Former U.S. admiral calls on Trump to take action against Qatar

CAIRO – 18 August 2017: Retired U.S. navy admiral and the U.S. pacific fleet’s former commander in chief, James A. Lyons asserted in an article by the Washington Times on Wednesday Qatar’s subversive role in the region, conforming its involvement in terrorism funding and sponsorship.

Lyons articulated in his article that Qatar has plied its affiliate media platform Al Jazeera media network to pull off a “propaganda war” against its Sunni neighboring Arab states.

“Qatar’s destabilizing actions stand in dark contrast with [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump’s successful participation in the first-ever Islamic American Summit, May 20-21,” whose aims are to unify the Arab states in the face of terrorism.



Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (L) receives U.S. President Donald Trump for the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 21, 2017


“In that sense, it was recognized at the summit that Qatar was a problem to a greater extent than other nations represented, as it openly supported various jihadi groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood at a very high level,” he elaborated.

Lyons finds the Arab boycott to Qatar is not surprising, especially in light of its strong and friendly relations with the extremist government of Iran and its unabashed support for the Brotherhood.

Moreover, he calls on American President Trump to take the plunge and stall the sale of $12 billion worth of jet fighter aircraft to Qatar until the standoff is resolved. He also called on Trump to mull the removal of the currently Doha-based American military base, which, he argues, Doha uses as a positive sign for the U.S. administration’s approval of Doha’s unacceptable attitudes.

“Further, the hold on arms sales to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries should be reviewed as it unnecessarily penalizes Saudi Arabia for equipment and munitions that it needs, and is in our national interest.” Leyons further said.

In May, President Trump signed a nearly $110 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia.

Lyons concluded by calling on Trump to stand firmly against “the new Iran-Qatar-Turkey jihad axis.”

Since June 5, Qatar has been boycotted by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab of Emirates after evidences surfaced about Doha's implicit in harboring and funding terrorism that roils the region for many years on.