tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post5502248844460132829..comments2024-03-20T01:06:12.181-04:00Comments on MEI Editor's Blog: Will Sheikh Tamim Differ from His Father?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post-91649558376954629482013-06-25T10:32:22.571-04:002013-06-25T10:32:22.571-04:00Politics in the Arabian Peninsula is intensely per...Politics in the Arabian Peninsula is intensely personal. By and large, Shaikh Hamad's fellow rulers disapproved of his removal of his father. Shaikh Khalifa was a dour fellow but neither venal, stupid nor too old or feeble to carry out his duties. Hamad's coup seemed disrespectful, at the very least, and reminded the other GCC hereditary rulers that they depended on the vagaries of family politics to stay in power. Hamad is smarter than average, and I would guess he wanted to avoid a situation where declining health or unanticipated failure of some policy made him vulnerable to just such a family coup. He has now secured an honorable place in the history of Qatar, and it could set a good example. Latter is probably not likely, as the normal human instinct of leaders, both democratic and otherwise, is to outstay their welcome. David Macknoreply@blogger.com