Qatar - An Unlikely New Power?

An interesting analysis by Tristan Gray on his blog: A third Opinion

The tiny nation of only 300,000 citizens is bolstered by 1.5million immigrant workers, boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, dominates mediation efforts in the Middle East, and is becoming the most aggressive advocate of the Arab Spring revolutions outside the west. With military agreements with the US, Britain and France, but a national media which, along with anti-American sentiment, has become the voice of Islam world-wide, Qatar is set to bat well above its weight in international affairs. As military confrontation between Iran and the US remains on the table, and the fall of Assad becomes ever-more likely, it may be Qatar which rushes head-first into the flames and emerges a regional power holding the ears of all those with interests in the region. Qatar's tendrils of influence spread over the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, where will be next?