Via The Hill: Dubai threat to hit back
Dubai is threatening retaliation against American strategic and commercial interests if Washington blocks its $6.8 billion takeover of operations at several U.S. ports.[...]
A source close to the deal said members of Dubai’s royal family are furious at the hostility both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have shown toward the deal.
“They’re saying, ‘All we’ve done for you guys, all our purchases, we’ll stop it, we’ll just yank it,’” the source said.
Retaliation from the emirate could come against lucrative deals with aircraft maker Boeing and by curtailing the docking of hundreds of American ships, including U.S. Navy ships, each year at its port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the source added.
It is not clear how much of Dubai’s behind-the-scenes anger would be followed up by action, but Boeing has been made aware of the threat and is already reportedly lobbying to save the ports deal.
Some sort of response would not be surprising.
No doubt some of this is simple anger and frustration, not to mention politics. However, I still think that the foreign relations implications of the current over-reaction to Dubai Ports’ role in this situation by numerous members of congress could be quite negative.
h/t: Reader Chris V. via e-mail
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March 9th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
The Hill is an unreliable tabloid.
But if it’s true: remember, the UAE is still “an ally in the War on Terror,” so it must be okay.
March 10th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Dubai Ports, The Deal Is Dead
Bush Administration and their arrogant, cavalier attitude toward this deal does not install confidence, and to have threatened with a veto had to be the biggest ‘icing on the cake’ blunder of all. Karl Rove, who seems to have the instincts of a turtl…