openpolitics.com

Trump Sides With Saudis, Other Gulf States in Rift With Qatar

Mr. Trump said in Twitter messages Tuesday that Gulf Arab leaders cited Qatar as a source of funding for extremism during his trip to the region last month, before a diplomatic rupture this week that holds implications for regional cooperation.

He tweeted: “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!”

 Mr. Trump added: “So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!”

.. A prolonged rift in the region could put the U.S. in a difficult position, as the command center overseeing the U.S.-led air war against Islamic State is at a U.S. military base in Qatar. The base is America’s largest military facility in the Middle East.