There’s No Such Thing as a Free Qatari Lunch

Qatar has “managed to diplomatically punch above its weight,” and the strength of the country’s punch comes from many sources beyond the money it sinks into Boeing jets, K Street lobbying firms and elite universities (“Qatar Deploys Gas Riches to Gain Geopolitical Clout,” U.S. News, May 16).

Qatari dollars are everywhere in the U.S., from the highest levels of government to local public schools and youth sports programs. Qatar owns Miramax, the Hollywood film studio behind “Pulp Fiction” and “Good Will Hunting.” It also owns the St. Regis hotels in New York and San Francisco. The list goes on.

Curiously, the Trump administration is keen to believe “that there are no strings attached” to Qatar’s largess. Having built his reputation on deal-making, President Trump surely knows better. There’s no such thing as a free lunch—particularly when that lunch is served by a country that has sponsored Hamas, al Qaeda and the Taliban. The White House maintains that the deals Mr. Trump secured in Qatar are a “win for America.” But a win at what cost?

Natalie Ecanow is a senior research analyst at FDD focusing on the Middle East and the Gulf.