Reluctance to cheerlead alleged US ceasefire efforts reflects suspicion talk of peace could be another foil for escalation
Not long after Donald Trump said the US was engaged in “strong talks” to bring the war with Iran to an end this week, Qatar took the unusual step of distancing itself from the alleged diplomatic negotiations.
Qatar was not involved in any mediation efforts, said government spokesperson Majed al-Ansari at a briefing on Tuesday night, before adding as a telling aside: “If they exist.”
It signalled a notable break from Qatar’s historic and recurring position as chief mediator in Middle East and wider regional conflicts. Whether for negotiations between Israel and Hamas, talks between the US and the Taliban or attempting to broker peace deals in Lebanon and Sudan, orchestrating diplomatic summits has formed a cornerstone of the small Gulf state’s international heft.
I wonder how there can be a trust of Trump in the first place
People make deals with unscrupulous people all the time.
People understand that other people lie, and can handle it.
Trump is an outlier. It’s rare to have someone with that much power and that little intelligence. Most people who get into leadership positions have had to learn how to be a leader. Trump went from being a private citizen to President without ever having to learn how to do any of the aspects of the actual job.
You can trust Trump… to always lie about everything