THE GCC AND UKRAINE... IS THERE A LINK?

For those of you that know be or have followed me for the past few years, you know my real area of interest is the Middle East.

Having said that, my second favorite thing to do is follow the actions of the 21st Century Tsar.. the most interesting and in my opinion, most important man in the world.

So about a day ago a rift was openly proclaimed in the GCC.

It's obvious the events in the Ukraine stripped this otherwise very interesting story from the front pages of the world press, but it cannot go overlooked.

So, why did it happen?

To listen to the media it a simple issue of Qatar's not agreeing to go along with the GCC on issues have never been issues between it's members in the past. "Don't "meddle in each other's affairs"! 

Right!! Like that has never happened in the Middle East!

So is that it?

Did this turn of events, one that damaged the accreditation of the GCC happen for such an open / shout topic?

I would suggest we look just a little deeper into the topic and see where the tensions really rest.

I've stated time and time again how the old, loyal members of the US, Middle Eastern friendship pact have been more than uncomfortable with the actions of the US over the past three years.

To put it simply, Saudi / the center of gravity for the GCC, has lost a great deal of "hope" when it comes to the future of US / Saudi interactions.

It's no mystery the Saudis have been searching for a new long term, strategic partner/ s / such as China / Russia / India.

The US support for the Arab Spring meant what to the GCC?

If you don't remember, then I will tell you...it nearly destroyed all hope of Western Support.

So; what did the GCC witness last week?

What took place in the Ukraine that may have their worries / fears rising to the surface once again?

Did the US once again stand up for a group who showed up in nations capital and within days bring it's government to ruins?

Yes!

Do the Saudis and the GCC truly understand the other dynamics of the Ukrainian issue?

Perhaps, but I doubt it's at any level that would not spur on their basic fear of Western abandonment for Middle Easter Monarchies.

To many in the GCC, the West seems to be consistently on the side of the disruptive minority!

Understand one of the tenets of paranoia; rational thinking is one of the first things to go.

The leaders of the GCC are paranoid and watching yet another sitting government fall and do so very much in the same fashion of the Arab Spring; well... who knows where that perception may take them?

Has Qatar been trying to "punch above it's weight" for the past two years?

Yes.

Has that bothered the GCC leaders?

Perhaps to some degree, but understand the level of pride that has suffered a huge hit by taking such bold actions against its own members.

The actions of Saudi, UAE and Bahrain were not taken without a great deal of consultation and I would be willing to bet very few Western leaders or their staffs had any inputs to the decision and if that is true, that is even more of a story than the actions themselves.

Openly admitting dissension in the public... the Persian Public... that had to weigh heavy on the minds of the GCC leaders, but they did it!

I know the world is watching what it believes is the dawn of a new cold war, but I tell you this... don't overlook what just took place in the GCC.

The Persians didn't!

A crack is an opportunity and the Persians love opportunities.