Writes conservative newspaper The Australian:

It is the founder, bankroller and controller of al-Jazeera, which is playing such a pivotal role in inspiring the Arab Spring. Yet its fabulously wealthy ruling family led by the Emir, the Sandhurst-trained Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 59, is as autocratic and non-democratic as any of the Middle Eastern despots the broadcaster is viewed as having helped overthrow or place under siege.

In country after country, al-Jazeera’s widely admired reporting is seen to stir revolution in the Arab world.

At the same time, that has not stopped the conundrum that Qatar is coming to the aid of other autocratic regimes.