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| Arabia |
| UAE, Saudi Form Joint Panel to Confront 'Regional Challenges' |
| 2014-05-21 |
| [AnNahar] Gulf neighbors the United Arab Emirates and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... on Tuesday announced a joint committee to confront "regional challenges," in a statement published on official Emirati news agency WAM. The move came as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have cracked down on Islamists accused of links to groups such as the Moslem Brüderbund and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front fighting in Syria. Riyadh has designated both groups "terrorist" organizations. The newly formed "supreme committee" will be overseen by the Saudi and UAE foreign ministers, WAM said. It will "implement the strategic vision of the leaderships of both countries to increase security and stability to face regional challenges," WAM reported. Tensions have been running high between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on one side, and Qatar on the other. All belong to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. In an unprecedented escalation in March, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain pulled their ambassadors from Qatar after accusing it of meddling in their internal affairs, a charge Doha dismissed. Qatar is accused of supporting the Moslem Brüderbund, to which Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have long been hostile. They fear its brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine their own authority. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 USCENTCOM has a forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. I don't think that Sheikh Hamad is worried. |
| Posted by: Squinty 2014-05-21 22:07 |