The Crown Prince shook his head. "In less than a week Qatar will be a Saudi province, and we can collect those military assets.”
Enes nodded. “You can easily defeat whatever military forces remain in Qatar. But I’m sure you know that you will take casualties. And fighting them will force you to destroy their equipment, rather than adding their weapons to your own forces. Plus, we are offering you the chance to obtain all of the Qatari aircraft that flew to Turkey after the conflict. Just send pilots to fly them from Turkey.”
The Crown Prince shrugged, clearly unimpressed. "Continue.”
“Al-Jazeera will cease broadcasting permanently.”
Now the Crown Prince actually laughed. ”Al-Jazeera’s studios in Doha are on the list of structures to be leveled once we annex Qatar. I think that will end their broadcasts quite effectively.”
Enes shook his head. “Ending Al-Jazeera’s broadcasts was one of the chief demands of your government for ending the blockade of Qatar, and we both know why. Our government has promised to provide Al-Jazeera broadcasting facilities, and nearly all of its journalists are now in Ankara. Thanks to the Internet, Al-Jazeera’s programs will continue to be seen throughout the Middle East, and indeed throughout the world. Unless you agree to our proposal. May I continue?”
The Crown Prince was clearly having trouble keeping his temper, but finally managed to nod.
“Qatar will pay one hundred billion US dollars in reparations.”
The Crown Prince sneered. “About a third of the money in Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund? Very generous! I think we’ll prefer to seize Qatar’s oil and gas production, and see how much that gets us. Plus whatever we find in Qatar’s banks.”
Enes nodded. “The Americans have already said publicly that they would impose sanctions on you if you seize and attempt to sell Qatar’s oil and gas.
Also, Qatar’s banks are empty, with all their assets digitally transferred to Turkey days ago. Still, we can return to this topic.”
The Crown Prince shrugged, but said nothing.
“The Americans plan to return to Al Udeid air base just south of Doha, and from there will both once again support your campaign in Yemen with mid-air refueling, as well as provide an on-site guarantee that Qatar will never again threaten Saudi Arabia.”
Now the Crown Prince nodded. Losing American mid-air refueling support after the Qataris kicked them out of Al Udeid had been a heavy blow. It would be nice to have it back. He gestured for Enes to continue.
“I was only authorized to offer you reparations of one hundred billion dollars. I think I can persuade all concerned to increase that to one hundred fifty billion dollars. Also, as a gesture of our sincere desire for a peaceful conclusion to this conflict, my President has authorized me to offer you his personal aircraft.”
The Crown Prince smiled. ‘The one that the Qataris gave him in 2017, worth about half a billion dollars?”
Enes nodded. “Yes, that one.”
The Crown Prince looked thoughtful. “And Bahrain?”
When Bahrain’s Shi'a majority had overthrown their monarchy, their royal family had also sought sanctuary in Ankara. Refuge had been offered deliberately, for precisely this moment.
“The Americans plan to return to their naval base in Manama, and the new Bahraini government has agreed. There the Americans will ensure Bahrain never poses a threat to the Kingdom. From that base, the US Navy will also inspect any ship approaching Yemen with the capacity to carry ballistic missiles, to make sure the Iranians keep their promise not to supply them to the Houthis.”
Enes paused. “The Bahraini royal family will be welcome to live out their lives in comfort in Turkey.”
The Crown Prince grunted. He was sure the Bahraini royals would be paying dearly for the privilege.
Enes handed a flash drive to the Crown Prince, who looked at it curiously.
Enes said, “I was given this by the Americans. They say it includes the names of all the Shi’a in your Eastern Province who have been killed by Saudi forces over the past several years, as well as supplemental documents confirming their deaths. I was told to remind you that the Americans declined to intervene in Libya until Qaddafi declared he was planning to wipe out the residents of his eastern province, Benghazi. They wish to remain your ally, but even for allies, there are limits.”
The Crown Prince scowled, but for several moments said nothing.
Finally, he said, “Increase the reparation amount to two hundred billion dollars. In return we will allow all of the Qatari royal family except the Emir to return to Doha, and trust the Americans to oversee the transfer of all Qatari military assets to us. We plan to focus our military efforts on bringing peace to Yemen, and will not undertake any punitive action in the Eastern Province.
We will also end construction on the Salwa Canal, both now and in the future. If you agree, I will take this proposal to my father.”
Enes nodded. “Agreed. Please let me know what he says.”
They both knew this was only for show. The King only had a matter of months at best to live, and had transferred nearly all power to his favorite son.
Enes hesitated, and the Crown Prince’s eyebrows rose. “Something else?”
Enes shrugged, and said “It’s none of my business, but I heard the address from Iran’s Supreme Leader, and his offer of compensation. I had an idea I thought you might like.”
The Crown Prince made a “come on” gesture with his hands. He was actually curious.
"Well,” Enes said, “you could ask the Iranians to pay for a desalination plant producing fifty percent more water than the one they destroyed. As well as provide all the workers. To encourage quick completion you could also refuse to allow any Iranians to make the pilgrimage to Mecca except the workers you decide are the top ten percent performers, until the plant is completed to your satisfaction.”
The Crown Prince smiled. “I like your idea. I may just use it.” With a few changes, he thought, like requiring double the water production from the new desalination plant.
Enes rose. “Your Majesty, I am happy that your wisdom has found a way to peace after all this bloodshed.” Moments later the Crown Prince was alone with his thoughts.
Before he had become Crown Prince he had argued strenuously against the Salwa Canal, saying it would earn the Saudis new enemies, and achieve none of its goals. He had no idea then just how right he was, but ending the project would not only save money.
No, it would also show the Saudis were capable of mercy. As would allowing the Qatari royals’ return to Doha, with the obvious exception of the Emir.
Yes, he thought, my decisions will make a nice contrast with my predecessor’s murder of Jamal Khashoggi. That Kashoggi’s death took place at a Saudi consulate in Turkey, the country which had just helped to broker a deal to prevent the start of a wider war, helped drive the point home a little deeper.
Roya Maziar looked up from her station, and her pulse quickened as she saw Colonel Arif Shahin walking towards her. On the one hand, she was annoyed with herself. She was not a schoolgirl, to swoon when a handsome boy paid her attention.
On the other, maybe she should start listening to her instincts, unless she wanted to let her mother pick her husband.
“I am glad to see you again,” Roya said, looking Arif straight in his eyes.
Arif looked at her thoughtfully, and nodded. “I as well. I wanted to be sure you had recovered from the terrible experience you had last week.”
“I am fine. Have all of those responsible for killing my friend and the Supreme Leader been brought to justice?” Roya asked, her dark eyes flashing. Arif had no doubt what she meant by “justice.”