If they want to run their own country, good luck to them. But they can't for a host of reason, mostly because Qatar has evolved into a country in which its native population is increasingly irrelevant to its economy, politics and, therefore, future.
The modern Qatar exists because large international (mostly American corporations) make a great deal of money extracting and distributing LNG to other country (virtually none of it goes to the US). Strategically Qatar is important for helping to secure the flow of KSA and Kuwait's old through the Gulf, but their are other options for this. Yes, many Qataris are wealth, but the national GDP is small--less that countries like Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and only two spots above Bangladesh. Adjusted for inflation and cost living, the ranking goes way down. Moreover, Qatar's wealth is unsustainable, because it sells resources rather than finished products or services. So, geopolitically and economically, Qatar is a client state--if not of the US then someone else. And its proverbial boss is not about to let it change if that risks the profits of the oil companies or the strategic interests of America. Just look at Bahrain.
Having said that, I understand why some Qataris are frustrated. I would be too in their position. I also applaud the efforts of those in Qatar who trying to embrace sustainable wealth production, but they are fighting an uphill battle.
If they want to run their own country, good luck to them. But they can't for a host of reason, mostly because Qatar has evolved into a country in which its native population is increasingly irrelevant to its economy, politics and, therefore, future.
The modern Qatar exists because large international (mostly American corporations) make a great deal of money extracting and distributing LNG to other country (virtually none of it goes to the US). Strategically Qatar is important for helping to secure the flow of KSA and Kuwait's old through the Gulf, but their are other options for this. Yes, many Qataris are wealth, but the national GDP is small--less that countries like Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and only two spots above Bangladesh. Adjusted for inflation and cost living, the ranking goes way down. Moreover, Qatar's wealth is unsustainable, because it sells resources rather than finished products or services. So, geopolitically and economically, Qatar is a client state--if not of the US then someone else. And its proverbial boss is not about to let it change if that risks the profits of the oil companies or the strategic interests of America. Just look at Bahrain.
Having said that, I understand why some Qataris are frustrated. I would be too in their position. I also applaud the efforts of those in Qatar who trying to embrace sustainable wealth production, but they are fighting an uphill battle.