Amir Tamim … boat rocker no longer here in Doha
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HISTORY has many lessons for future generations to refer to in order to avoid committing the same mistakes that were committed by the previous generations, and also to be able to confront events related to their homeland and society.
With this brief introduction, I wanted to return to the pages of history that were folded due to confidentiality, but the time has come to reveal them.
During a visit to the United Arab Emirates in 1995 when the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa took over the rule of Qatar, and the father Amir the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani settled in Abu Dhabi, he asked to meet me at his residence at the Inter Continental Hotel on that day.
After lunch, we entered one of the side rooms where he was accompanied by his office manager Issa Al-Kuwari who was very close to him.
To this day, I still remember very well the dialogue that took place between us. The late Sheikh Khalifa began his conversation by saying, “This is not a press meeting. The words I will say are not meant for publication. I know that one day, which I hope will be soon, you will meet His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, and you must convey this message to him – “Beware of Hamad bin Jassim … this person dreams of ruling Qatar, and he will continue to work to achieve that dream.”
I think that Hamad bin Jassim knew about this meeting, perhaps intelligently from him or for fear that I was carrying a certain message that rendered him to prevent me from meeting Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa. I therefore did not have the opportunity to meet him to convey the message to him, which has remained a secret for a quarter of a century.
Today when we look at Qatar, we see a country that is racing against the wind in terms of development. Following the great radical changes and the change in its policy compared to what it was before the year 2013, there is no doubt that the reason for this is the wise vision of the father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa. The latter had transferred power to his son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, who immediately started ejecting the foxes of Hamad bin Jassim from the state institutions.
In addition to being the Prime Minister, this fox took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which led him to control everything. At that time, he began working on implementing his dream, which was talked about by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad.
His dream of dominating Qatar almost came true. His broad imagination took him far away when he aspired to control some Arab countries. According to several international reports, he spent about $140 billion for interfering in the affairs of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and Syria.
Recordings of his conversations with Gaddafi concerning the division of Saudi Arabia, and his phone calls with a number of Bahraini or Kuwaiti figures to incite them against the regimes of their countries were leaked. His imagination was wide, and his pursuit was serious in this regard.
Given that the dreams of some people are much greater than their potential, his plans evaporated quickly. Despite his removal from his public post, he tried to continue influencing the path of Qatar. That is why the task of the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad at the beginning of his rule was arduous because those foxes had infiltrated all state institutions.
Sheikh Tamim worked with great patience and smartness in his approach to matters. The first major step he took was to stop the absurd bleeding of Qatari public money that the foxes were spending on conspiracies abroad. He issued directives for serving the people of Qatar, which in turn raised the average annual per capita income to about $145,000 – the highest in the world.
With the start of the crisis between the four countries and Qatar, the then director of the office of the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Ahmed Fahad Al-Fahad had called me and asked, “Where are you?” and I said, “In Spain”. He then said, “His Highness wants to talk to you.”
I remember well the words that the late Amir said amicably – “Oh Ahmad, we are busy mending the Gulf rift, and the tone of the media is disturbing the mediation and creating tension for nothing. Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and will continue to be its member, and Sheikh Tamim is the son of this council.”
His Highness Sheikh Sabah (May Allah have mercy on him) was fully convinced about reconciliation, which later came through Al-Ula summit, but these matters needed patience and deliberation.
By the way, Sheikh Sabah and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad communicated daily, as the late Amir harbored much love for Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and considered him as one of his children. Indeed, the Al-Sabah family has great love, respect and appreciation for the Amir of Qatar.
The great affection and appreciation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad is not limited to Kuwait, but also towards the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, especially Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed Zayed. The warm welcome he received in Al-Ula indicated all this, and that is why everyone believes that this summit had turned the crisis into a mere summer cloud.
It is not a secret that stopping the infiltrations of Hamad bin Jassim and his foxes came at a huge price, thanks to the tireless work of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad who succeeded in navigating his country to safer ground, and saving it from the jaws of foxes. He had worked with caution and sophistication to restore matters between brothers to their rightful place. This was clearly evident during the Al-Ula Summit, and history will always fondly remember him.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
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