Posted on 02/21/2006 11:10:13 PM PST by antaresequity
You're most welcome.
You still haven;t told me gold's close?
Thanks for the ping.
I seemed to recall that we have an air base in the UAE so I googled it. Seems that we have had a "relationship" with the UAE for awhile. Here are some old (1998? or so) news clippings regarding the sale of advanced F-16's (which a recent article said they were beginning delivery THIS MONTH!!?).
Also a brief blurb on the airbase they let us use - lease - or however it works. The last part of that section bothers me.
I imagine there is a little bit of backscratching going on as well as actual building of alliances (or is that one in the same!?).
ON MAY 25, (1998?) REPRESENTING ONE of the largest and most expensive sales of U.S. fighter aircraft this decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on May 12 that it will purchase 80 F-16C/D fighters, including weapons and support systems, worth an estimated $7 billion.
A U.S. government official described the UAE F-16, which will be built with a new Block 60 platform, as "comparable to or superior to" U.S. F-16s, ...the UAE aircraft will also feature an improved mission computer, new cockpit displays, a larger engine and a more advanced radar, the development of which will be paid for by the UAE.
While acknowledging that the UAE F-16s will have newer technology than U.S. models, a U.S. Air Force official said there are currently no plans to upgrade U.S. F-16s to match the Block 60 version because of fiscal constraints. The official stressed the importance of tactics and training on aircraft performance and noted that the Air Force expects its new F-22 fighter to be operational in 2004, shortly after the UAE starts receiving its fighters in 2002. The Air Force is now expected to receive its last delivery of F-16 aircraft in 2001.
IN OTHER OLD NEWS:
Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is located about an hour outside of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. ... The Air Force operates KC-10 refueling planes which are involved in sustaining US warplanes covering the southern no-flight zone over Iraq.
Both U-2s and Global Hawk operated from the the United Arab Emirates since early in Operation Enduring Freedom......The 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates, for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The Gulf War stimulated the UAE's interest in building a security relationship with the United States. The two countries concluded a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1994.
ON MAY 25, (1998?) REPRESENTING ONE of the largest and most expensive sales of U.S. fighter aircraft this decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on May 12 that it will purchase 80 F-16C/D fighters, including weapons and support systems, worth an estimated $7 billion.
A U.S. government official described the UAE F-16, which will be built with a new Block 60 platform, as "comparable to or superior to" U.S. F-16s, ...the UAE aircraft will also feature an improved mission computer, new cockpit displays, a larger engine and a more advanced radar, the development of which will be paid for by the UAE.
While acknowledging that the UAE F-16s will have newer technology than U.S. models, a U.S. Air Force official said there are currently no plans to upgrade U.S. F-16s to match the Block 60 version because of fiscal constraints. The official stressed the importance of tactics and training on aircraft performance and noted that the Air Force expects its new F-22 fighter to be operational in 2004, shortly after the UAE starts receiving its fighters in 2002. The Air Force is now expected to receive its last delivery of F-16 aircraft in 2001.
IN OTHER OLD NEWS:
Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is located about an hour outside of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. ... The Air Force operates KC-10 refueling planes which are involved in sustaining US warplanes covering the southern no-flight zone over Iraq.
Both U-2s and Global Hawk operated from the the United Arab Emirates since early in Operation Enduring Freedom......The 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates, for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The Gulf War stimulated the UAE's interest in building a security relationship with the United States. The two countries concluded a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1994.
Among Gulf states friendly to the United States, the UAE is probably least supportive of the US hard line toward Iraq. UAE officials are sensitive to criticism from Islamic sects of close ties to the United States.
You're most welcome. Just tyring to help antaresequity
get the word out.
It must be late - I'm starting to see double. Sorry!
Aw, that's very nice of you. Thanks.
We get to drop bombs.
Well don't elect jimmy carter or democrat presidents and we wouldn't have the crazy iranian situation we have now.
I know, jimmy carter is for this deal, but still he left the shah to hang out to dry and which created the mess we have now.
Also I think people have gone way knee jerk about the UAE, they are the most pro-western Gulf state and how come no one criticizes Tiger Woods who plays a golf tournament there every year and taking that "dirty money".
Also the UAE has Christian churches, so it ain't no saudi arabia.
