The Emir and I (II)

So the Emir of Qatar invited me on the day of my departure. I spent more than 2 hours with him. He talked a lot and I talked a lot. The director-general of Aljazeera, Waddah Khanfar, was present. I told the Emir that I am not happy with his reconciliation with Saudi Arabia and that I have become a victim of that reconciliation because Aljazeera now invites me mostly to speak about Ukraine and Afghanistan mostly. He expressed surprise and told Khanfar that no restrictions were placed on my appearances or topics covered. I told him that i was willing to instigate the Saudi-Qatari conflict and am willing to worsen the relationships between the two countries at once. I spoke against any forms of normalization between Qatar and Israel and I asked him about the lack of political parties and civic associations in Qatar. I told him that I will criticize him on Aljazeera about ties between Qatar and Israel (which I had done before). He said that Aljazeera is a free platform for me and that I can say what I wish. He talked and answered all my questions and told me about Arab summits (and the behind the scenes) and about his intervention in the Lebanese conflict which led to Doha Agreement but the conversations were off the record, so I can't reveal much. I told him that his Minister of Energy is sympathetic to March 14 in Lebanon (I can't say what he said in response). He talked about Saudi-Qatari relations but the conversation was off the record as well. We spoke about Gaza and the Palestinian scene. I told him that a Lebanese Arab can't enter Qatar without a previously issued visa, while an Israeli--according to my informants--can obtain one at the airport. He expressed surprise and said that he will check on that. Oh, we also spoke about weight control as he is on a diet. He offered me a cigar but I don't smoke. He told me about his plans for Qatar. He told me details about his relations with the US during the Bush years.

PS This post is sponsored by Qatar Airways. I AM KIDDING. I can't believe that you believed that. I make a point of writing about such a meeting so that all is out in the open.