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Interview with Rob Sobhani

Aired September 25, 2002 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Arab nation of Qatar is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, but if there is an invasion of Iraq, it's going to be a major role player. That's where the U.S. Central Command will be based.
And for more perspective on Qatar, let's bring in Rob Sobhani with Georgetown University in Washington -- Rob, good to see you.

ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Nice seeing you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We've got politics to talk about and military advantages here. First, tell us about Qatar, this small Persian Gulf state, and how it's ruler, Sheikh Hamad is very much for Democratic reforms.

SOBHANI: Absolutely, Kyra. Sheikh Hamad since he took control of Qatar five years ago has instituted reform -- reform in the context of women's rights, reform in the context of ending censorship, reform in the context of education. For example, Qataris now can get a medical degree from Cornell medical school based in Doha, which is the capital of Qatar.

PHILLIPS: So, looking at long-term effects here between the U.S. and Qatar, are the hopes that Iran, Saudi Arabia, these other countries will be influenced -- Iraq, by Qatar and the sheikh and what he is pushing for?

SOBHANI: From a strategic standpoint, pound for pound, Qatar is going to turn out to be the strongest ally that we are going to have in the Persian Gulf today and into the future. Why? Because it has offered not only the United States strategic prepositioning, but is also with the United States in the need for reform in the Arab world, and that's key, Kyra, because Sheikh Hamad has made it very clear. If there is to be an end to terrorism, there needs to be pluralism in the Arab world, and that is why Qatar becomes so important, not just militarily, but for the long term prospect of democracy in the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about military now. The air bases -- there's three, but there is one of main importance. Al-Udeid (ph) Base, is that right?

SOBHANI: Absolutely. Al-Judeid (ph), which has one of the longest airstrips in the Persian Gulf, probably in the world, actually, and that is an extremely strategic air base for the United States.

When President Bush gives the green light to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

PHILLIPS: And this has been used in with Afghanistan.

SOBHANI: Absolutely, and that is why Qatar, as I mentioned earlier, is a strategic partner of the United States, not only were they a partner with us in the liberation of Afghanistan, they are going to be a partner with us if and when we start the liberation of Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Now, looking at economics for a moment. Qatar, could it be -- or could it allow us to be less reliant on Saudi when it comes to oil? There has been a lot of talk about if we attack Iraq, if we don't attack Iraq, and the outcome of oil, and where it is going to come from.

SOBHANI: Kyra, Qatar has the world's third largest reserves of natural gas. In the next several years, American homes may very well be heated by Qatari gas, and that is why it is also important for American energy security. Qatar is going to be a huge factor in the supply of energy to the United States in the future as well.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Now also, we should mention this. It is the home base of Al-Jazeera television, which -- we talk about a lot, we use a lot of Al-Jazeera's videotape. It has also been the center of controversy, though, talking about biased journalism.

SOBHANI: Absolutely. I had a chance to visit with the editors of Al-Jazeera, but the contribution of Al-Jazeera is this: it has created a free press zone in the Arab world where the media for the most part is dominated by the states.

Yes, we may not like some of their commentary. According to their -- by their own admission, 30 percent of the time they may not even provide an accurate picture, but for the most part, they are providing a forum for all ideas. In fact, you have had more Israelis on Al-Jazeera than members of Hamas and Hezbollah combined.

PHILLIPS: Now, didn't Qatar's foreign minister come out and say that he was against war against Iraq, or is this just something he is saying publicly?

SOBHANI: The foreign minister of Qatar stated publicly that Qatar would be against an invasion of Iraq, but privately, not just Qatar, but other countries in the Persian Gulf have stated very clearly Saddam Hussein is an evil person, Saddam Hussein is a threat to his own people, but also to the Persian Gulf -- why?

Twenty-five percent of the world's oil and gas flows through the Persian Gulf, and Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to hold a strangle hold over this very strategic piece of property.

PHILLIPS: So Rob, as we wrap this up, let's put it in perspective one more time. Long-term and short-term goals for this relationship between the U.S. and Qatar. Short-term, is this attack against Iraq and military help. Long-term, it could make a huge impact on religious and political beliefs throughout that region. SOBHANI: Absolutely. As you well stated Kyra, Qatar is a strategic partner from a military standpoint, but more importantly, in the president's war on terror, Qatar is going to play a major role in reformation, bringing democracy and pluralism to the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: Rob Sobhani, professor at Georgetown University. Always a pleasure. Great insight, Rob. Thank you so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 25, 2002 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Arab nation of Qatar is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, but if there is an invasion of Iraq, it's going to be a major role player. That's where the U.S. Central Command will be based.
And for more perspective on Qatar, let's bring in Rob Sobhani with Georgetown University in Washington -- Rob, good to see you.

ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Nice seeing you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We've got politics to talk about and military advantages here. First, tell us about Qatar, this small Persian Gulf state, and how it's ruler, Sheikh Hamad is very much for Democratic reforms.

SOBHANI: Absolutely, Kyra. Sheikh Hamad since he took control of Qatar five years ago has instituted reform -- reform in the context of women's rights, reform in the context of ending censorship, reform in the context of education. For example, Qataris now can get a medical degree from Cornell medical school based in Doha, which is the capital of Qatar.

PHILLIPS: So, looking at long-term effects here between the U.S. and Qatar, are the hopes that Iran, Saudi Arabia, these other countries will be influenced -- Iraq, by Qatar and the sheikh and what he is pushing for?

SOBHANI: From a strategic standpoint, pound for pound, Qatar is going to turn out to be the strongest ally that we are going to have in the Persian Gulf today and into the future. Why? Because it has offered not only the United States strategic prepositioning, but is also with the United States in the need for reform in the Arab world, and that's key, Kyra, because Sheikh Hamad has made it very clear. If there is to be an end to terrorism, there needs to be pluralism in the Arab world, and that is why Qatar becomes so important, not just militarily, but for the long term prospect of democracy in the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about military now. The air bases -- there's three, but there is one of main importance. Al-Udeid (ph) Base, is that right?

SOBHANI: Absolutely. Al-Judeid (ph), which has one of the longest airstrips in the Persian Gulf, probably in the world, actually, and that is an extremely strategic air base for the United States.

When President Bush gives the green light to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

PHILLIPS: And this has been used in with Afghanistan.

SOBHANI: Absolutely, and that is why Qatar, as I mentioned earlier, is a strategic partner of the United States, not only were they a partner with us in the liberation of Afghanistan, they are going to be a partner with us if and when we start the liberation of Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Now, looking at economics for a moment. Qatar, could it be -- or could it allow us to be less reliant on Saudi when it comes to oil? There has been a lot of talk about if we attack Iraq, if we don't attack Iraq, and the outcome of oil, and where it is going to come from.

SOBHANI: Kyra, Qatar has the world's third largest reserves of natural gas. In the next several years, American homes may very well be heated by Qatari gas, and that is why it is also important for American energy security. Qatar is going to be a huge factor in the supply of energy to the United States in the future as well.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Now also, we should mention this. It is the home base of Al-Jazeera television, which -- we talk about a lot, we use a lot of Al-Jazeera's videotape. It has also been the center of controversy, though, talking about biased journalism.

SOBHANI: Absolutely. I had a chance to visit with the editors of Al-Jazeera, but the contribution of Al-Jazeera is this: it has created a free press zone in the Arab world where the media for the most part is dominated by the states.

Yes, we may not like some of their commentary. According to their -- by their own admission, 30 percent of the time they may not even provide an accurate picture, but for the most part, they are providing a forum for all ideas. In fact, you have had more Israelis on Al-Jazeera than members of Hamas and Hezbollah combined.

PHILLIPS: Now, didn't Qatar's foreign minister come out and say that he was against war against Iraq, or is this just something he is saying publicly?

SOBHANI: The foreign minister of Qatar stated publicly that Qatar would be against an invasion of Iraq, but privately, not just Qatar, but other countries in the Persian Gulf have stated very clearly Saddam Hussein is an evil person, Saddam Hussein is a threat to his own people, but also to the Persian Gulf -- why?

Twenty-five percent of the world's oil and gas flows through the Persian Gulf, and Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to hold a strangle hold over this very strategic piece of property.

PHILLIPS: So Rob, as we wrap this up, let's put it in perspective one more time. Long-term and short-term goals for this relationship between the U.S. and Qatar. Short-term, is this attack against Iraq and military help. Long-term, it could make a huge impact on religious and political beliefs throughout that region. SOBHANI: Absolutely. As you well stated Kyra, Qatar is a strategic partner from a military standpoint, but more importantly, in the president's war on terror, Qatar is going to play a major role in reformation, bringing democracy and pluralism to the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: Rob Sobhani, professor at Georgetown University. Always a pleasure. Great insight, Rob. Thank you so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com