The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United States</a> should aggressively push <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/qatar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qatar</a> to imprison Hamas leaders for the hundreds of hostages the terror group is holding in Gaza, according to GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.
Top Hamas leaders are currently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-ally-qatars-ties-to-terrorism-scrutinized-after-hamas-attack-on-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">granted</a> safe haven in Qatar’s capital city of Doha, from which Hamas makes many of its most significant decisions. The city houses the Hamas politburo, the main decision-making body of the terror group. It is comprised of 15 members and is led by chairman Ismail Haniyeh.
“Qatar has blood on its hands. President Biden should demand that Qatar arrest Hamas leaders and seize their assets. He should make this demand every day — twice on Tuesdays — at least until every hostage has been safely returned. If Qatar refuses, there should be consequences,” Lee posted on social media on Sunday.
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Qatar has blood on its hands.
President Biden should demand that Qatar arrest Hamas leaders and seize their assets.
He should make this demand every day—twice on Tuesdays—at least until every hostage has been safely returned. 
If Qatar refuses, there should be consequences.
&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1728864012367196588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Lee has been a vocal critic of Qatar and the Biden administration for treating Doha lightly regarding its ties to terrorism.
“Qatar gives sanctuary to terrorists who committed war crimes against American and Israeli citizens. The United States should revisit its [cozy] relationship with Qatar,” Lee <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1728866167492854075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in another Sunday post.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/israel-hostages-hamas-explained.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took</a> roughly 240 people hostages, largely civilians, before returning to Gaza. The hostages include 33 children. Israel <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hostage-deal-reached-hamas-release-50-israelis-rcna126146" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negotiated</a> an agreement last week for a temporary pause in fighting in exchange for 50 of the hostages to be released.
The Biden administration has recently begun to push Israel to allow for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting to allow for more aid to reach Palestinian civilians. Critics of the Biden administration pressure have pointed out that much of the aid sent to Gaza has been confiscated by Hamas, which is believed to have ample resources and fuel stashed in an extensive tunnel network spread throughout the Gaza Strip.
“Why does President Biden seem to put more pressure on Israel than on Qatar, which provides sanctuary to the terrorists who comprise the Hamas leadership?” Lee <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1728864672185733161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
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&#8220;Israel knows what it needs to do to defeat Hamas,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1728861550180765923" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>. &#8220;President Biden doesn’t. He should let Israel fight this war. If he wants to apply pressure to solve this problem, he should focus on Hamas and its enablers in Iran, Qatar, and Russia, just to name a few.”
Hamas’ ties to Qatar have been a boon for the terror group. For its part, the country has claimed that its connections to terror leaders are an aid to Western nations. Qatar has maintained ties to Middle East terror networks, claiming to be a moderating force among the Arab world’s most extreme elements.

Joe Biden

Biden Should Push Qatar To Arrest Hamas Leadership Over Hostage Crisis, GOP Senator Says

Congress

Executive

Gaza

Hamas

Israel

Politics

Qatar

Terrorists

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani dodged a question during an interview over the weekend about what would happen to Hamas&#8217; leaders that are living inside the country.
The question comes after the terrorist organization murdered 1,200 Israelis, wounded thousands more, and kidnapped hundreds during an unprecedented terrorist attack on October 7.
When asked during a Sunday interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; about the whereabouts of Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar, Sheikh Mohammed responded by saying that he had no idea and claiming that the country only deals with the political representatives of Hamas who live in Qatar.
&#8220;In this country, a number of Republican lawmakers, in particular, have publicly called for your country to hand over those Hamas political leaders,&#8221; Brennan said. &#8220;What is the future? Will they remain in Qatar?&#8221;
Sheikh Mohammed responded, &#8220;Margaret, our relation with U.S. is a very solid relationship and alliance that been established throughout the decades. We&#8217;ve been working together very closely in ensuring peace and stability in the region. And, in several occasions, Qatar has been always stepping up to this partnership. And, if you recall Afghanistan, and, currently right now, we&#8217;ve been working very closely with the White House, with the CIA and State Department to ensure that this deal is happening.&#8221;
&#8220;The president of the United States is in constant contact with His Highness, the emir, and I have been in constant communication with our colleagues in the White House, CIA and State Department as well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There is a relation that&#8217;s based on trust, based on mutual interest of both countries. This office, when it&#8217;s established, it&#8217;s established in coordination with the U.S. to establish the communication with Hamas. And it&#8217;s been always useful, not only for the U.S., but for the U.S., Israel, and for the stability of the region. And as long as this is something useful – and also, right now, we are in the middle of the negotiation – we will always keep the communication open with everyone.&#8221;
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When asked if he knows where Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar is, Qatari PM Al Thani says, &quot;I don&#39;t think that this information is available with anyone except the people who are close to him.&quot;
&quot;We don&#39;t deal directly with, or never have any dealing with, the military wing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/z13WN2xilt">pic.twitter.com/z13WN2xilt</a>
&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1728809141492465694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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QATAR-FRANCE-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY

Qatar’s Prime Minister Dodges Question On Future Of Hamas Inside Country

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) raised concerns over the weekend about the way that the Biden administration has gone about conducting negotiations with Qatar as it seeks the release of numerous Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists last month.
Turner made the remarks during a Sunday interview on NBC News&#8217; &#8220;Meet The Press&#8221; with host Kristen Welker as some of the more than 240 Israeli hostages have started to be released.
&#8220;Speaking of the perils here, do you have any concerns that Hamas is delaying the release of American citizens to use them effectively as bargaining chips, Congressman?&#8221; Welker asked.
&#8220;Exactly, which is why I&#8217;m concerned that the Biden administration didn&#8217;t make it a condition of this deal that Americans be in the first hostages that are released, especially since American aid is going into Gaza right now, into northern Gaza as part of the conditions that Hamas had,&#8221; Turner said. &#8220;I think, you know, when the administration says they know every detail and then tell you that they don&#8217;t even know if they&#8217;re alive, that is certainly concerning.&#8221;
Turner also said that Iran, which funds Hamas, views the war as a proxy war against the United States and the West.
He said that the Biden administration needed to step up their protection of U.S. forces stationed in the region after they have come under repeated attack from Iranian-backed proxy groups.
&#8220;I do think that the administration should step up its effort in protecting our own troops in Syria and Iraq who have been subject to attacks from Iranian proxies,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These are absolutely Iranian franchises funded, trained and stood up as terrorist organizations to attack the West.&#8221;
WATCH:
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House GOP Leadership Press Conference

