(U) QATARI CITIZENS AND THE RULING FAMILY

S E C R E T STATE 029753 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2034 TAGS: PINR ECON PGOV SCUL SOCI QA SUBJECT: (U) QATARI CITIZENS AND THE RULING FAMILY (C-NE9-00651) REF: A. 2000 DOHA 001319 ¶B. 1993 DOHA 01313 ¶C. 2006 DOHA 001553 ¶D. 1991 DOHA 03250 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS MAINTAIN INTEREST IN QATAR'S DOMESTIC STABILITY, INCLUDING RELATIONS BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE RULING FAMILY, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. ANALYSTS APPRECIATE THE REFERENCED REPORTING AND WOULD WELCOME ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP TO SHAPE THEIR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT ISSUES THAT FACTOR INTO QATAR'S STABILITY, AS POST'S TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (S/NF) WHAT TENSIONS EXIST BETWEEN AL-THANI FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER QATARI CITIZENS? WHAT ARE POPULAR ATTITUDES TOWARD SPECIFIC RULING FAMILY MEMBERS? WHAT ARE QATARI ATTITUDES TOWARD THE US MILITARY PRESENCE AND EXPATRIATE POPULATION? ¶B. (C/NF) HOW DO QATARIS FEEL ABOUT PLAYING AN INCREASED ROLE IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM? ARE THEY APATHETIC OR ENERGIZED BY POSSIBLE FUTURE POLITICAL REFORMS? ¶C. (C/NF) WHAT CONCERNS DOES THE QATARI POPULATION HAVE, IF ANY, WITH THE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC/SOCIAL DIRECTION THE COUNTRY IS TAKING? HOW IS ANY OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT HANDLED? ¶D. (C/NF) WHAT OUTLETS EXIST FOR QATARIS TO SOCIALIZE AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS? SPORTING CLUBS? CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS? ¶E. (S/NF) WHAT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE AL-THANI FAMILY? WHAT DISPARITIES EXIST BETWEEN PROMINENT AND COLLATERAL BRANCHES IN TERMS OF LIVING STANDARDS AND EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES? ¶F. (S/NF) WHAT IS THE STATUS OF QATARI INTERIOR MINISTER (AND SUSPECTED EXTREMIST SYMPATHIZER) ABDALLAH BIN KHALID AL-THANI? WHY DOES THE AMIR PERMIT HIM TO RETAIN HIS MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIO? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NE9-00651 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON