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The UAE is our "friend," we are told, and to question that assertion, we are scolded, is to engage in reckless prejudice and life-threatening insult.

Open your eyes MM how many USN ships use their ports? Do we have access to their airfields for our refueling aircraft? Do they help us with Intel? Are they as great a friend as Israel? NO, but do we want to make them as big of an enemy as say Iran? I don't think so

...do we want to make them as big of an enemy as say Iran? I don't think so

Somebody should have thought of that before it got to this level of "lost face".

As Nancy Reagan said, 'Just say No!'

Let's give them some other less-security-sensitive "plum".

Open your eyes MM how many USN ships use their ports? Do we have access to their airfields for our refueling aircraft? Do they help us with Intel? Are they as great a friend as Israel? NO, but do we want to make them as big of an enemy as say Iran? I don't think so

Well said. If Gens. Tommy Franks and Peter Pace believe the UAE is an ally in the WOT, that's good enough for me.

...but do we want to make them as big of an enemy as say Iran? I don't think so...."

-The UAE is far closer to Iran as an ally, then they are to the U.S. The Crown Prince of Dubai is reported to have excellent relations with the Iranian dictatorship:

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-18/0602025066004651.htm

Is Iran with us in the WOT?

The UAE also has the same ranking on political rights and civil liberties as Iran.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2005&country=6856

Percentage of UAE votes AGAINST the US at the UN:
(Israel has voted with us 100 % of the time.)

2004: 87.5%

2003: 100%

2002: 82.4%

2001: 100%

Do we need the Dubai port for military operations? Yup, we sure do. Do we need the Islamic government owned entity known as DP World to run ANY of our 3000 port terminals? Nope, we've gotten along without them thus far just fine.

There are plenty of private companies from many democratic countries willing and able to do the job quite well.

DP World is 100% owned by the Government of Dubai via a Dubai govt. holding entity, solely controlled by the Crown Prince of Dubai, who is in fact: a dictator of an Islamic Regime. It is not just a public corporation based in a foreign country.

And what of the Crown Prince of Dubai's government, how much rights do his "subjects have? I suggest you read this thread to find out:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1587941/posts

His "subjects have NO free press, and no right to vote, or even criticize their "government".

You want to reward THAT?

-And by the way:
http://www.house.gov/hunter/4june.htm

The fact that we have Chi-Comms still operating in the Port of Long Beach is not a good thing:
http://www.house.gov/hunter/4june.htm

Remember the weapons smuggling?
.