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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.


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!

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