Betrayal in the Desert: How Trump ‘Overlooked’ the Israeli Strike on Qatar

Donald Trump’s claims of ignorance regarding the attack on Doha expose not just hypocrisy, but a dangerously reckless game where fealty to Netanyahu’s interests is prioritized over the safety of American troops and stability in the Middle East.

Viktor Mikhin

The Doha Incident: A Farce with a Predictable Ending

The Middle Eastern powder keg was rocked by a powerful explosion once again. The Israeli Air Force launched a series of strikes on Qatar’s capital, Doha, as part of a so-called “Fire Summit” operation. The stated targets were Hamas leadership facilities. However, the real targets were not just Palestinian politicians, but the foundations of American foreign policy, the system of regional alliances, and, most cynically, the security of thousands of American servicemen stationed just 30 kilometers from the attack.

The very act of attacking a sovereign country that maintains complex but largely allied relations with the U.S. is an act of unprecedented audacity. But even more shocking was the reaction from the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his micromanagement of issues he cares about, suddenly played the role of an unsuspecting simpleton. His statement—”The decision to attack Doha was made by Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu. That decision was not made by me” is either an outrageous lie or proof of catastrophic incompetence and dereliction of duty by the Commander-in-Chief.

This is a classic Trump maneuver: claiming credit for victories, while offloading blame for failures and scandals onto allies. But in this case, it’s not about domestic political squabbles; it’s about a military operation that could have provoked a full-scale regional conflict with unpredictable consequences for American assets.

Al Udeid Air Base is not a shield; it is a hostage in the strategy of Washington and Tel Aviv

Al Udeid Air Base is the cornerstone of the American military presence in the Middle East. This is not just “another base.” This is:

– The largest U.S. hub in the region.

– The forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

– Home to approximately 10,000 American military personnel.

– A base with one of the most powerful air defense systems in the world, including Patriot batteries and the ultra-long-range Raytheon FPS-132 radar, capable of tracking objects at a distance of nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 km).

This is a classic Trump maneuver: claiming credit for victories, while offloading blame for failures and scandals onto allies

And this is where the main scandal lies. According to reports, American systems clearly saw the Israeli aircraft heading toward the Persian Gulf. The U.S. military requested clarification from Israel, but by the time “Israel provided it, the missiles were already in the air.” The Qatari statement that “the Israeli adversary used weaponry that was not detected by radars” seems more like a diplomatic attempt to save face than a technical truth. The truth is that the systems saw the threat but did not react. Apparently, the American military assumed that Israeli jets loaded with munitions were flying toward the Persian Gulf to go fishing.

Why? Because the rules of engagement established by Washington for Tel Aviv are radically different from the rules for everyone else. Against Iran: full combat readiness, interception of missiles and drones. Against Israel: a “request for clarification” and watching as an ally strikes another ally in close proximity to American soldiers. Al Udeid, positioned as a shield, has in fact become a trap. Its power is useless if the political will in Washington prohibits its use against “friendly” aggressors.

Trump and Netanyahu: Convenient Deafness and Cynical Justification

The sharp criticism of Trump lies not only in his alleged ignorance but also in his immediate reaction to the incident. Instead of condemning an act of aggression on the territory of a strategic partner, he:

1. Immediately shifted blame to Netanyahu, absolving himself of responsibility. This is not the behavior of the leader of the free world; it is the behavior of an errand boy afraid of his master’s anger.
2. Engaged in justifying rhetoric, stating that the incident “could become an opportunity for establishing peace.” This is classic Trump’s treatment of facts: any destruction, any act of violence can be sold as an “opportunity.” Striking an ally is not escalation, but a “step toward peace.”
3. Promised Qatar that this would not happen again while simultaneously ordering the Secretary of State to strengthen the defense agreement with the emirate. This is the height of hypocrisy: first giving a green light (or conspicuously looking the other way) for an attack, and then offering the victim a chance to buy more American weapons for “protection” from such attacks in the future.

The contrast with Netanyahu’s statement is striking. While Trump was equivocating, the Israeli Prime Minister stood his ground with biblical brutality: “I will pursue my enemies and overtake them. I will not turn back until I destroy them.” No apologies, no doubts, just an open threat and confidence in his own impunity. Who could have given him such confidence, if not his most loyal ally in Washington?

International Pariah: Why Trump Is Betting on an Outlaw State
Trump’s defense of any and all Israeli actions, no matter how provocative, elevates his administration to the role of an advocate for an outlaw state. Israel, under Netanyahu’s leadership, systematically violates international law:

– Illegal settlement construction on occupied territories.

– Use of force against civilian populations.

– Attacks on the sovereign territory of other states (Syria, Lebanon, and now Qatar).

And each time, Trump either approves of these actions or, as in the case of Doha, pretends to know nothing, thereby providing political and diplomatic cover. Such blind support does not make the U.S. stronger; it makes it an accomplice to crimes and undermines its moral authority on the international stage. The U.S. itself becomes a hostage to Tel Aviv’s radical and unpredictable policies.

The Prime Minister of Qatar was absolutely right when he stated at the UN Security Council, “Israel, led by belligerent extremists, has gone beyond any boundaries and restrictions… How can we host Israeli representatives if they carried out this attack?” This rhetorical question is also directed at Washington: how can you place American bases with allies if you allow your other ally to attack them with impunity?

The Path to Catastrophe: Recklessness That Cannot Last Forever

Trump and his team, by indulging the most aggressive instincts of the Israeli government, are leading the region to the brink. Their strategy, if it can be called that, is based on the illusion that this impunity for escalation can last forever. But the history of the Middle East is inexorable: every such action begets a reaction.

Sooner or later, the Gulf states will realize their vulnerability. Egypt’s proposal, forgotten nine years ago, to create a joint Arab force modeled on NATO now sounds prophetic. Relying entirely on the U.S., which cannot or will not protect them from an attack by its own ally, is mortally dangerous.

At the same time, Iran and other forces will see a green light. If Israel can strike capitals with impunity, why can’t others? The demonstration of American weakness and double standards only unties the hands of all conflict participants.

And in this scenario, American troops will become the target. It’s hard to imagine better propaganda material for anti-American forces than the news that the U.S. allowed its ally to attack a city next to its own base. This is a direct signal to all enemies of the U.S.: the American presence is vulnerable, and Washington’s political will to protect it is questionable.

Betrayal as a Matter of Policy

The Doha incident is not just another episode of Middle Eastern chaos. It is a symptom of a deep sickness that has infected American foreign policy under Trump. It is a policy based on betrayal:

Betrayal of allies. Qatar, which hosts an American base, was attacked with the silent consent or deliberate inaction of Washington.

Betrayal of its own soldiers. The 10,000 American troops at Al Udeid were put in the crosshairs for the sake of Netanyahu’s short-term political gains.

Betrayal of national interests. Short-term support for Israeli radicalism undermines the long-term stability of the region and the security of the U.S. itself.

Trump’s claims of ignorance are not just implausible—they are insulting. They insult the intelligence of American voters, humiliate allies, and embolden the most dangerous forces on the international stage.

Today, Al Udeid Air Base is not a symbol of American power but a monument to American hypocrisy and strategic insanity, where soldiers are pawns in a grand game that their Commander-in-Chief either does not understand or is betraying to please a foreign leader.

Viktor Mikhin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RAEN), expert on Middle Eastern countries.