House Intel Committee Chair Notes ‘Concerning’ Aspects Of Biden Admin’s Handling Of Hostages

Hostages

Meet the Press

A Tennessee GOP congressman is co-sponsoring a bill that would strip Qatar of its special status as a prime ally of the United States unless it ejects the leaders of the terrorist group Hamas, who have been leading lavish lifestyles there while the people in Gaza have been living in poverty for years.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly worth more than $4 billion, Khaled Mashal, reportedly worth $4 billion, and senior Hamas political leader Abu Marzuk, estimated to be worth $3 billion, all reside in Qatar, which gives Hamas between $120 million and $480 million per year, according to a report from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD).
“As Hamas terrorists continue to wreak havoc on the lives of innocent Israeli civilians, the United States must ensure there is no ally supporting them,” Andy Ogles told <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/11/07/news/hamas-leaders-worth-11bn-live-luxury-lives-in-qatar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Post</a>. “Sadly, the State of Qatar is still funding and supporting Hamas as its leadership enjoys political refuge in Doha.”
In mid-October, only days after the Hamas massacre of 1,400 Israelis with gruesome, horrific acts of violence, Ogles wrote, “It is imperative that Qatar: 1) Unequivocally condemn Hamas 2) Extradite Hamas leaders from Doha 3) Never let Iranians see that $6 billion.”
Ogles joined Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs in a letter to the Qatari Ambassador to the United States, stating:
<blockquote>
We write to you with grave concern regarding Hamas&#8217;s unprovoked and criminal assault against the State of Israel. This conflict. which has led to the murder of more than a thousand Israelis, has strengthened the resolve of the United States to stand resolutely in support of our allies in Jerusalem. Neither Hamas nor any state or non-state actor contributing to these attacks against the people of Israel will be successful in their endeavor; they will meet the fate they deserve.
As a partner in the Middle East, we look to Qatar to demonstrate its resolve with the United States and to the cause of peace. Murder is a ways wrong, and we must be unequivocal when confronted with the kind of moral depravity demonstrated by Hamas. Look no further than the decapitated bodies of infant children to assess the intrinsically evil character of those attacking Israel today.
The whole world has seen how Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was able to celebrate his group&#8217;s &#8220;victory&#8221; from his office in Doha — rightfully raising questions among rightfully raising questions among the American people regarding the extent of the relationship between Qatar and Hamas.
</blockquote>
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It is imperative that Qatar:
1) Unequivocally condemn Hamas 2) Extradite Hamas leaders from Doha 3) Never let Iranians see that $6 billion
Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAndyBiggsAZ</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EMET4u?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EMET4u</a> for your support! <a href="https://t.co/0o1tblMd5A">pic.twitter.com/0o1tblMd5A</a>
&mdash; Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepOgles/status/1712576741430984772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The U.S. Central Command’s forward base in the Middle East is located at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, making Qatar militarily significant.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has given Hamas $380 million since 2021, according to FDD. The Biden administration has given nearly $1 billion to the UNRWA since 2021.
“Since UNRWA has long insisted it has no political screen on its aid, and since Hamas is viewed as a political party, we know with near certainty that our taxpayer dollars have been delivered into the hands of Hamas,” FDD stated, while noting the Trump administration eliminated funds for UNRWA because of  its ties to Hamas.

Ogles

Tennessee GOP Rep Sponsors Bill To Strip Qatar Of Ally Status Unless They Kick Out Hamas Leaders

Tennessee

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-kirby" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Kirby</a> was grilled during Thursday&#8217;s White House press conference over President Joe Biden&#8217;s decision to praise Qatar, a nation that harbors Hamas&#8217; top terrorist leaders.
The questions came from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy after Biden said with regard to Hamas releasing some of their hostages: &#8220;I want to thank our partners in the region, and particularly Qatar.&#8221;
&#8220;The leader of Hamas lives in Qatar,&#8221; Doocy noted. &#8220;So, why is President Biden thanking them for anything?&#8221;
&#8220;Oh, geez, Peter,&#8221; Kirby responded. &#8220;Take a step back here and look at this.&#8221;
Hamas is &#8220;a terrorist group that killed Americans and kidnapped Americans within the last month,&#8221; Doocy fired back.
Kirby claimed that Qatar had been helpful in getting two Americans released and that the country &#8220;has lines of communication with Hamas that almost nobody else has&#8221; because of how close they are.
Kirby continued by noting how ruthless Hamas was and how it is nearly impossible to deal with them because of how hell-bent they are on destroying Israel at all costs.
&#8220;You’re making my point here,&#8221; Doocy responded. &#8220;If Qatar is so helpful, why aren’t we asking them to hand over the leader of this terrorist group?&#8221;
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&#8220;No, I’m not,&#8221; Kirby fired back. &#8220;We are working with Qatar to get our people out and to help get aid in. That&#8217;s a priority right now and, obviously, we’re also helping Israel go after Hamas.&#8221;
WATCH:
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WATCH: Fox News&#39;s Peter Doocy: &quot;The leader of Hamas leaves in Qatar, so why is President Biden thanking them for anything?&quot; 
NSC spox John Kirby: &quot;Oh geeze Peter. Just take a step back here and look at this.&quot;<a href="https://t.co/U5i7mMJOea">pic.twitter.com/U5i7mMJOea</a>
&mdash; Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1720188318569152827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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US-POLITICS-BRIEFING

WATCH: John Kirby Grilled Over Biden Praising Qatar While They Harbor Hamas Terrorist Leaders

John Kirby

Terrorism

U.S.

