Debkafile: "Washington secretly warns Qataris... if Doha maintains close ties to Tehran.."

Debka via Press-TV, here

"...Washington has secretly warned Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani that he would loose support of US troops based in the country, if Doha insists on getting close to Tehran officials, Debkafile reported, citing sources in the US and the Middle East. ..... the US has said it would close its three military bases in the small Arab state, if Doha insists on maintaining its close ties to Tehran. 

According to the report, White House officials have told their counterparts in the Arab country that a US troop withdrawal would leave Muscat defenseless in case of a regional military conflict. Qatari officials, however, may not necessarily share the same view. .....

The US showed its discontent by exempting Qatar from the countries that Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited on his recent regional tour, the report said. Washington has also warned the Qatari emir to take all possible measures to soften the anti-US tone of news broadcasts aired on the country's al Jazeera TV network, it added. ..."