No surprises here.
Guess I know which side FR is on this issue.
for nearly three decades now. The ISF alone, for instance, was given $500 million in 1980, according to the March 1981 issue of The MWL Journal.
Nor have UAE leaders been squeamish about financing radicalism in the United States itself. In 1980, again according
They're having to go back over 25 years to come up with something? You know, the world was a lot different of a place pre- and post- 9-11. I think a lot of govts. in the Middle East made deals with the devil out of mainly self-preservation, not through any real commitment to radical Islam that they've since learned were mistakes. Other regimes there have continued right on supporting terrorism. What matters to me is that they changed after 9-11 and all indications are for the UAE they have changed their ways.
Since 9-11, UAE central-bank officials have strengthened antimoney-laundering and terror-financing laws and have increased oversight of the financial system. Recently, the UAE has moved to the forefront of Gulf states in cooperating with U.S. diplomatic initiatives against terrorism and nuclear proliferation. In little-publicized missions, State and Treasury Department officials have been shuttling to the Emirates over the past two years to work out cooperation.
Only last week, the State Department's nonproliferation chief, Steven Rademake, was in Abu Dhabi seeking to coordinate new security initiatives. Current and former U.S. officials say the UAE has provided significant assistance both in passing along terrorism tips and in helping apprehend suspects. In the lead up to Sept. 11, UAE officials passed along information that led to the arrest of several "major terrorism suspects," said Mr. Kattouf, the former ambassador.
"These were not small fries." U.S. officials say that UAE has continued to pass along significant intelligence. The country was also the first in the region to implement the U.S. cargo-security initiative to prescreen containers destined for the U.S.
All that matters to me a lot more what someone in the UAE who is probably no longer even in power did 25+ years ago.
As for the argument about the UAE not being a democratic government, with the Brits now being out of the port operations business there aren't many if any democratic countries with these kinds of businesses. Certainly there are none in the US. Singapore is the most likely alternative that has a company like this, and Singapore isn't exactly a Jeffersonian democracy either. So I'm not sure what the alternative is according to this author.
If we cease to do business with nation's with less than savory regimes, we'll tank the US economy. That argument is extremely weak and silly.
I'm sure I'm not going to get the wording correct on this, but the voting records report for votes taken in the UN for 2005 are to be made public in March. I heard today on news radio that those records will show that of the 79 issures that were our issues the UAE voted against us 69 times, voted with us 5 times, abstained 10, and were absent 2 times.
That just doesn't sound like much of a friend to me.
I don't find this a simple issue one way or another, but when someone has to reach back to a time when we were shipping weapons to Iraq and supporting mujahadeen in Afganistan to dig up some dirt, the point might not be that strong to begin with.
CD
Background Note: United Arab EmiratesPeople
Nationality: Noun and adjective--U.A.E., Emirati.
Population (2004 est.): 4.3 million.
Annual growth rate: 6.9%.
Ethnic groups: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Jordanian, Iranian, Filipino, Other Arab, (15-20% of residents are U.A.E. citizens).
Religions: Muslim (96%), Hindu, Christian.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Urdu, Persian.
Education: Years compulsory--ages 6-12. Literacy (U.A.E. citizens)--about 80%.
Health: Life expectancy--About 74 yrs.
Work force (2003) 2.485 million (93% foreign in 15-64 age group): Agriculture--8%; industry--32%; services--60%.PEOPLE
Only 15-20% of the total population of 4.041 million are U.A.E. citizens. The rest include significant numbers of other Arabs--Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians, Yemenis, Omanis--as well as many Iranians, Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis, Afghanis, Filipinos, and west Europeans.
The majority of U.A.E. citizens are Sunni Muslims with a small Shi'a minority. Most foreigners also are Muslim, although Hindus and Christians make up a portion of the U.A.E.'s foreign population.
Educational standards among U.A.E. citizens population are rising rapidly. Citizens and temporary residents have taken advantage of facilities throughout the country. The UAE University in Al Ain had roughly 17,000 students in 2004. The Higher Colleges of Technology, a network of technical-vocational colleges, opened in 1989 with men’s and women’s campuses in each emirate. Zayed University for women opened in 1998 with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
GOVERNMENT
Administratively, the U.A.E. is a loose federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler. The pace at which local government in each emirate evolves from traditional to modern is set primarily by the ruler. Under the provisional constitution of 1971, each emirate reserves considerable powers, including control over mineral rights (notably oil) and revenues. In this milieu, federal powers have developed slowly. The constitution established the positions of President (Chief of State) and Vice President, each serving 5-year terms; a Council of Ministers, led by a Prime Minister (head of government); a supreme council of rulers; and a 40-member National Assembly, a consultative body whose members are appointed by the emirate rulers.
(snip)
We don't agree with the policies of China, yet we still do business with them.
Saying that we shouldn't do business with the UAE because we don't like the philosophy of their government is a really bad argument.
If we applied such naive idealism consistently, we wouldn't be able to do business with over half the world.
Okay, let the UAE run the harbor--- but bring in Israel for security. Let's see how "friendly" they are to that suggestion.
So, it's just business. The owners were British, now they will be UAE. Oops, the foot's in the door and what dirt is sticking to the foot. They will have to clean up their act before they can be trusted.
Good point.
My instinct still trumps my head.. . And has been more accurate since childhood.