The National Hockey League and its Washington Capitals could face a congressional probe after the hockey franchise took money from Qatar, which backs Hamas, and the league ignored pleas from the parents of a hostage begging it to use its leverage to free him.
&#8220;Without Qatar’s assistance, the horrors of October 7 may never have occurred. Hamas leaders not only planned the unprecedented terror campaign from luxury villas and penthouse suites in Doha—provided to them by the State of Qatar—but they have been allowed to promote blood libels daily since October 7 on Al Jazeera,&#8221; Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), wrote <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-81ab-d6f1-a3af-8dbf14dc0000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to Monumental Sports Entertainment</a> (MSE), which owns the Washington Capitals and Wizards, and <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-81ab-de03-a9eb-8dffa9c30000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to the NHL</a>.
The Daily Wire reported last week that American Hersh Goldberg-Polin had his arm blown off by Hamas terrorists and is currently being held hostage. His parents, Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, wrote to NHL Commissioner Gary Bruce Bettman to ask for help based on the business relationship, but they received <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-harboring-qatar-set-to-buy-dc-sports-franchises-parents-of-hostage-plead-with-leagues-for-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no response</a>.
&#8220;While the Qataris have sought accolades for supposedly securing the recent release of four hostages, over 98% of those taken hostage by Hamas remain in captivity inside Gaza,&#8221; Bergman wrote, &#8220;while Hamas leaders remain free to continue planning and orchestrating further terrorist attacks on the Jewish state.&#8221;
&#8220;Despite the murder of over 1,300 — including 30 Americans — and the kidnapping of at least another 200, MSE’s corporate spokeswoman last week defiantly declared that MSE needed to go forward with the investment from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to improve the &#8216;fan experience&#8217; by having Capital One Arena sell better food and improve the &#8216;sh**ty lighting,'&#8221; he wrote, citing The Daily Wire&#8217;s story.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-harboring-qatar-set-to-buy-dc-sports-franchises-parents-of-hostage-plead-with-leagues-for-help">Parents Of Hostage Plead With NHL Team Owned By Hamas Sponsor Qatar</a>
&#8220;I think I speak for most of my colleagues that such comments are callous and deeply troubling. Even worse was the apparent lack of concern expressed by MSE for those murdered or those still held hostage by Qatar-sponsored Hamas,&#8221; he said.
In a <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-825e-d6f1-a3af-8edebbb40000">response</a> to Bergman obtained by <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2023/10/30/meet-the-k-streeter-who-knows-what-susan-cole-just-went-through-00124350">Politico</a>, Monumental president of external affairs Monica Dixon said that Qatar&#8217;s purchase of 5% of the sports franchise was finalized in July and it was too late to do anything.
In an interview with The Daily Wire last week, Monumental spokeswoman Anu Rangappa also said there was no way out of the deal, even though even American majority owners of sports teams have been forced to sell over anti-black racism. Sports leagues operate as cooperatives where owners of other teams can exert control over who owns any one team.
“They’re not trying to gain any influence in any way,” said Rangappa, a former Clinton White House and Democratic National Committee official, said of the Qataris.
David Zimmerman, chief legal officer of the <a href="https://static.politico.com/93/42/434299fc45e19d67199c8011dd8b/scanned-from-a-xerox-multifunction-printer-1.pdf">NHL, wrote</a> to Bergman that &#8220;our understanding is that the State Department describes Qatar as an ally and a strategic partner,&#8221; even though the country has said that Israel is &#8220;solely responsible&#8221; for the terrorist attacks against it.
He said that the NHL acknowledges that Hamas committed terrorism but that Qatar&#8217;s investment in the Washington sports teams is &#8220;infinitesimal,&#8221; and it wonders why it is a &#8220;focal point.&#8221;
Bergman&#8217;s letter said the reason for Qatar&#8217;s interest in Washington&#8217;s teams is obvious — it is the nation&#8217;s capital, and the acquisition is in line with a concerted effort to influence centers of power.
&#8220;Since 2017, Qatar has hired at least 100 different firms for lobbying and public relations, according to the Foreign Agents Registration Act database. The State of Qatar has also lavished <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/qatar-which-funds-and-harbors-hamas-has-liberal-universities-on-its-payroll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tens of millions of dollars</a> on non-profit think tanks inside Washington, DC,&#8221; Bergman wrote.
Qatar&#8217;s misdeeds have &#8220;no doubt been minimized and overlooked at least in part because of Qatar’s extraordinary political reach inside Washington, DC. And now, MSE is providing the State of Qatar with an incredibly powerful new tool to strengthen the tiny emirate’s grip on Washington, D.C. even further,&#8221; he wrote.
The NHL and Monumental &#8220;have an opportunity to take a stand and reject the Qatari money that far too many companies have been willing to accept. If you refuse to do so, please preserve all documents and communications related to QIA’s planned investment into MSE for a potential Congressional investigation,&#8221; he wrote.
The NHL replied, &#8220;We would, of course, be prepared to take whatever steps are necessary if the U.S. government were to sanction or prohibit QIA investments in the United States.&#8221;

The NHL March during the NYC Pride Parade on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Congressman Blasts ‘Callous’ Washington Capitals For Taking Money From Hamas-Supporting Qatar

