Is this a great idea or what?

[Ramo]

Right -- supporters of the former Taliban government will be a perfect partner for our own national security.

Again, recognition was a practical decision based on the number of Afghan workers in the country. That does not mean it endorsed Taleban policies.

Regarding smuggling or banking issues, that's a problem worldwide and is by no means exclusive to the UAE. From the State Dept. site, it mentions this on US-UAE relations:

The United States has enjoyed friendly relations with the U.A.E. since 1971. Private commercial ties, especially in petroleum, have developed into friendly government-to-government ties which include security assistance. The breadth, depth, and quality of U.S.-U.A.E. relations increased dramatically as a result of the U.S.-led coalition's campaign to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. In 2002, the U.S. and the U.A.E. launched a strategic partnership dialogue covering virtually every aspect of the relationship. The U.A.E. has been a key partner in the war on terror after September 11, 2001.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5444.htm

Now, the UAE is an autocratic gov't with few civil liberties, and no politicl parties or labor unions. And that would be a reasonable basis on which to deny a UAE corporation a contract.

But trying to assert that there's some dangerous terrorism connection is just rediculous, and is playing into the worst stereotypes about Muslims/Arabs.

[Az]

Dubai Ports World isn't directly state-run. It merely recieves funding from the UAE gov't.

I don't think it recieves any funding. I think it's quite a profitable corporation.

[Ramo]

Ah, fair enough.

[Az]

Hell, if Dubai subsidized a world-wide ports operation, that would really turn on a couple of red bulbs.

Seriously, I think that the whole "owned by a foreign government" as opposed to "owned by a foreign corporation" is a flimsy non-difference. I am pretty sure that secret services have the full cooperation of their home corporations just as if they were owned by the government.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Just stop digging your hole any deeper, PH.

Imran, what happened to you? You were cool for a bit, and now you've returned to the former arsehole you used to be. It's a pity...

But besides, the facts stated have never stopped the US from dealing with the likes of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in the past...and I think what is of greater concern in their lack of democracy but this seems to be a non issue. It's funny how now their supposed affiliation with terrorists becomes an issue when they have been allies in the past. It seems more like convenience to me...