Qatar has sent fighter jets by way of Greece in order to back allied forces in the military action to enforce a U.N. mandated no-fly zone over Libyan air space. It is the first Arab nation to provide military support to the coalition effort and a reminder that Qatar is an economic and political force in the region. The small peninsular country has garnered considerable influence throughout the world by creating key and conflicting allies while managing to attract investment from the West. It’s site of the 2022 World Cup, and home to the Al Jazeera news network, which has been instrumental in reporting the wave of change happening in the Middle East. To talk about what’s at stake in this conflict for Qatar is Mark Farha, Visiting Professor of Government at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
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