Hockey

Sports

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly asked the Qatari government to rein in Al Jazeera’s coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza — an apparent admission from the Biden administration that the outlet, despite its failure to register as one, is viewed as an agent of Qatar.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires any entity that acts on behalf of a foreign entity to foreign principal to influence U.S. public opinion. Analysts say it’s hard to fit the bill more clearly than Al Jazeera — funded entirely by the Qatari government and actively publishing highly trafficked English-language news in the United States.
Yet the Biden administration has done nothing to pressure Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent, bewildering those who have been pushing for years for the Qatari outlet to file the legally required registration. Now that the Biden administration has telegraphed its determination that Qatar has the power to control Al Jazeera, it’s time for the foreign agent relationship to be made official.
“Al Jazeera consistently pushes the position of the Qatari government, which is often antisemitic, anti-American, and anti-Israel,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spokesman Darin Miller. “The Qatari government has always insisted they don&#8217;t control Al Jazeera. Sen. Cruz doesn&#8217;t believe that is true, and apparently neither does Sec. Blinken. There is no excuse not to force them to register for FARA.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who authored a letter to Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland in July 2021 regarding Al Jazeera’s failure to register as a foreign agent, says it’s never been more important.
“Israel is fighting an information war as much as a physical one,” Cotton told The Daily Wire. “Biased information can have disastrous consequences — just look at the damage done by the New York Times’ false story about the hospital in Gaza.”
“With the stakes so high, the Biden administration must insist that Al Jazeera finally admit its influence operation,” Cotton said.
Blinken, in his plea to Qatar, said that Al Jazeera’s coverage was “full of anti-Israel incitement,” according to Axios. Israel is slated to bar the outlet from operating in the country after allegations that it was directly aiding the Hamas terrorists, transmitting “sensitive information” about Israeli troop movements to its enemy.
Qatar has come under the microscope for its role in harboring Hamas — the terrorist group&#8217;s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is based in Doha, Qatar&#8217;s capital city. Despite its ties to the terrorist group, U.S. officials have maintained relations with the oil-rich state. A Daily Wire investigation earlier this year found that Qatar has used an American nonprofit, the Attorney General Alliance, to pay for attorneys general to travel to Doha for meetings with top Qatari officials.
Al Jazeera has been one of the most biased sources of news around Israel’s war against Hamas — the Qatar-based outlet, for example, ran with false allegations that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza, when in reality the explosion was caused by a terrorist rocket. It published videos casting doubt about “Israel’s changing narrative on hospital bombing,” and stated that “investigations reveal discrepancies in Israel’s Gaza hospital attack claims.”
U.S. officials have stated with “high confidence” that Palestinian terrorists were the source of the hospital bombing.
“Al Jazeera has been credibly accused of conducting espionage operations against Qatar&#8217;s perceived enemies in Israel and even in the United States,”Miller, the Cruz spokesman, explained.
Though the outlet’s biased coverage has had massive consequences with war breaking out in the Middle East, it’s advocacy for the foreign policy of Qatar is nothing new. In 2017, the Council on Foreign Relations wrote that Al Jazeera “helps give Qatar influence far greater than what a country of its size could usually expect.”
The Trump administration in one of its final acts ordered a U.S.-based Al Jazeera affiliate to register as a foreign agent, with its Department of Justice arguing that the outlet engages in “political activities” on behalf of Qatar’s government, according to the New York Times.
The foreign agent filing never came through, but the Biden administration has failed to make the outlet face any consequences, according to a group of U.S. Senators that includes Cotton and Cruz.
“Al Jazeera+ has willfully ignored DOJ&#8217;s mandate and has failed to register as a foreign agent,” wrote the senators to Attorney General Merrick Garland in July 2021. “With AJ+&#8217;s refusal to register under FARA, agents of the Qatari government continue to operate in the United States in violation of the law.”
“It is imperative for DOJ to explain what, if any, steps it has taken to enforce the law,” the senators wrote.
The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment on Al Jazeera’s foreign agent registration status. Willful violation of FARA is punishable with up to five years in federal prison.

