[JamesP81]

Damn, this is the most confusing issue I think we've ever dealt with on FR.

At first, I didn't appreciate the position UAE had taken, issuing threats and all.

Is this really true that they are very pro-american, or at least were? We DO need allies in the ME, and the concept that we may have committed a betrayal against someone does not sit well with me. Doesn't sit well at all. We're supposed to be the good guys here, after all.

If that's the case, then congress did stick its head up its butt. There's just not enough information available to have a well-informed position, IMO. There never has been. If it was such a good idea, why didn't we hear anyone come out and say why?

[Petronski]

Peter Pace and Tommy Franks both enthusiastically endorsed the deal and referred to UAE as a good ally in a very strategic place, one where we need to be.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Almost every word used by the opponents to this deal is a complete LIE. There was never any "takeover" of ports. Never any compromise of security. The only thing that made this different from the dozensof other operations owned by companies of other nations was that it was Arabs involved.

Believe me you will find none here more disgusted by Islam than I but these people are the exception which proves the rule and, at great danger to themselves, have been invaluable in our military efforts. This hysterical overreaction will cause us enormous difficulties now. Since the world can see that we treat our friends and allies as though they were enemies. It is a pathetic thing which has happened.