BLOOD MONEY: How Qatar Bought Off the Entire DC Establishment

The new film “Blood Money” deals with how the tiny Gulf Emirate of Qatar funds lobbyists, media outlets, think tanks to advance its agenda in Washington at the expense of the US and our allies. It explains, through this case study, how the foreign influence game works inside the Beltway. It also deals with a subject that’s particularly close to my heart, the emergence of a new, anti-Islamist Middle East and how it came about. I am featured in the film, alongside my old colleague, Dr. J Michael Waller, a professor of political warfare and one of the nation’s experts in information and influence operations. The finished product is remarkably well-made, fast-paced and is guaranteed to be provocative. Watch it below.

Further Reading: SSG Qatar Archive

Since 2017, at the Security Studies Group, we have covered Qatar, its dispute with its regional neighbors, and the implications for US national interests and that of our allies. Below is a sampling of some of our research in this area, with a special focus on information warfare.

David Reaboi: “Why Should We Care About Qatar’s Influence?” Arguably, there’s not another country that’s even half as aggressive in the foreign influence game as Qatar. Americans should be aware of its dangerous information and influence efforts.
“Qatar: US Ally or Global Menace? Conference Transcript” Security Studies Group was proud to co-sponsor and participate in a Middle East Forum conference, “Qatar: U.S. Ally or Global Menace,” in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 6, 2019.
Brad Patty: “The Role of Fomenting Revolutions in Qatari Grand Strategy” The reason Qatar supports Islamist movements that threaten regimes like their own is that they have much more to fear from the righteous anger of their slaves.
SSG: “How Qatar Targets America’s Allies in the New Middle East” Why the alliance between the US, Israel and Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE is both important and in very healthy shape thanks to Donald Trump.
Brad Patty & Nick Short: “Khashoggi Case- Analysis of an Information Operation” The killing of Qatari asset Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey caught the attention of the entire world for an extended period of time, much longer than the news of one murder would normally do. Security Studies Group decided to examine why.
SSG: “Reaboi at the Federalist: Qatar Hacking Scandal Illustrates How U.S. Media Megaphones Foreign Agitprop” In the Elliott Broidy case, the media’s anti-Trump hysteria aligned with Qatar’s interests. The story of how Qatar’s paid actors targeted him using U.S. media deserves to be well-known.
Jim Hanson: “Is Qatar really an ally?” Secretary of State Pompeo just returned from a trip across the Middle East and one of his stops was in Qatar. He announced a number of initiatives including an expansion of al-Ubeid Air Base where the US has a major contingent. What was not mentioned was Qatar’s continued support for terrorism or its many other malign activities throughout the region or their effects on the US and our interests.
SSG: “Hanson at the Federalist: Bombshell Info Says Khashoggi Was A Foreign Influence Agent” Jamal Khashoggi’s op-eds published in the very influential Washington Post certainly qualify as attempts to change U.S. policy against Saudi Arabia and in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood.
David Reaboi: “Khashoggi: Qatari Asset in Life; Qatari Asset in Death” Thanks to the Washington Post, we now know that Jamal Khashoggi was never a journalist; he was a highly-partisan operative who worked with a handler to publish propaganda at the behest of Qatar. He was, in other words, an agent of influence.
Brad Patty: “Qatar’s Role in the Current Middle East Crisis” A ‘charm offensive’ is bearing fruit, but to satisfy America’s allies Qatar will have to stop playing both sides between Iran and the West.
Angelo Codevilla: “For Years, Qatar Has Been Corrupting the National Security Deep State” The Muslim Brotherhood’s ideas and the Qatari state’s money have encouraged the professors, think-tankers and bureaucrats of America’s National Security State to indulge their own prejudices.
Nick Short: “Qatar World Cup Unraveling? Sunday Times Details Bribery and Corruption in FIFA” The state of Qatar secretly ordered $400 million to FIFA just 21 days before the governing body controversially decided that the 2022 World Cup would be held in the tiny desert country.
Brad Patty: “Qatar Crisis: The Importance of Strong Criticism versus Terror Financing” There will be costs associated with the decision to push Qatar on this, but there are costs to turning a blind eye to terror financing too. During the Obama administration, the president’s calculation went the other way.

About The Author

David Reaboi

David has spent the last decade as consultant in national security and political warfare. He works at the intersection of communications and policy, specializing in Sunni Islamist movements. He received a BA from George Washington University in International Affairs, with a concentration in the history of the Cold War. He is a Claremont Fellow, His work has received formal commendations from the 30th Heavy Brigade, the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division. Dr. Patty holds his PhD in Philosophy ….