mistreatment of women' issue is brought up. Yes, this happens in areas around the region, but the Qatari women here seem to do very well for themselves. AND, as with any news report, they show what people expect, covered women, when in reality most do not cover their face and many do not wear a head scarf. And there are many misconceptions about why women in this area cover... I know, I've asked many times.

Yes, westerns who are here for a short period of time might get a sense that they are not welcome, but I think that comes from a long unstable relationships with those outside the region. I've been able to meet families who are quite wonderful. My wife has been invited to weddings (usually very private and not accessible by westerners) and I've been invited to dinner.

Yes, the US military has played a large role in Qatar being here today. The Emir gave the US one of their largest military base right after he took power. There are many joint interests, especially with natural resources. But then again, relationships like that are pretty common around the world.

Qatar is not the ideal place to live. There are problems... the summers are very hot, but winters quiet beautiful. There is tension between different sects of muslims and christians alike. Religion drives the politics which is not always good. There are many freedoms, but it is far from democratic. Traffic here is terrible and rich Qatari drivers that constantly cut you off is something difficult to get used to. But plans for metro rails and other transportation are in place for 2022 world cup. With all that said, it is a rare melting pot of people from all over the world. I've met many friends and have been granted access and opportunities to areas of the world that many do not get to see... especially from the west.
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