QATAR-AL-JAZEERA

Senators Say It’s Time For Al Jazeera To Register As Foreign Agent Of Qatar

Al Jazeera

Qatar, the country that funds Hamas and harbors its leadership, has paid U.S. universities nearly a billion dollars since 2021 — including many of the same universities that have turned a blind eye as their faculty and staff take the side of terrorists attacking Israel.
Qatar has only 300,000 citizens, making it half the size of the District of Columbia. Yet, rich with oil money and intent on shaping global politics, it showered more money on American universities than any other country, according to a Daily Wire analysis of <a href="https://sites.ed.gov/foreigngifts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disclosures</a> that colleges are required to make to the U.S. government.
Its funding totaled $842 million between 2021 and April 2023, vastly outpacing interests linked to mammoth countries like Germany, China, Japan, and England.
Qatar’s university beneficiaries include the likes of George Washington University, where someone this week <a href="https://twitter.com/StopAntisemites/status/1716994962703724728" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected giant text</a> on the wall of the school library saying &#8220;Glory to our martyrs,&#8221; &#8220;Free Palestine from the river to the sea,&#8221; and &#8220;Divestment from Zionist genocide now.&#8221;
George Washington University’s president issued a <a href="https://twitter.com/GWtweets/status/1717210330588189050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vague statement</a> saying the “projections on the university’s library violated university policies,” but did not say whether it would divest from the $521,000 it took from Hamas’ benefactors since 2021.
While the universities have often weighed in on perceived injustices in the United States, such as the death of George Floyd, they have often been slow to take a stance on the conflict in the Middle East after Hamas terrorists killed thousands of Israelis in the largest Jew-killing since the Holocaust.
In that way, they have mirrored Al Jazeera, Qatar’s state-funded media that often parrots liberal criticism of the United States — even though it is flagrantly disingenuous since Qatar is a conservative religious fundamentalist country that outlaws homosexuality and exploits minorities for slave-like labor — in addition to opposing Israel.
Beneficiaries also include Harvard, at $4.4 million. Thirty Harvard groups wrote that they &#8220;hold the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deeply-sick-over-30-harvard-university-groups-blame-israel-after-hamas-commits-atrocities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli regime entirely responsible</a> for all unfolding violence.”
In January 2021, Qatar gave Bard College, a private liberal arts college in New York, more than $4 million to bring Palestinian students to campus and instill a “strong sense of civic engagement.”
“The objective of the Qatar Scholarship &#8211; EAA and Al Quds Bard College program is to provide marginalized Palestinian youth and adults, refugees and students from historically underserved communities with access to high-quality US-accredited and Palestinian-accredited undergraduate and graduate education,” Bard said in government disclosures.
Bard entered into an agreement with the Al Quds university over “complaints from some American Jews unhappy because Al Quds is a Palestinian institution partly in Jerusalem — which many Jews consider the indivisible capital of Israel — and because Al Quds is no stranger to radical Palestinian politics,” the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/world/middleeast/15quds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Times</a> reported in 2009.
Qatar has paid six universities to open <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/higher-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campus outposts </a>inside the country, where Qatari students can graduate with U.S. diplomas and U.S. students can study abroad to absorb the nation’s values.
Those universities include Northwestern University, known for its journalism school — a prime way for shaping public opinion — and has received $647 million since 2007. Students at the Illinois campus distributed a <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_kessel/status/1717196081669283961/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fake newspaper</a> that falsely claimed that Israel had bombed a hospital.
Qatar overtly tried to use the financial relationship to essentially turn American students into unregistered foreign lobbyists. On <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CylvV6StwnV/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> &#8220;faculty and Staff members at NU-Q published a statement condemning the war crimes and genocide committed against Gaza.&#8221;
&#8220;We further call on university staff, students, and faculty in Evanston to put pressure on our administration to apologize for its recent ill-conceived one-sided statements and to join us in pressuring the Israeli state to end its war on Gaza and pressure the US government to block all weapons shipments and military funding to Israel,&#8221; they wrote.
Some seemed to take heed. <a href="https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/1717281850761060376" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keira Leneman</a>, an assistant professor in the education school, excused students from class to take part in a protest and said she wished she could join them against “Israeli oppression and apartheid.”
<a href="https://twitter.com/TimJGraham/status/1717222341300675065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nabil Alshurafa</a>, a Northwestern professor, said on CNN that, &#8220;This is Israel performing genocide on the Palestinian people.&#8221;
Another with a foreign campus is Virginia Commonwealth University, a public school which has received a quarter-billion dollars from Qatar since 2002. Nearly 1,000 professors and students <a href="https://archive.ph/wip/2dyo1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed a petition</a> urging VCU not to condemn Hamas&#8217; terrorist attack, saying any condemnation would violate &#8220;values of diversity, equity, inclusion.&#8221;
Though at first glance this might seem to convey that Virginians held this belief, it was actually largely because the partnership with Qatar allows people at that campus to claim association with the state university. Signatories overwhelmingly came from the Qatar campus, or &#8220;VCUQ,&#8221; and included:
<ul>
<li>Rola Khayyat, Assistant Professor, VCUQ</li>
<li>Aissa Deebi, Associate Professor, VCUQ</li>
<li>Michael Perrone, Assistant Professor, VCUQ</li>
<li>Peter Welz, Assistant Professor, VCUQ</li>
<li>Mariah Dekkenga, VCUQ Family</li>
<li>HH Hiaasen, Assistant Professor, VCUarts</li>
<li>Hana Al-Saadi, Adjunct Professor, VCUQ</li>
<li>Zainab AlShibani, Alumni, Teaching Assistant , VCUQ</li>
<li>Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim, Junior Faculty, Artist in Residence, Alumni, VCUQ</li>
</ul>
Yet their views also permeated the undergrad campus in Virginia as well, where a student was filmed <a href="https://twitter.com/StopAntisemites/status/1716165070693011849" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ripping down posters</a> of kidnapped Israeli children.
Other universities which have effectively licensed their names to Qatar include Cornell, which has received $443 million since 2021 for a school of medicine; Texas A&amp;M University; Carnegie Mellon; and Georgetown University, where students held a vigil for terrorists. All have received hundreds of millions of dollars since the partnerships began.
Money from Qatar since 2021
<ul>
<li>Cornell University: $443 million</li>
<li>Texas A&amp;M University: $182 million</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University: $150 million</li>
<li>Virginia Commonwealth University: $40 million</li>
<li>Georgetown University: $7 million</li>
<li>Bard College: $4.7 million</li>
<li>Harvard University: $4.5 million</li>
<li>George Mason University: $2 million</li>
<li>Stanford University: $1.8 million</li>
</ul>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hamas-harboring-qatar-set-to-buy-dc-sports-franchises-parents-of-hostage-plead-with-leagues-for-help">Parents Of Hostage Plead With NHL Team Owned By Hamas Sponsor Qatar</a>

Students cross a sky bridge in the temporary campus of Northwestern University in Qater on the Education City campus in  Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)

