for nearly three decades now. The ISF alone, for instance, was given $500 million in 1980, according to the March 1981 issue of The MWL Journal.
Nor have UAE leaders been squeamish about financing radicalism in the United States itself. In 1980, again according
They're having to go back over 25 years to come up with something? You know, the world was a lot different of a place pre- and post- 9-11. I think a lot of govts. in the Middle East made deals with the devil out of mainly self-preservation, not through any real commitment to radical Islam that they've since learned were mistakes. Other regimes there have continued right on supporting terrorism. What matters to me is that they changed after 9-11 and all indications are for the UAE they have changed their ways.
Since 9-11, UAE central-bank officials have strengthened antimoney-laundering and terror-financing laws and have increased oversight of the financial system. Recently, the UAE has moved to the forefront of Gulf states in cooperating with U.S. diplomatic initiatives against terrorism and nuclear proliferation. In little-publicized missions, State and Treasury Department officials have been shuttling to the Emirates over the past two years to work out cooperation.
Only last week, the State Department's nonproliferation chief, Steven Rademake, was in Abu Dhabi seeking to coordinate new security initiatives. Current and former U.S. officials say the UAE has provided significant assistance both in passing along terrorism tips and in helping apprehend suspects. In the lead up to Sept. 11, UAE officials passed along information that led to the arrest of several "major terrorism suspects," said Mr. Kattouf, the former ambassador.
"These were not small fries." U.S. officials say that UAE has continued to pass along significant intelligence. The country was also the first in the region to implement the U.S. cargo-security initiative to prescreen containers destined for the U.S.
All that matters to me a lot more what someone in the UAE who is probably no longer even in power did 25+ years ago.
As for the argument about the UAE not being a democratic government, with the Brits now being out of the port operations business there aren't many if any democratic countries with these kinds of businesses. Certainly there are none in the US. Singapore is the most likely alternative that has a company like this, and Singapore isn't exactly a Jeffersonian democracy either. So I'm not sure what the alternative is according to this author.
If we cease to do business with nation's with less than savory regimes, we'll tank the US economy. That argument is extremely weak and silly.
I support much of what you have had to say in this post. It is to easy to just call them a anti-western muslim country that supports radical Islam. Some fail to realize that as they embrace new partnerships with western nations, that sink a lot of money into their pockets, they have no reason to support the Islamo radical movements. I can see the day coming when we shall be reading articles on how tough the UAE and states like Yemen will get regarding their loose visa controls for instance. These countries are modernizing at a rapid rate. They can little afford as the Saudis have found out, that there is any room for radical Islam to have a part in ruining their countries success in moving forward.