ABSTRACT
Qatar’s share in the fighting — the victory over Iraqi troops at al-Khafji — gave a tremendous boost to Doha’s pride and sense of security. Like the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Qatar was caught unprepared by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The media glorified the “crushing defeat” dealt to Iraq, claiming it constituted a lesson “in military tactics and strategic coordination.” Despite the crucial importance, particularly in the postwar era, of the issue of regional security, Qatar’s approach to it was similarly indecisive. Qatar became one of the keener GCC states in pushing for better ties with Iran. Qatari-US relations, which had kept a very low profile following the Stinger missiles imbroglio in 1988, showed a marked improvement in 1990–91. Qatar had a seemingly broad-minded approach toward the Arab-Israeli conflict. The petition seemingly reflected an authentic mood within Qatar’s upper echelon and mirrored an eagerness for a more open, less paternalistic form of government.
