Article

2008-01-29 Arabia

UAE seeks French base to break US security monopoly in Gulf

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Posted by lotp 2008-01-29 15:32|| || Front Page|| [14 views ] Top

#1 And you expect ANY European country to defend you? Good luck with that. England is having difficulty paying for a bunch of illegals to have health care and keep two divisions supplied at the same time. France ain't doin' much better last time I checked. What is it now, 200 cars a night being torched by "youths"?

It is either the US or Iran. Take your pick.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-01-29 15:44|| 2008-01-29 15:44|| Front Page Top

#2 read the full article

A. It makes clear this is an anti-Iranian move. Its anti-US only in the sense that sending the Marines into Afghanistan, say, is anti-Army, rather than anti-taliban

B. the UAE themselves dont say its to break the US monopoly, some pundits do.

Posted by Dopey Flotle8127 2008-01-29 16:07|| 2008-01-29 16:07|| Front Page Top

#3 b) isn't quite right. From the article:

Al-Kitbi said Arab Gulf countries were no longer tying their foreign policies to other powers and were not basing their relationships on selling and buying oil.
Arab Gulf leaders will seek to enhance economic ties with Asia and Europe with the objective of strengthening political relations that might develop into defense partnerships like the opening of the French base in the UAE, she said. The U.S. must notice this change, and subsequently improve its foreign policy and reconsider its actions in order not to miss the major strategic shift that seems to be happening.

A professor of political science at UAE speaking out on geopolitical issues affecting her homeland is probably reflecting significant opinion among leaders in the emirates.

Posted by lotp 2008-01-29 16:39|| 2008-01-29 16:39|| Front Page Top

#4 ...and they can go check with the Indonesians about who was actually able to DO stuff in the wake of the tsunami over there.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2008-01-29 22:18|| 2008-01-29 22:18|| Front Page Top

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