Replies

"I am arguing by analogy because thus far you and I are merely speculating about what UAE MAY do in response to our pulling out of the port deal."

OK. Then I meet your Saudi Arabian analogy with my French analogy. Do you think we should stop trade agreements with the British?

"Right. You don't want to look at the obvious."

What could be more obvious than outright fact? The Royal family that runs Saudi Arabia is at war with Al Qaeda. That is a matter of fact. Bin Laden hates them.

"ALL Gulf States including UAE support Al Qaeda and terrorism."

Now you are just flat out making things up. If your arguments were strong, you could support them with facts. Not fantasy. Al Qaeda has specifically threatened the UAE for its support of the US war on terror. That is a fact. The UAE has ignored their threats. That is a fact. Their support of our war on terror has grown continuously since 9/11. That is a fact. We could not have accomplished what we have accomplished against Al Qaeda without the use of their ports and airfields. That is a fact. Now it's your turn. I want some facts detailing how the UAE supports Al Qaeda and terrorism.

"Now you are just flat out making things up. If your arguments were strong, you could support them with facts. Not fantasy."

Let's be clear here - neither of us till now has supported our statements with "facts." Now I have.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/010392.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A22303-2002Feb16?language=printer

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Al_Qaeda_bragged_of_infiltrating_Emirates_0302.html

http://www.nationalreview.com/mccarthy/mccarthy200603010741.asp

http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/25osama.htm

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/160704.php

There are Islamists who support Al Qaeda in all Gulf states. You seem to misunderstand how this works. Why do you suppose SA and other Gulf countries support terror and Islamists throughout the world? Do you think Bin Laden is at war with the Gulf sheik supporters of the Chechnyan Jihad?

"The Royal family that runs Saudi Arabia is at war with Al Qaeda. That is a matter of fact. Bin Laden hates them. "

He only hates the ones who want to modernize. He has co-opted many Islamist sheiks in the Gulf states.

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20040101faessay83105/michael-scott-doran/the-saudi-paradox.html