CIA Factbook Excerpts On The United Arab Emirates (UAE)

CIA Factbook ^ | 2-25-06 (Taken from 1-10-06 update)

[sully777]

Under Heading of Government

Country name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE

Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions: SEVEN EMIRATES (imarat, singular - imarah); 1) Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 2) 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, 3) Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), 4) Dubayy (Dubai), 5) Ra's al Khaymah, 6) Umm al Qaywayn

Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Constitution: 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Legal system: federal court system introduced in 1971; applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah, which are not fully integrated into the federal judicial system; all emirates have secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes

Suffrage: none

Under the heading TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES

Disputes - international: because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island

Illicit drugs: the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving

[sully777]

93% of residents of UAE are foreign. And of course they can't vote. But they can make life interesting on the docks and when they do the paperwork like manifests, bills of lading, etc..

[calcowgirl]

The amount of money laundered in the US dwarfs that of the UAE. It's called an open financial system.

Actually, it's called the money laundering capital of the middle east.

December 28, 2005

FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates – Money laundering is flourishing in the United Arab Emirates where fraudsters can pull off complex tax scams or buy speed boats with paper bags of cash with relative ease, officials say.

The Gulf Arab state, which has no income tax, is now a hub for so-called missing trader fraud that robs European Union governments of billions of euros in value-added tax revenue, diplomats told a money laundering conference on Wednesday.

Some of that money has trickled through to networks of Islamic militants, they said.

The UAE has been cracking down on money laundering, particularly since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, but dirty money is still around, especially in Dubai, booming financial hub of the world's top oil exporting region.

"Partly this is a problem of success... Although Dubai is a fantastic place for legitimate businesses to work, it is also a fantastic place for criminals to work," said Robert Deane, deputy head of the British embassy in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

Businessmen say less sophisticated money laundering has long thrived in a country that is now trying to position itself as an offshore tax-haven to rival the Bahamas or Switzerland.

[bjs1779]

Panama Canal--wasn't that Carter's?

Reagan vigorously opposed it though.

"Well, the Canal Zone is not a colonial possession. It is not a long-term lease. It is sovereign United States Territory every bit the same as Alaska and all the states that were carved from the Louisiana Purchase. We should end those negotiations and tell the General: We bought it, we paid for it, we built it, and we intend to keep it." - Ronald Reagan

[frankjr]

Let me know who else in the middle east has a truly open financial system. I didn't even think they had banks in the middle east.

[jeremiah]

In '99, Osamma was targeted for death, he was not killed, because the people he was with (hunting) were the Emir of the UAE, and the muckyducks of that country. Yeah, they are our friends......

[pleikumud]

Ronald Reagan would do exactly what Bush is doing.
The UAE is a new country, growing and modernizing, and is an ally of the U.S. It is not monolithic and not without faults.

President Bush's strategy in the Middle East is clearly succeeding, thanks in part to help from the UAE. That's why Democrats view the UAE as the enemy. The Democrats have taken the ridiculous position that no Arab countries can be trusted, ever. The Democrats are defeatists and losers with no vision, no plan, no strategy, and no ideas. Their plan calls for America to become isolationist, to retreat and crawl into a hole.

[fight_truth_decay]

1971?

#3
(DU)CIA: UAE is a DRUG transhipment point (& money laundering)cut directly from:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x478454

Point A: As Sen. Menendez’ pointed out on Keith Olbermann, the UAE supported the Taliban

Point B: In '80s, the U S supplied arms worth $500 million a year to anti-Soviet fighters, including the Taliban.

FYI: UAE

http://www.uae.org.ae/

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates or states. Dubai is only approximately 1000 square miles in size.

The Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone - the fifth largest in the world within a short span of ten years, has attracted over 900 international companies that include global giants - a few of these are General Motors, AEG, Aiwa, BP, Ciba, Geigy, Daewoo and Heinz. (We probably won't hear a political "chirp" from Kerry or Gore)

The Dubai International Airport considered as the world's second best transit airport, currently handles 7.3 million passengers per year with a growth rate of 12% that is double that of any other airport in the world.

AbuDhabi (928,360) is one of the most modern cities in the world

They want to smuggle Nukes in and Nuke us and why? Jealousy over LA, Chicago and NYC? The Taliban live in what century? The United Arab Emirates is considered a "20th century success" story?

Sharjah was also the first port in the entire middle east to possess fully equipped container facilities at the Sharjah Container Terminal. Its port at Khorfakkan provides important facilities for ships that do not need to enter the Gulf.

UAE stock market enters war on money laundering

The UAE is tightening the noose around illegal Asian migrants with intensified raids on suspected hideouts and the introduction of a new investigative departure form to ensure they benefit from a four-month amnesty and do not think of coming back.

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has assured UAE leaders that Washington had no doubts about the deal

Dubai Ports World bought a company that little more than baggage handlers, employing mostly Americans who transfer cargo on and off ships. The Dubai company is controlled by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a U.S. ally that contributed $100 million to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, nearly four times as much as received from all other countries combined.

China, operate U.S. shipping terminals. Similarly, foreign airlines lease and operate whole rows of gates at U.S. airports.

Both sets of arrangements are acceptable because neither port companies nor foreign airlines are responsible for security, which remains in the hands of U.S. law enforcement.

U.S. officials wouldn't and haven't compromised port security in dealing with those countries -- nor has it done so in the UAE decision. The British managers of the company that actually runs the disputed port operations are scratching their heads because new owners won't change either their operations or U.S. security rules.

