Why Qatar is so darned cool

Gypsy
By Gypsy

I love living in a place where I can bump into Robert Mugabe at Carrefour, or trip over International War Criminals like Omar Al Bashar at one of the hotels, or sit and have a beer with Ahmenajad, Bill or Hilary Clinton, or Ban Ki Moon....

Ok I will admit I've never done any of this stuff. But it is kind of cool to be living in a place that is quickly becoming a center for the worlds political forces. :D

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/200933072526188900....

By heero_yuy2• 1 Apr 2009 06:23
heero_yuy2

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By britexpat• 31 Mar 2009 08:02
britexpat

Is that "The" Bill Gates, or William Gates, my neighbour from Blighty ??

By dondi823• 31 Mar 2009 07:59
dondi823

Bill Gates coming? Can we tell the guy that his Vista sucks...hmmm, how cool that would be...

"give the man a half of a fish, you'll feed him for a day. teach the man how to catch fish, be sure to let him sign a franchise clause."

By Mandilulur• 30 Mar 2009 17:15
Mandilulur

Bill Gates is coming to Doha April 16th!

Mandi

By ngourlay• 30 Mar 2009 17:10
ngourlay

hmm.

even if you think other people have committed war crimes recently, bashir probably wins on scale. he says 10,000 people have been killed in darfur. the UN says 300,000.

I think it's a fair point to disagree with the setup of the ICC, but Bashir's still not someone I'd want to call a friend.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 16:43
tallg

More on Gadhafi; http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkOw1wQ7N27XZafooiN6fDkklwBAD978CDP00

He really is too cool for school.

By Happy Happy• 30 Mar 2009 16:01
Happy Happy

It’s worth mentioning that Mubarak is expecting some troubles and quarrels in this gathering, so he opted to leave the kids play, while he’s resting in his mansion, ruining the rest of Egypt.

Salam

By anonymous• 30 Mar 2009 15:53
anonymous

Bush had no US Mandate to use military force against Iraq so should be brought to task for this unilateral action.

(The fact that Saddam Hussein spent 20 years terrorizing and killing his own people is irrelevant. It was not a problem that affected the US so they should have left them to get on with it.)

Israel's leadership should also face war crimes for the attack on Gaza. In fact so should Hezbollah and Hamas for the kidnap and torture of Israeli soldiers.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 15:52
tallg

brit - seems like Moammar "one of the boys" Gadhafi is causing trouble at the summit;

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has stormed out of an Arab summit after denouncing the Saudi king for his long ties to the West.

Mr. Gadhafi disrupted the opening Arab League session Monday in Qatar by taking a microphone and criticizing Saudi's King Abdullah, calling him a ``British product and American ally.''

Full story: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200903301741.htm

By anonymous• 30 Mar 2009 15:18
anonymous

is Tony Blair not here. Isn't he supposed to be the Middle East envoy?

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By Happy Happy• 30 Mar 2009 15:14
Happy Happy

Best Argument! I also would like to see Bush on trial, for the terrorism and atrocities he spelt over the world during his reign.

Salam

By Happy Happy• 30 Mar 2009 15:11
Happy Happy

I believe Mubarak is extremely angry with Qatar's leadership. There is a big tiff there between the two leaders now.

If you hear the Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in TV interviews, you'll be surprised that he barely mentions Mubarak when he refers to Egypt. He usually uses this line "our brothers in Egypt", not bad, but why?

I am no politician though.

By anonymous• 30 Mar 2009 15:11
anonymous

Isn't it a fact that the USA in Iraq and Israel in Palestine also committed war crimes? As long as Bush or H. Clinton can visit Qatar, I think Bashir can, too. The ICC is not even recognized by the USA. Isn't it. So, it's just fuzz about nothing.

By arecel• 30 Mar 2009 15:08
arecel

in its haste to become an important player in the international political stage,qatar is catering to all of them:-(

mo lang!

By anonymous• 30 Mar 2009 15:07
anonymous

over 300,000 people die in your country and you are welcomed like a hero. Surely the first role of a president is to protect their citizens......

By britexpat• 30 Mar 2009 15:06
britexpat

You probably understand the issue better than us..

Would you not agree that Mubarak was "instructed" to stay away, just to send a message to the gathering.

By Happy Happy• 30 Mar 2009 14:56
Happy Happy

I like your write up here. I read the article, attached.

