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"I just have to wonder why he is so determined to see this through."

The UAE is not prepared to accept Freedom of Religion for better access to the best free market.

They are still free to invest almost all they want into our economy (minus the obvious defense contracts). In fact, it would have been UAE money that funded port security whilst we Americans actually did the security (similar to how China pays off our debt).

Congress, particularly Republicans, WOULD have stressed Human Rights and even used this to influence Communist China...especially before the 2008 Olympics.

The deal would have been very simple. Congress says to the Middle East, "You want to make a fistful of US cash simoleans, then our priests and preachers get to evangelize Arabs and Somalians. You want to build your mosques in our neck of the woods? Then we get to erect our Crosses your neighborhood. You want to bring your sharia law onto Western influence, then we want to share Christ's light yoke with over burdened peasants."

The UAE is not ready to play on a level playing field. They're still under the shadow of very real terrorist threats (Iran is just a fast canoe ride away). It's too bad for the UAE considering all of the peer pressure they're under. They are a very relaxed country to the West.

Maybe that's why President Bush paid India a visit. The UAE may get to pay extremist fundamentalism a weary lip service, and still invest in America through an Indian intermediary.

This will all work out in the end.