From the all Arab world the only one place that the United States doesn't like to consider, it is Dubai. Successful trade agreements have been signed with the rest of the Gulf countries from which all parties benefit, but the agreement with Dubai - a booming monument of capitalism, has been delayed for unspecified time.
Regardless, our oil-not-rich emirate, known for its opulent hotels and shopping malls and flexible economic strategies, has quickly become a political piñata for Democrats (and some Republicans) in U.S.
Last year, the U.S. lawmakers thwarted a merger that would have let a Dubai-based company run several American ports, despite the fact that some experts involved in port security thought the deal would have made U.S. ports any less safe.
Now a controversy is erupting over the announcement by Halliburton, the oil services giant run by Dick Cheney before he became vice president, that it will move its headquarters to Dubai from Houston, regardless that there are legitimate business reasons for the move.
Dubai has become a convenient symbol to stoke fears about global security and globalization for some, thankfully not many. From U.S. prospective it has been depicted as a terrorist haven, as it was during the ports debate, or a tax haven, as it is now. The image one is left with is rather incongruous, kind of like a Bermuda run by the Taliban.
The irony is that Dubai is one of the best things going in the Middle East. While other Arab nations are contending with growing ranks of Islamic extremists with medieval notions, Dubai is a center of free trade, religious tolerance and pro-Western attitudes.
Now, Dubai is becoming only the subtext in the latest controversy. The main criticisms are leveled at Halliburton, for deserting the country that has given it numerous government contracts, including some highly questionable ones in Iraq. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called the headquarters move "an insult to the U.S. soldiers and taxpayers who paid the tab for their no-bid contracts and endured their overcharges for all these years."
However the case against Halliburton is weak. For the time being, at least, Halliburton will maintain its Delaware incorporation and pay U.S. corporate income taxes and will even expand by 30% . Only its petroleum field services unit is going to Dubai — to be closer to customers and the world's largest oil fields.
The latest round of American pro-Dubai-bashing only provides more evidence to people around the world that the United States does not always support the principles that it espouses, one of them being free enterprise.
Last year, the U.S. lawmakers thwarted a merger that would have let a Dubai-based company run several American ports, despite the fact that some experts involved in port security thought the deal would have made U.S. ports any less safe.
Now a controversy is erupting over the announcement by Halliburton, the oil services giant run by Dick Cheney before he became vice president, that it will move its headquarters to Dubai from Houston, regardless that there are legitimate business reasons for the move.
Dubai has become a convenient symbol to stoke fears about global security and globalization for some, thankfully not many. From U.S. prospective it has been depicted as a terrorist haven, as it was during the ports debate, or a tax haven, as it is now. The image one is left with is rather incongruous, kind of like a Bermuda run by the Taliban.
The irony is that Dubai is one of the best things going in the Middle East. While other Arab nations are contending with growing ranks of Islamic extremists with medieval notions, Dubai is a center of free trade, religious tolerance and pro-Western attitudes.
Now, Dubai is becoming only the subtext in the latest controversy. The main criticisms are leveled at Halliburton, for deserting the country that has given it numerous government contracts, including some highly questionable ones in Iraq. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called the headquarters move "an insult to the U.S. soldiers and taxpayers who paid the tab for their no-bid contracts and endured their overcharges for all these years."
However the case against Halliburton is weak. For the time being, at least, Halliburton will maintain its Delaware incorporation and pay U.S. corporate income taxes and will even expand by 30% . Only its petroleum field services unit is going to Dubai — to be closer to customers and the world's largest oil fields.
The latest round of American pro-Dubai-bashing only provides more evidence to people around the world that the United States does not always support the principles that it espouses, one of them being free enterprise.
I guess the American government can't is just trying to keep the American money in the country, it's not that I understand much of politics, but always the issues are for money.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I have noticed more an more Americans in Dubai in the last 2- 3 years. It's just the American government, not the ordinary people.
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