by DEBORAH AMOS
Audio for this story from All Things Considered will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET
The tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar has deep pockets and a big microphone in the form of its news network, Al Jazeera. In recent months, those assets have been used to propel the Arab Spring forward. Qatar has supported rebel movements in Libya and Syria, and is promoting a “Marshall Fund” for Oman, Morocco and Jordan. The country’s emir has close, personal relationships with the emerging Islamist leaders from Casablanca to Cairo — and meanwhile provides a home to the largest U.S. military base outside the United States.
provides a home to the largest U.S. military base outside the United States.
