Likewise, the mere fact that some hijackers hailed from the UAE, or that some bad money was moved through the UAE banking system, doesn't mean that the leaders of that country are evil.
Given your name, your position on this is quite the irony. Reagan named the Soviets the "Evil Empire", yet he worked with Gorbachev in Iceland to try to find common ground on security issues. And that was with the Soviet Union, a country overtly dedicated to our destruction. Not with a country like the UAE that has, for more than a decade, played welcoming host to the busiest non-domestic U.S. naval base in the world. Without a single security breach, terrorist incident, or assault on military personnel on liberty in the city. Not one.
First off, comparing activities in the UAE banking system with activities in the US banking system, is like comparing apples and figs. It shows a fundamental flaw in your argument. The government of the UAE is deeply involved in all internal aspects of its national banking system.
Here is a partial list of organizations and individuals with Dubai/UAE ties that were designated after 9/11 by the Bush administration, to have their assets frozen, as part of the War on Terror.
· Al Baraka Exchange LLC, Dubai, U.A.E.
· Al-Barakaat, Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Al-Barakaat Group of Companies Somalia Ltd., Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Al-Barakaat Finance Group, Dubai, U.A.E.; Mogadishu, Somalia
· Al-Barakaat Financial Holding Company, Dubai, U.A.E.; Mogadishu, Somalia
· Al-Barakat Global Telecommunications, Hargeysa, Somalia; Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Al-Barakat International, Dubai, U.A.E.
· Al-Barakat Investments, Deira, Dubai, U.A.E.
· Baraka Trading Co., Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakaat Construction Co., Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakaat Group of Companies, Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakaat International Companies (BICO), Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakaat Telecommunications Co. Somalia, Ltd., Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakat Bank and Remittances, Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakat Global Telephone Co., Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Barakat Refreshment Co., Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E. · Parka Trading Co., Deira, Dubai, U.A.E.
· Red Sea Barakat Co. Ltd., Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
· Jim'ale, Ahmed Nur Ali, Mogadishu, Somalia; Dubai, U.A.E.
The UAE has a long record of ongoing ties with terrorism and human rights violations within their own borders. Just because you condone a society and culture that has theocratic oil rich Sheiks operating wealthy, third world kingdoms, doesn't mean the rest of us hold the same set of beliefs.
Finally. Comparing the USSR with the UAE shows a serious lack of sound judgment on your part. There is no comparison between the two. That doesn't mean the US govt is required to give any foreign nation who has a record of strong ties to terrorism, open access to manage commercial terminal operations at US ports of entry.