The United States' move to grant Qatar unprecedented security guarantees will deter future Israeli attacks on the country, but it is unlikely to deter Iranian aggression; it will also prompt other Gulf states to demand similar commitments, while ultimately doing little to halt their long-term efforts to diversify security partners. On Oct. 1, the White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order, dated two days earlier, to provide Qatar with an upgraded U.S. security commitment. The directive, formally titled ''Assuring the Security of the State of Qatar,'' states that any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty or critical infrastructure will be treated as a threat to U.S. peace and security, and vows that Washington would respond to such an attack with ''lawful and appropriate measures,'' including diplomatic, economic and, if necessary, military action. The directive also requires joint contingency planning between U.S. and Qatari authorities...