I'm totally against Mubarak’s boycotting the conference, did not see it coming.

It's also notably obvious that the Media from both sides, in Egypt and Qatar, is not having a hostile tone or any aggressive comments this time. Mubarak said he would agree to the outcome of the conference.

And no, Mubarak is not protesting against Albashir’s participation. The latter was in Egypt, at the Egyptian Palace, with Mubarak, yesterday.

Salam

By Xena• 30 Mar 2009 14:51
Xena

was coming on to b*tch about how damn cold it is outside - best I start reading thread headings;-)

Sorry for the highjack...

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

 

visit www.qaws.org

By Khanan• 30 Mar 2009 14:41
Khanan

there many more in the "The Pay Phone Club"...

____________________________________________________

Have Courage To Live.

Anyone Can Die.

By britexpat• 30 Mar 2009 14:39
britexpat

There is a joke that Mubarak is nicknamed "The Pay Phone"..

As long as the Americans keep putting money in the box, he keeps talking their talk,...

By dragonfly212• 30 Mar 2009 14:39
dragonfly212

kudos to Qatar for step up on the plate and try to bring the peace in Middle East.

Everybody is right everybody is wrong, it depend where you stand

By britexpat• 30 Mar 2009 14:38
Rating: 4/5
britexpat

I think Qatar is trying to do an admirable job.. We need to bring these people into the fold, rather than isolate them..

Look at Gadafi.. Five year ago , he was a pariah, now he's one of the boys.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 14:38
tallg

Yeah, but Chris Martin writes messages on his hands and cool stuff like that. He's gonna change the world one day. < /sarcasm >

(fyi, I think Coldplay stopped being cool a long, long time ago!)

By Gypsy• 30 Mar 2009 14:36
Gypsy

I've ready a couple of different stories theorizing that he's missing because of Bashar, Apprantely he wants to have him arrested and tried.

Tallg Popstars and movie stars are cool, but not as cool as politicians. The guys here have actual say in world events. The only popstar operating on that level, in my opinion, is Bono.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 14:35
Rating: 4/5
tallg

UKEng, I think it's because he's pissed at Qatar over the Gaza stuff so decided not to come. It was in that article I posted a week or so ago that got removed for copyright infringement. Here's a link to the article; http://www.metimes.com/International/2009/03/16/special_report_what_drives_qatar/6437/

By Adorman• 30 Mar 2009 14:34
Adorman

FYI Omar AlBasheer isn't criminal we can argue about that alot but we know it's just because the political ambitions and the accused is innocent until proven guilty right ?

Still nice place.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 14:33
tallg

I saw Coldplay drinking tea in the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, on Friday. Are they cooler than a bunch of politicians? Probably not.

By GodFather.• 30 Mar 2009 14:32
GodFather.

Gypsy Egypt Hosseni Mubbarak is missing from teh Arab summit any Idea why?

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

By Gypsy• 30 Mar 2009 14:31
Gypsy

I'd rather have Mugabe or Bashar here then Bush Labda, but I suppose if you let one War Criminal in, you've got to let them all. :P

By labda06• 30 Mar 2009 14:30
labda06

LOL Gypsy!!

Perhaps Bush would consider coming here to write his US$7m book. Or is Bush news now stuff for the likes of the gutter press?

--------------------- N.O.W --------------------------

By Gypsy• 30 Mar 2009 14:30
Gypsy

Agreed tallg, I should have said, it already is.

By tallg• 30 Mar 2009 14:29
tallg

Judging from various articles I've read recently it already is.

By Gypsy• 30 Mar 2009 14:28
Gypsy

Yes it is, however do you think it's wise to let in people like Bashar and Mugabe? Isn't there a chance that letting men like this into the country could ruin Qatar's reputation.

By Khanan• 30 Mar 2009 14:25
Rating: 4/5
Khanan

Qatar is emerging as a key player in some of the important issue.

____________________________________________________

Have Courage To Live.

Anyone Can Die.

By DaRuDe• 30 Mar 2009 14:20
Rating: 2/5
DaRuDe

Hm guess because there are ppl like you and me living here fighting all the time. :?

By somwerNdmiddle• 30 Mar 2009 14:18
Rating: 3/5
somwerNdmiddle

you said it gypsy. qatar has been playing a vital if not very important role in the international community, taking initiatives no other country has done before.

=Dura Lex Sed Lex=

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