Well, it did not happen this year. The Nobel committee did not select our Dear Leader for the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite claims of stopping 7 or 8 or 9 wars (the number depended on the weather of the day he was asked perhaps), apparently, the Nobel Committee could not find that those wonderful achievements occurred.
However, a last-minute action before the award announcement looked like it could finally get the cherished prize. But no…. Maybe next year - if the Trump-enabled peace agreement between Israel and Hamas holds.
There is no question if the killing truly stays stopped between these long-time adversaries that this is a great accomplishment. It would be more than Biden was able to achieve.
The common understanding is that Beebe’s (Prime Minister Netanyahu) failed attempt to kill the Hamas negotiators in Doha, Qatar was a huge strategic mistake. Not informing the US caused a huge amount of anger within the US administration.
But it was undoubtedly more than that. Trump (and family) had created exceptionally positive relations with Qatari leaders - plus a budding business relationship in advance of the attack.
Recall that it was Qatar that gifted Trump one of their super luxury airliners -one that is being retrofitted to the tune of several hundreds of million dollars (some estimates say a billion dollars) into a new Air Force One and destined later to be a trophy for the Trump Presidential Library.
What got Beebe to acquiesce to a deal, quite quickly as a matter of fact, was not just the anger from the US and Qatar. It was that Trump could pull the money and military support plug. This threat undoubtedly happened. It is true that the brutal Israel military offensive in Gaza was causing diminishing support for Israel in the US. But the fact that pulling this plug was always available to Trump (and Biden for that matter) is what leads me to think about other reasons.
We must consider our transactional President’s actions in terms of his omnipresent personal interests. We already know that he has leveraged his position to practically double his wealth since 2024. ($4.3 billion to $7.3 billion).
Trump courted the wealthy Middle Eastern Arab oil states this past May as his first major diplomatic trip. The trip to Saudi Arabia (home of the 9-11 killers and the murderous Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman) resulted in a $600 billion investment pledge in the US from the Saudis. Qatar on this trip indicated they would also do US deals worth hundreds of billion dollars. The United Arab Emirates resulted in AI “cooperation” and a wonderful tour for Trump of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Security agreements were also involved that potentially shifts US policy in the region. Good stuff you say.
Then how about an agreement to do a $6.5 billion luxury golf resort in Qatar by the Trump organization. The deal includes partnering with Qatari Diar, a company owned by the Qatari government and Dar Global, the international arm of a Saudi real estate company.
Hmm. So if you are Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for that matter, and you are bombed by one of the US’s closest allies, I think you will not only be outraged but also making clear to Trump - if you want deals, call off the dogs.
As I write this, it is still unclear how well the peace will hold. Hamas has been obstinate before about giving up weapons and its existence.
But I think we can surmise how to trigger better relations with our new peacenik President here at home. All the Democrat cities under attack or in the cross hairs of Trump’s personal ICE army and potentially US troops (getting in some war practice) need to offer up something like a golf course development possibility for the Trump organization. The “peace” President always wants a “piece” of the action.
W Laurence Doxsey, Retired, Former Director of Office of Sustainability for City of San Antonio, former Environmental Officer for US Department of Housing and Urban Development, former Sustainability Officer for City of Austin, resides outside Medina.
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