The Blockade continues -- how long can this go on?

The Qatar blockade began June 2017 and it continues unabated! This is one of the stranger international conflicts in both form and substance.

I recently watched a (43-minute) documentary by France24 network:

Three Princes: Princes at War in the Gulf

It is an excellent, reasonably objective (though not complete--the complete story would take hours!) story about the blockade.

https://youtu.be/1yOTd_G4oCo

AlJazeera has now posted a shorter, hipper video about the Blockade, as part of their new "Start Here" series of explainers. It simplifies things, and actually does not say much about Trump, nor much about the Emirates' jealousy over the WorldCup project. Its tone is quite calm and hopeful, deliberately Not inflaming Emirati feelings; rather presenting it all as just another misunderstanding among cousins that should soon resolve itself. Quite restrained, actually.

Let us hope calmer heads prevail, and the Saudis can just quietly let this go -- first, allow Qatar overflights, quietly. If nobody complains, then allow Egypt to re-open its embassy, quietly (there are thousands of Egyptians working in Qatar who have had no representation). Then just quietly re-open the land border. Blockade? What blockade? Everything's fine now. Hope springs eternal!

Comments

My COVID journey, finally

11oct22 story of Covid: I flew to Des Moines for a mini-reunion of Thomas cousins; flew back on Monday the 3rd. I did not wear a mask. Evidently I should have worn a mask, as I later came down with Covid. The infection could come from anywhere, typically airborne virus shed by someone in the communicable phase of the disease. Throughout my airport and flight experience was quite calm and uneventful, so my guess is the most likely vector for the virus was the deplaning time – people are really eager to get out, they are talking, pressing close together, straining to grab bags from the overhead compartment and coordinate with their partners, thus breathing heavily. Very few people wore a mask. I do not remember anyone coughing or sniffling or breathing heavily around me, but that deplaning process is always rather hectic. I did not press to go quickly, but I did not want to delay my windowside seatmate, so I joined the crowd. As it was, when I arrived at baggage claim, my suit

Montpellier

[23mar22] Another walking day: to the A rc de Triomphe , passing through quaint quiet attractive old neighborhoods, particularly the P lace de Marché des Fleurs. Arc de Triomphe is spectacular, next to an equally impressive Palais de Justice , and the Promenade de Peyrou that has a great view of the surrounding hills and the aqueduct built by Peyrou to supply the city's fountains. The Jardin des Plantes – oldest botanical garden in Europe – opens at noon, so we walk around to the Cathedral St.Etienne, with its obscure side entrance, but huge interior space, really huge and rather stark, in keeping with its 13 th century origin – though of course several later kings and bishops added chapels, stained-glass, and organ. While there, the organ started up, providing appropriate sonic accompaniment to the surroundings (ref. My video). We return to the garden to await its opening, chatting with some Chicago tourists (go Bears!). The garden is very nice place for sauntering, and

Riding the Bus often

From 201010 Saudi scenes It is ironic that this land of cheap gasoline has so much group transport -- buses. From 201010 Saudi scenes Our housing compound has a Toyota-Coaster bus that takes some to/from school (we usually go earlier and return later, on a similar bus that the school provides). Driver Yahya takes residents on the 90-minute trip down to the Big City shopping every Thursday morning. The above picture shows our group one Thursday, usually going to Ikea or the new Lulu's Hypermarket , or the Dhahran Mall. Coleman rides a different bus every day to and from school -- usually 100 minutes there, 80 minutes back. His bus is evidently an old tourist bus, usually comfortable but a bit dusty. The air-conditioning usually works too well. I've ridden it with him several times, to attend business meetings at the district office. From 201010 Saudi scenes There he is, at 5:45am every morning, at the start of the bus run. Fortunately only about 20 students

Thomas journals

Search This Blog