Personally don't see this as a business decision, economic issue, or a security issue. It's a long-term strategic problem. We've been trading with the Islamic nations for decades now and helping them modernize. Hasn't changed the core belief of their average citizen that we (anyone who does not share their faith) are infidels and worthy of violent death.
Peace cannot be bought and sold. Historical precedent. We're just buying time. Everytime one of our 'allies' in that part of the world has the opportunity to stand with us, (Turkey, for instance) they don't. They let us run bases over there, but they don't stand and fight in any meaningful fashion.
UAE's motivation for allying with us is that they've been arguing with Iran over some islands in the Gulf for years. Their only real long-term strategic interest in siding with us is that we're the only thing that keeping them safe from Iran. They won't close our bases.
Several hundred years of ME history clearly shows that Islamists are not capable of long-term peace (even with each other).
Treasury listing of corporations linked to Al Qaeda
Looks like Islamofascism is alive and well in UAE and Somalia
Not too much different from European history over the same years.
"Looks like Islamofascism is alive and well in UAE and Somalia"
Good work in this thread, Cowboy.
"They won't close our bases."
No guarantee on that either. But I do wonder what we are paying them for the "bases?"