We've heard about security concerns, how about discussing "rewarding" UAE?

[KansDem]

Yes, there are security concerns with this UAE/American ports deal. But I have yet to hear about the perception that Bush is rewarding (or at least forgiving) the role the UAE has played in global terrorism. What's wrong in the POTUS just saying, "Sorry, no deal--the UAE has too clozy a relationship with terrorist and terrorism. And they are human-rights violators."*** I can imagine Jimmy Carter saying this.

So far, I haven't read or heard of any politician or pundit who has said that this deal is WRONG for the simple reason we would be rewarding countries who support terrorism. If there are/were any that I just simply missed, please let me know!

________
***Ok, ok...a bit of a stretch considering GitMo and Abu Ghraib, but there was a time we could say this and it had real value...

[Captain Hilts]

1. John Warner says this rewards UAE for letting our military use their ports

[phoebe]

2. it was more likely a reward for UAE to give up the Iraq monies owed

to them in the form of pre-"war" loans. Having said that, these "loans" were probably conjured up in order to conceal the millions missing at the beginning of the "war".

Iraq debt of 3.8 billion owed to UAE.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/iraq/homefront/...

snip

Emirates says it's willing to forgive most of Iraq's $14 billion debt

01:13 PM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Associated Press

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — After a visit by former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III, the United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it was willing to forgive most of Iraq's $3.8 billion debt to the Gulf state.

Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, made the announcement. Baker is traveling the globe on behalf of President Bush in an effort to persuade countries to forgive Iraqi debt.


snip

Baker also will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, attempting to persuade oil-rich countries in the Middle East to forgive billions of dollars in debt accumulated by Iraq during the rule of Saddam Hussein, who was deposed by a U.S.-led invasion in April.

snip

Iraq owes the United States more than $4 billion. That includes $1.9 billion in principal and $1.1 billion in interest on Agriculture Department-guaranteed loans. (psst..Agriculture Dept. known for ties to CIA)