Qatar, Which Funds And Harbors Hamas, Has Liberal Universities On Its Payroll

Education

The leadership of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas">Hamas</a> operates out of Qatar, which finances and protects the terrorist group. Yet the owner of the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards sports franchises this year announced a deal to sell the foreign nation a 5% stake in the teams.
Now the parents of an American who is being held hostage by Hamas are pleading with the NHL to use its leverage to help get their son home safe — a cry that so far has fallen on deaf ears.
The league typically has veto power over any team&#8217;s ownership moves, the parents wrote.
“The NHL has a unique and powerful opportunity to help our son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is being held hostage in Gaza,&#8221; Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg wrote to NHL Commissioner Gary Bruce Bettman and his top lieutenants this week. &#8220;He was abducted from a music festival on Saturday October 7th after having his left arm blown off under heavy grenade and gunfire… Medical experts have told us that without immediate medical care, our son might not be able to last much longer.&#8221;
“As we understand it, the NHL is currently doing due diligence on the proposed purchase of 5% of the Washington Capitals by the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the country that harbors and sponsors Hamas&#8217; top leadership,” they wrote in the email, which was obtained by The Daily Wire.
The parents argue that Qatar has failed to take steps to fight Hamas, yet is being welcomed into the NHL. They believe the league should exert pressure on the oil-rich country, which spends a fortune in the United States to garner influence in the West.
“It is unconscionable that Qatar can refuse to arrest Hamas leaders and yet be welcomed into the ownership not just of a pillar of American society like the NHL, but specifically as part owners of the only NHL franchise based in our nation&#8217;s capital,&#8221; they say in the email. &#8220;Extensive reporting in recent years has detailed how Qatar has spent untold millions on lobbyists and PR flaks; the NHL may be enabling sponsors of Hamas to increase their already remarkable political influence in the U.S.”
“We believe that buying into the NHL, and into Washington, DC in particular, is a top priority for the State of Qatar. Thus, pressure from the NHL on Qatar might be uniquely impactful. While an estimated 150-200 innocent civilians, including 20 Americans besides our son, are being held hostage, the leaders of Hamas ultimately responsible for the kidnappings and the murders of 1,400 innocent souls are living openly in Doha.”
“The choice for the NHL is stark. Why would the NHL want to welcome into its ranks the very people who empower the Hamas leaders to continue overseeing in real time a gruesome and unspeakable terror campaign, including holding Americans and others hostage? Qatar&#8217;s refusal to arrest Hamas leaders should be a red line for the NHL. Only once Hamas leaders in Doha lose their freedom can the hostages in Gaza, including our son Hersh, gain theirs,” the letter concluded.
No one from the NHL responded to the terrified parents&#8217; letter, according to a source familiar with the matter. The NHL did not return a request for comment from The Daily Wire.
Monumental Sports and Entertainment owns D.C.-area sports properties including the Capitals, basketball’s Washington Wizards, the WNBA’s Mystics, and the Capital One Arena where they all play.
Anu Rangappa, a spokeswoman for Monumental, said the deal has already closed and cannot be undone.
Asked about Qatar’s funding of Hamas, she told The Daily Wire “but this is also about the fan experience. Have you ever been to Capital One Arena? Have you ever thought, why isn’t the food better here, or why is there shitty lighting here? In order to do that, we need to find new partners.”
“They’re not trying to gain any influence in any way,” she said of the Qataris. She said the Qataris were only interested in a savvy investment—but also said that the Capitals lose money.
Asked about whether&#8211;even if the Capitals and Wizards felt they needed more capital&#8211;there was an assessment of value alignment before taking someone’s money, she said “the pool is dwindling [when it comes to people who can or will fund big-name sports franchises], you’re looking at billionaires, or hedge funds, or sovereign wealth funds.”
Asked whether, if funding Hamas was not a reason to refuse someone’s money, there was anyone’s money who Monumental would not accept, she said “I can’t answer a hypothetical.” She said she didn&#8217;t know whether Monumental would ask its business partner to secure the release of American hostages.
On being business parters with a country that keeps 95% of its workers in slavery-like conditions, with thousands of Nepalese indentured servants dying building its World Cup stadium, Rangappa said “I’m not going to make a commentary on that.”
Before working for Monumental, Rangappa worked for the Clinton White House, the Democratic National Committee, and the John Kerry and Al Gore campaigns.
Monumental was founded by former AOL executive Ted Leonsis and Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple’s Steve Jobs, is also a co-owner.
Qatar spends millions of dollars attempting to present a moderate face to the West and to influence international politics, even as it engages with extremists and 95% of its labor force is comprised of indentured servants from Nepal and other countries. Qatar says Israel is &#8220;solely responsible&#8221; for the terrorist attacks on it.
In November 2022, the NBA permitted “sovereign wealth funds” to purchase minority stakes in teams, subject to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35192442/the-hoop-collective-sovereign-wealth-funds-signal-new-era-nba-ownership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“significant vetting.”</a> Other sports leagues soon followed.
In June, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/qatar-investment-authority-buys-wizards-capitals-9e2d9e6246f79b5265e9891b29cae690" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a> reported that Qatar&#8217;s sovereign wealth fund, the QIA, would be the first to do so, buying a 5% stake in Monumental for some $200 million. “The NBA Board is currently reviewing a potential investment by QIA in Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards,&#8221; spokesman Mike Bass said at the time.
&#8220;NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told the AP the league had already approved the investment,&#8221; the report said.
Monumental <a href="https://monumentalsports.com/2023/07/monumental-sports-entertainment-announces-qatar-investment-authority-as-minority-investor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced the deal </a><a href="https://monumentalsports.com/2023/07/monumental-sports-entertainment-announces-qatar-investment-authority-as-minority-investor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with Qatar in July</a> in a press release that seemed to highlight how Qatar is interested not just in any sports teams, but in the nation’s political capital specifically. It noted that Qatar is also the principal owner of a large residential and commercial sector of Washington, D.C. a few blocks from the stadium.
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/07/capitals-wizards-mystics-owner-qatar-sportswashing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post&#8217;s</a> editorial board said at the time that Qatar is seeking &#8220;proximity to all the powerful people in Washington&#8221; and that Monumental should &#8220;expect the community to object when it does business with an authoritarian regime opposed to those same values.&#8221;
Sports leagues are generally set up so that owners of other teams, collectively, can block or force sales of any one time.
Last year, Phoenix Suns owner <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34637020/robert-sarver-selling-phoenix-suns-nba-work-done">Robert Sarver</a> was pressured to sell after allegations of racism. Former LA Clippers basketball team owner <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27414482/when-donald-sterling-saga-rocked-nba-changed-forever" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Sterling</a> was forced to sell the team for making a racist remark about blacks. Football owners contemplated forcing the owner of Washington’s football team to sell following reports about a culture of sexual harassment, a situation that ended in <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35904912/commanders-owner-dan-snyder-tumultuous-tenure-washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Synder selling</a>.
The WNBA and NBA players lobbied aggressively to secure the release of <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/wnbas-brittney-griner-detained-in-russia-everything-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a>, who was jailed in Russia for drug possession. President Joe Biden ultimately traded a convicted arms dealer for her release.
The NHL has aggressively pushed <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nhl-showcases-transgender-nonbinary-hockey-tournament-responds-criticism-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transgenderism</a>, while cementing a deal with a country where homosexuality is a crime. And this month, the NBA issued a statement saying &#8220;The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/nba-nbpa-issue-statement-on-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">condemn these acts of terrorism</a>. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.&#8221; The NHL put out a <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1711454234502197688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtually identical</a> statement.
But to the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, those statements ring as hollow virtue-signaling, as the sports groups do business with those funding that terrorism.

