[PrinceOfCups]

The problem is that most folks back in the good ole USA don't realize that the Arab population is diverse---and there are REGIONAL politics involved. Shiite Iran is just a stones throw away from the UAE. That is not a comforting feeling for the locals, especially with nukes on the way. The UAE favors Yankee business and goes out of it's way to give the BIG contracts to American businesses. But if they see that their strategic alliance with the USA is not on sound ground, they will look elsewhere for their security needs. BTW, the UAE is Sunni, but UAE Sunnis are NOT Saudi Sunnis. The point: even the religious sects are not monolithic. The folks back home (including our Republican Congress folk) have MUCH to learn about the politics in the Middle East.

[Bahbah]

Thanks, Prince. About two days into the hysteria over this, I started worrying about the collateral damage that the demagoging of this was going to do to important relationships that are critical to us if we are going to prevail in the long term.

[snugs]

Thanks for more local info