(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Even during the early days of the Saudi-led quartet's illegal attempt to isolate Qatar politically and economically, it was abundantly clear that they had, to use a very mild idiom, shot themselves in the foot.
As the weeks dragged on their position grew increasingly untenable, with the vast majority of civilised nations warming up to Qatar's calm and collected approach which eschewed hollow rhetoric and bombast in favour of proactive diplomacy and thoughtful engagement.
There was hardly a statement of aggression from Qatar's leaders while Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt resorted to all sorts of political trickery and threats that were not expected of nations bound by deep historical, religious and family ties.
Some of the things said and written by the acquiescent media in those four countries would classify as plain underhandedness besides being downright puerile and cheap. But as they say you sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, and all of it has effectively boomeranged on them, exposing the duplicity in their dealings not only with Qatar, but also with the world at large.
All the while Qatar has not wavered from its original stance that the pro-Iran comments posted on the Qatar News Agency (QNA) website that triggered off the senseless blockade in June were the result of a hacking carried out by elements inimical to the country forces that were jealous of its prosperity and its growing status across all fields of human endeavour, especially politics, media, sport, education and social development.
And as if more proof was needed to vindicate Qatar's watertight position, top US intelligence officials on Sunday categorically named the UAE as the country responsible for the hacking, as reported by the venerable and highly influential Washington Post which was picked up by all the major news agencies and reported by most newspapers and television stations across the world.
According to US intelligence officials, senior members of the UAE government had discussed the plan to hack Qatari websites on May 23 with the intention of causing an artificial crisis and turmoil in the region in a bid to achieve their dubious political motives in connivance with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain.
Qatar said yesterday that the Washington Post report proves beyond doubt what it had been saying all through that the controversial comments were posted by hacks.
'The information published in the Washington Post ... revealed the involvement of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and senior Emirati officials in the hacking of Qatar News Agency, Qatar's government communication office said in a statement.
The report 'unequivocally proves that this hacking crime took place, it added.
The UAE has, understandably, denied the Washington Post story. But what else can it do? Having lost its legal and moral standing on the issue, it will do its best to stick to its stance.
But for how long, that is the question. Sooner rather than later the UAE would have to come down from its imaginary high horse and admit its mistake.
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