Parents Of Hostage Plead With NHL Team Owned By Hamas Sponsor Qatar

Qatar’s longstanding ties to terror groups are under scrutiny after one of those groups, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas</a>, launched an unprecedented terrorist attack against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> on October 7.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken crisscrossed the Middle East over the past week in an effort to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from expanding. The secretary also wanted to make the U.S. position clear: Israel has a right to defend itself, and Hamas should be isolated from the Arab world.
Blinken took that message to the Qatari capital of Doha, telling Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani “there can be no more business as usual” between Qatar and Hamas, suggesting that the terror group&#8217;s leadership should not longer be given safe haven by the Qatary government. Qatar&#8217;s prime minister received the message coolly.
The Hamas politburo is the main decision-making body of the terror group and is comprised of 14 other members led by its chairman, Ismail Haniyeh. It is headquartered in Doha. Responding to a reporter’s question about banishing the politburo, the prime minister <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-with-qatari-prime-minister-and-minister-of-foreign-affairs-mohammed-bin-abdulrahman-al-thani-at-a-joint-press-availability/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Hamas’ Doha office has become a necessary “way of communicating and bringing peace and calm into the region.”
“This is the purpose of that office. As long as we are keeping the communication open right now and focusing on putting an end for this conflict … That’s what our main focus is,” he said.
Qatar and the United States have enjoyed friendly diplomatic relations for decades. Doha hosts the Al-Udeid Air Force Base and U.S. Central Command’s forward headquarters, and it allows U.S. and NATO soldiers to use Qatar as a base of operations for missions in the Middle East. Recently, President Joe Biden put Qatar in control of a $6 billion humanitarian fund for Iran, traded to the Iranian regime along with five prisoners in exchange for five Americans.
While building <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/us/politics/biden-qatar-nato.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inroads</a> with the U.S. and the West, which has <a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-qatar/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20provides%20no%20development%20assistance%20to%20Qatar." target="_blank" rel="noopener">created</a> profitable economic opportunities for Qatar&#8217;s oil industry, Qatar has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40246734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintained</a> ties to Middle East terror networks, claiming to be a moderating force among the Arab world’s most extreme elements. Qatar is closely allied with Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism, and has worked with al-Qaeda affiliates, the Taliban, and others.
“Qatar, a longtime U.S. ally, has for many years openly financed Hamas,” U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jl2308" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in 2014. “Press reports indicate that the Qatari government is also supporting extremist groups operating in Syria.”
At the time, Qatar not only financed terror groups, but had created “such a permissive terrorist financing environment, that several major Qatar-based fundraisers act as local representatives for larger terrorist fundraising networks that are based in Kuwait,” a major thoroughfare for terror financing, according to Cohen.
Hamas reportedly <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/10/10/u-s-wrong-to-involve-qatar-and-turkey-in-israeli-hostage-negotiations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">receives</a> hundreds of millions of dollars a year in aid from Qatar; somewhere between $360 million and $480 million annually. Qatar uses a third of the aid money to purchase fuel from Egypt that is then shipped to Gaza, possessed by Hamas, and sold to fill the terror group’s coffers. The other two thirds is split between funding Gaza civilians and the paychecks of Hamas civil workers.
Qatar is home to the state-funded Al Jazeera network, often a platform for terror groups, that has justified Palestinian terrorism and antisemitism. On the day of Hamas’s invasion of Israel, Al Jazeera aired an over three-minute <a href="https://twitter.com/MEMRIReports/status/1710996944439447942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">message</a> from Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh calling on all Palestinians and their allies to unite against Israel.
Doha has strongly denied allegations that it supports terrorism. In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates published a joint statement <a href="https://www.saudiembassy.net/statements/joint-statement-saudi-arabia-uae-bahrain-and-egypt-relating-new-terror-designations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accusing</a> Qatar of “financing and harboring of extremist individuals and groups.”
The Qatari government <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/6/9/qatar-rejects-saudi-led-blocs-terror-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a>: “The recent joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE regarding a ‘terror finance watch list’ once again reinforces baseless allegations that hold no foundation in fact.”

