A few years ago, when the Bush administration wanted to sell the management of American ports to Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company in the UAE, the main argument those of us who were against it made was that the UAE’s monarchy, while it is anti-extremist and anti-terrorist, was (and still is) teetering on the brink. Should it be overthrown, and be replaced by an extremist element, then they would have easy access to the interior of the United States.
Now comes the news that Dubai can’t make the interest payments on its debt, and is on the brink of financial collapse.
If it collapses, guess who will be able to overthrow the monarchy. Right…
But even if there was not a coup, the Jihadists could still be in the catbird’s seat anyway. Imagine if you’re the sovereign of the UAE. You can’t make interest payments on your debt, and you had just taken over the management of American ports three years earlier. Somebody in AQ waves a lot of money in your face, in exchange for sneaking a suitcase nuke, dirty bomb or EMP into the United States through a port.
The flaw in my hypothetical argument is that AQ doesn’t have the kind of money it used to have. Most of OBL’s money is frozen, and the U.S. and other European countries started catching wise to fundraising fronts to terrorism disguised as charities after 9/11. Most of the Islamic terrorism since 9/11 has been at the hands of Muslims already in the victimized country, using inexpensive plans.
