The US Needs the UAE on-Board for Iran

[JCMach1]

I had a sick moment of clarity when I realized the primary reason Bush will hold his position on the port sales... he wants to keep the UAE in-line for his expected date with Iran...

It would be almost impossible to supply a war (air or land) with Iran unless the UAE was on-board.


THIS is why he won't flip-flop.

[MamaBear]

1. Yes.

This is sufficiently horrifying to be probable.

[JCMach1]

2. Beause of this, he will quietly call the Repug leadership aside

and kill any override.

[yurbud]

3. yeah, after the terrorist attack, everybody will forget this brouhaha

[Avalux]

4. That's part of it probably.

The UAE port in Dubai is in the center of everything in the ME (look at a map). If we give the UAE operational rights to our ports, then we get to use their port. Actually, it all ties in to the PNAC plan - it gives us access to the entire Middle East. A staging point for war, and a base for our corporations to operate from to go in and rebuild.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Here's an interesting point

The United Arab Emirates has provided valuable support to the United States and coalition operations in the region, allowing the deployment of aircraft and the use of its airspace. This includes facilities for an aerial refueling unit that supports Operation Southern Watch as part of UN sanctions against Iraq, and liberty privileges for US service members at the port of Jebel Ali.

Intensive use has been made of commercial ports, including about 200 calls a year at the Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates. Other important ports (Mina) in the UAE are Abu Dhabi, Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Khalid, Mina Rashid, Mina Saqr, and Mina Zayid. The Fujairah to Jebel Ali land link is the Navy’s logistics pipeline to the Gulf should the Strait of Hormuz be closed. Cargo unloaded at Al Fujairah, on the Gulf of Oman, can be subsequently transported via highway to destinations on the Arabian Gulf and hence bypass the need for transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/uae.htm

[JCMach1]

6. Precisely what I was talking about...

Logistically speaking, war would be extremely difficult (including air campaign) without some UAE support.