A U.S. security officer stops a truck towing a cargo container in the radiation detection lane at the port in Newark, N.J.,

There are, however, real port security problems, including the 11 million 40-foot-long containers that enter the country every year. Only 5 percent get proper scrutiny. Terrorists could use the containers to smuggle in a nuclear bomb or radioactive material for a "dirty bomb." But U.S. detection efforts are wholly inadequate. Many of the mobile radiation detectors used work only half the time, according to a recent report ("recent report": get by without a credible "source" wording). The country is still at risk for another major attack more than four years after September 11.

The UAE understands U.S. politics and on Friday offered to put its deal on hold until the hysteria fanned by U.S. politicians subsides. When it does, let the deal go through and concentrate on real problems including fixing the system to inspect cargo containers. (Remember the US is responsible for security.)

The real question is: What are the benefits for the US in terms of National Security/Technological Updates of these designated ports if the UAE "investment" group takes over?

Trust Rice?
don't trust Rice?

Trust Bush?
don't trust Bush?

[mad_as_he$$]

BS. They launder money so fast they had to bring in help from China.

[mad_as_he$$]

What would Carter do? Go French I guess.

[mad_as_he$$]

No Arab Muslim country can EVER be ultimately trusted. And I ain't a Dem by a long shot. Islam demands the extermination of Infidels. Once you understand that then all else is clear.

As far as Ronnie goes; I don't believe he would embrace an Arab country at this point in the WOT. Of course if Ronnie were still Prez the WOT would be over - we won and now control the oil.

[CWOJackson]

LOL! Now people are quoting the CIA.

DPW will not be taking over any ports, it will not be taking over port security.

[bjs1779]

Sometimes it is just a matter of principal. Ronald Reagan had that.

[pleikumud]

How about China, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Israel, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, , Panama, India, Spain, Ukraine, South Africa, etc. (even the UK).

Trust but verify. Which doesn't mean isolation, or paranoia about all Arabs.

[mad_as_he$$]

Except for China and possible Germany all of the nations you listed would be considered Catholic or Protestant. As far as I know the Pope has not issued any orders to kill Americans.

Not paranoia. 100% of the 9/11 killers were Arab. Virtually every terrorist attack on American interests was Arab based or Muslim driven (OK City being the exception and I can make a vary strong case that TM had Arab co-conspitators).

Why shop in Compton when you live in Beverly Hills?

Hey even better, with verification, give an violent ex-convict all of your personal info including ALL of your security protocols to protect your family.

Do you know the story about the scorpion and the frog?

[sully777]

So, let me get this straight:

A poster on the DU happened to run the same CIA Handbook information. By implication, you attempt to paint me as a DUmmy? Nice. Although, you forget I received this information from the CIA. Another poster on this thread used state department information. Is this information no longer valid because it doesn't fit Bush's deal. Funny how government information is thrown out in an attempt to push this port deal.

Then you quote 2x's a mere editorial from the Detroit News. Now that's an awesome citation! I believe in academia (conservative classic academia) your citation would be considered less than stellar. The fact that the commentary supports the deal using the same failed logic the administration is issuing should not surprise me.

Then, as your capstone, you quote EXTENSIVELY from a UAE sponsored propoganda website that paints the UAE as angels, more modern than anyone else, a shining city upon the hill, yadda yadda yadda. If I am discussing the murder rate doubling in Tulsa due to illegal aliens would you quote from the Tulsa Tourism Association to prove me wrong?

If this is a question of a company employing americans on our docks only, why not give the contract to Pakistan, Yemen, Liberia, Haiti, or Iran? Why not give Ports Authority contracts to Columbia, or our good buddy Hugo Chavez? They're just as cheap, effective, and hard-working as the UAE.

USS Cole terror attack was inside job. Mastermind was high Yemeni government official with ties to Bin Laden. (Remember: The NY Post story hyperlinked above in another post states AQ has infiltrated UAE key government positions!

One person critical of Yemeni port security was silenced. What was the cost of ignoring him? Who took the blame after greatest fears came to fruition?

Danger in trusting Ports Authority.

US decides new security will be part of Yemeni refueling deal at the cost of 17 sailors' lives.

[sully777]

They will control global shipping manifests, bills of lading, etc..

[sully777]

The US supplied arms to anyone opposed to the Soviets. It was the Cold War (some call that was WWIII) against a communist empire that stated an intention to rule the world by force of arms. The US supplied arms to the mujahadeen in Afghanistan. Today, the US currently allies itself with countries that help us in the war on AQ, a movement that intends to rule the world by force of arms. In some cases, the US supplies arms to certain countries. In future, those countries may become our enemies but that is the world. Germany was once a valued ally, then it was an enemy twice, and now its a valued ally.

---

On the other hand, the UAE was one of the FEW countries to recognize the Taliban (just one of dozens of forces that fought in the war against the USSR in Afghanistan). The UAE recognized the Taliban government up until the day it was defeated by Coalition forces.

The UAE financially and politically supports terror groups that are on the US terror list.

The UAE has made it very clear that it hates Isael, our only true, dependable ally in the ME for half a century.

---

You are purposely confusing historical data to set up a straw man.

[sit-rep]

Oh boy!!! I feel better about them now... I change my vote!! /sarcasm...

[sully777]

I'll tell you what, the last two times the Bush-bots used these types of logical fallacies was with the sudden campaign to usurp McClintock for RINO/CINO Ahnold (that worked out well /sarc) AND the issue with illegal aliens.

They have the balls to use the Democrat playbook to paint us as extreme, racist, and xenophobic.

[sully777]

...uninformed, on the side of the Democratic Underground, and so on so on so on