Not only did Osama bin Laden get a lot of aid and support from the UAE, but it was one of three nations in the world to recognize the legitimacy of Afghanistan’s reprehensible Taliban. AQ Khan, the supposedly “renegade” Pakistani scientist, funneled most of the nuclear secrets and materials that he sold to Liberia, Iran and North Korea through Dubai while the government beamed its approval.

As middle east regimes go, it ranks about average, ahead of the American-created mess in Iraq, the thuggish and brutal regime of Musharraf in Pakistan, and the religiously insane kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Compared to most regional countries, it actually does fairly well in regard to women’s rights. And of course, it’s swimming in wealth, with gleaming, ultra-modern cities and incredible amusement parks hiding the large portion of the population that isn’t sharing in the obscene wealth.

The Putsch junta, ever corrupt, is attracted to wealth like flies to offal. If their followers put party ahead of country, they put money ahead of both. And the UAE is pure, undiluted money. [more]

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