"then lets get back to a constructive discussion regarding the UAE as an ally or foe in the war on terrorism..."
What does that have to do with allowing a potentially dangerous mind-set to have ACCESS, let alone MANAGEMENT of our border security.
Logic missing.
There is no excuse for handing over ANY measure of responsibility for our ports to any other entity than our own.
But, since the Mexican border situation is a total mockery of a country claiming to care about the safety of its citizens, it's no surprise that the utopian theorists should not see the danger in this decision.
"...will still use the union workers that they already have and such."
You know how things kind of change after you're in charge? I REALLY trust the union workers to stand up for the US security.
Have you every heard of the concept 'foothold'? We are in such denial of the intentions of our enemy it's pathetic.
True, to be honest sometimes I think we are being played for fools the cartoon thing being the latest example. It seems the work of some overseas to create divisions is having the desired affect. When you start looking into the protest it wasnt like millions in the arab street erupted. In fact I am still waiting for this so called arab street to erupt. There is always a promised eruption but its often more than some steam letting off. I didnt see it before the Iraq war either. Its time to think long term. Islam is here we have to deal with it. Too many people are starting there on overheated retoric about nuking Islam to oblivion(whatever that means). The only complaint I have against Bush is he didnt brief the major Repubs before this broke. Plus, if Bush plays this right we might yet still be able to salvage the Arab vote in the US. I see no benifit in having another voting group vote against us in Bloc for 40 years.
A post I made on another thread:
I'm trying to think from the goal backward, as opposed to the method forward. The goal is a peaceful region with the US a strong presence in that part of the world, though in a post-WW2 Eastern Europe caretaker role as opposed to an occupying army role. I am not ready to just say "He's my President, he's got some reason for this," but Bush does nothing for no reason, and certainly not just to play nice. His contempt for the UN is blindingly obvious because he thinks he can do the job better--NOT in terms of being a worldwide peacemaker (I don't think he's impressed with that one of his father's interests)but in positioning the US so our security is as assured as can be.
The man who, after we took Afghanistan, looked at the globe and knew the war wasn't over but had barely begun, is not someone who's going to hand over anything to a foreign power just to play nice. Bush looked at the Middle East, I believe the evidence shows, and thought, This clash is coming whether we want it to or not; do we do it on our terms or on theirs? Do we wait for a nuke or another 9-11, and admit to what we know NOW, or do we take the fight to the enemy?
People seem to forget something about the Iraq invasion (they forget a lot of things, but anyway): Sure, Cheney was incorrect in saying we would be welcomed with open arms, but his and Bush's critics seem to forget how very wrong THEY were about The "Arab Street". Remember those stories after we took Baghdad (which a certain democrat candidate said would take one year and at least 5000 US dead) about how depressed Arab men were because we took down "the Elite Republican Guard" so easily? That's because the Middle East is both more complex and more subtle than many Americans know, or want to believe.
It's a game. A dangerous one, but a game. How will it be won--by us basically admitting we think all those Arabs are alike and we will kill them all and that's it? (Isn't that called genocide?) Or do we live on the planet Earth and deal with those who can be dealt with using the currency they understand...namely, uh, currency. Business. What is the Middle East without all that oil? And do all those countries have the same interests?
Tell me which scenario is more likely: The Middle East, minus Israel, is united against the US and tries to destroy us because they all hate us, every one of them (I'll ask my Iraqi housemate about that, and the Chinese one, too--once they're done with their English courses and their nights on the town)? Or that the Middle East has inter-national interests IN the Middle East, and is not completely US-focused, and would rather make money than blow up one of its best sources of income and in turn get blown up?
Just some thoughts, but I think Bush is playing a longterm game here. I suppose after WW2 we stopped trading with Germany, Japan and Italy, but I wasn't around so I can't comment. But those three nations aren't exactly considered nuclear threats to us, now are they?
"I imagine there is a little bit of backscratching going on as well as actual building of alliances (or is that one in the same!?)."
Yea, I see the logic, let's hand them our borders to make friends. (a little over-kill, don't you think?)
President Bush could also give them control over the Mexican border while he at it (total negligence of America's security situation.)
"We are in such denial of the intentions of our enemy it's pathetic."
I agree.
Thanks
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