[TigersEye]

The UAE is not ready to play on a level playing field.

FReepers who have been to Dubai have testified that there are already Christian churches there.

[SaltyJoe]

"there are already Christian churches there (Dubai)."

That's awesome. And there's probably youth groups playing guitar and singing Kumbya in their parks and country side, preaching the Good Word. I'm happy that religion is not an issue.

I figure the UAE is too close to Iran for them to want to upset the Middle East community. They're just not powerful enough to thumb their noses at them...yet they can thumb their noses all they want at us without any ill effect in their strategic relationship with the West or the White House. In fact, I wouldn't doubt that Pres. Bush and/or Karl Rove gave them the idea saying, "Don't worry about it, this is how we do business with France and the rest of Europe...it'll work wonders for the local politics and neighbors until Iran's hostile intent is out of the way."