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

U.S. Ally Qatar’s Ties To Terrorism Scrutinized After Hamas Attack On Israel

Antony Blinken

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced new legislation on Wednesday that would force state-sponsored <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media</a> organizations operating on Capitol Hill to comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and other relevant U.S. laws.
The legislation from Bergman, a retired Marine Corps Lt. General who now serves as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, comes after he wrote a <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000186-149d-d453-a38e-76dff17c0000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last month specifically targeting Qatar&#8217;s Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN).
Bergman, along with two other Republican lawmakers, called for the &#8220;immediate suspension of press credentials for the Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN), and for that suspension to remain in place until the State of Qatar and its propaganda arm agree to adhere to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and other U.S. laws.&#8221;
For example, the letter noted that Al Jazeera has 136 employees who have press credentials while The New York Times only has 82 employees with the same access.
&#8220;Credentialed members of the House and Senate galleries enjoy unparalleled access to the U.S. Capitol, as well as to Senators, Members of Congress, and staffers,” the letter noted. “While this access is necessary for the media to provide accurate reporting to the American public, it is also the kind of access coveted by foreign powers seeking sensitive information from inside Congress.”
In addition to requiring compliance with FARA, Bergman’s <a href="https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislation</a> also:
<ul>
<li>Sets a limit of ten total press credentials for any qualifying foreign state-sponsored media outlet and its affiliates, and;</li>
<li>Requires FBI background checks for all individuals applying for credentials to the House Press Gallery through a qualifying foreign state-sponsored media outlet.</li>
</ul>
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-4883">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Bergman&#8217;s bill highlights several foreign adversaries that have well-documented histories of spying on Americans — such as Russia, Qatar, and China — and that own powerful state-controlled propaganda organizations that have virtually unlimited access to U.S. lawmakers, making espionage easier.
&#8220;Troublingly, state-sponsored media outlets are not subjected to background checks prior to acquiring credentials, even if the outlet is owned or controlled by a state that is known to have conducted espionage operations targeting U.S. government officials or other Americans,&#8221; Bergman said in a statement. &#8220;Over the past decade, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, and the State of Qatar have aggressively deployed their espionage forces against United States Government agencies and government officials, as well as targeting thousands of United States businesses and Americans perceived to be opponents or dissidents of their regimes.&#8221;
Bergman&#8217;s office noted numerous examples of China, Russia, and Qatar spying on Americans on U.S. soil, thus highlighting the importance of the legislation.
&#8220;Unless and until state-sponsored media outlets respect our laws by registering under FARA, we cannot allow their employees almost unfettered access to the halls of Congress—especially if the FBI has never conducted background checks on those given &#8216;all-access passes&#8217; for Capitol Hill,&#8221; Bergman said. &#8220;If foreign state-sponsored media outlets from countries such as China, Qatar and Russia will not respect FARA and our laws protecting Americans from surveillance, the possibility is all too real that foreign intelligence services could use their propaganda arms to hide intelligence operatives in plain sight in the U.S. Capitol.&#8221;
“It is difficult to see how anyone could stand in opposition to legislation that merely requires foreign state-sponsored media outlets to comply with U.S. law in order to receive Congressional press credentials,” he concluded.

House GOP Meeting

GOP Rep Jack Bergman Introduces Bill To Crack Down On Foreign State Media Operating On Capitol Hill

Communist China

Espionage

Media

White House

<a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/realdailywire/">Twitter</a> erupted Sunday afternoon after a tweet resurfaced from a user who accurately predicted seven years ago that Lionel Messi of the Argentina National Football Team would win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina defeated reigning champions France in the World Cup final in Qatar on Sunday in a penalty kick shootout following a 3-3 tie. The victory, led by Messi, capped a surprising comeback after an early loss to Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament.
Amid an outpour of excitement and support worldwide for the team&#8217;s victory, soccer fans everywhere are shocked after a Twitter account @josepolanco10 prophesied Messi&#8217;s historic win in 2015.
&#8220;December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years,&#8221; José Miguel Polanco, the name attached to the account, said on March 20, 2015.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years.
&mdash; José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) <a href="https://twitter.com/josepolanco10/status/579016398694805504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the now-viral tweet, Polanco either used the power of prophecy by speaking Messi&#8217;s success into existence, or he somehow rendezvoused with Doc Brown and Marty McFly in &#8220;Back to the Future Part II&#8221; and glanced at McFly&#8217;s fictitious Grays Sports Almanac.
Either way, Polanco nailed the prediction on every point but Messi&#8217;s age — the soccer star turned 35 in June.
Earlier this year, Polanco posted a reply to his original tweet, saying, &#8220;the number of people who put the reminder in the tweet scares me, at the end of the year they are going to lynch me I am going to stay in Qatar with a tunic as the doc said&#8221; as translated from Spanish.
On Saturday, Polanco further tweeted, &#8220;Well this exploded so all I will say is that I was in Doha and the hope is bigger than ever, hay que CREER,&#8221; which translates to &#8220;you have to believe.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Well this exploded so all I will say is that I was in Doha and the hope is bigger than ever, hay que CREER. Follow my Instagram <a href="https://twitter.com/aworldcuplife?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aworldcuplife</a> and YouTube Channel A World Cup Life to see content from my 6th World Cup I travelled to. <a href="https://t.co/ue3gXfSLO2">pic.twitter.com/ue3gXfSLO2</a>
&mdash; José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) <a href="https://twitter.com/josepolanco10/status/1604125195874160640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One fan <a href="https://twitter.com/crazeclown/status/1604541751980597248">replied</a>: &#8220;I&#8217;m checking back with you! The GOAT did it and ended the debate!&#8221;
Another replied: &#8220;This is just too weird man, how on earth did he get this so spot on?!&#8221;
Emotions ran high as Messi finally secured the trophy in what will likely be his last World Cup performance.
Before Sunday&#8217;s historic win, Messi said the 2022 World Cup would be his last after the semi-final victory against Croatia.
Messi <a href="https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/argentina-vs-france-world-cup-2022-final-live-score-result/5vwJ9BknaKUL/">reportedly</a> has not made plans to retire from the sport because he wants to &#8220;continue playing as a champion.&#8221;
&#8220;It is impressive to end up playing a final,&#8221; Messi <a href="https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/argentina-vs-france-world-cup-2022-final-live-score-result/5vwJ9BknaKUL/">said</a>. &#8220;There&#8217;s a long way to go for the next one, there are many years, and surely because of age, I won&#8217;t get to it.&#8221;
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni <a href="https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/argentina-vs-france-world-cup-2022-final-live-score-result/5vwJ9BknaKUL/">said</a> if Messi chooses to continue his career, he would stay with the team.
&#8220;He&#8217;s more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career,&#8221; Scaloni said. &#8220;It&#8217;s just such a privilege to coach him and to have him on the team. Everything that he transmits to his teammates, it&#8217;s just unparalleled. I&#8217;ve never seen a person who gives so much to their team.&#8221;
Messi was awarded the Golden Ball following the match, recognizing him as the tournament&#8217;s most outstanding player.
The celebration comes after much frustration when Messi nearly kicked a game-winning goal in the 96th minute from about 25 yards away.
The famed Argentinian player scored seven goals throughout the World Cup tournament.
As for Messi&#8217;s future, only time will tell — or perhaps José Miguel Polanco has an idea.
Dillon Burroughs contributed to this report.

Argentina v France: Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Soccer Fan Predicted On Twitter Seven Years Ago Lionel Messi Wins 2022 FIFA World Cup

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