We have succeeded in one thing..possibly turning a valuable ally and friend in the mideast into an "aloof partner".
Yes the rulkers of the UAE are Muslim...but being royalty, they are hated by the Al Queda and the other Islamofacist groups..who have threatened them personally..for jailing any terrorists they get hold of.
Gen. Tommy Franks said in an interview with Tony Snow..." We have no greater ally in our war on terror than the UAE".
How so ?
Well, being Muslim, they can easily have their agents infiltrate the terrorist cells.
They did that ..and according to Franks, gave us grid coordinates for Taliban targets in Afghanistan.
Heretofore, the UAE have been operating in the same manner as the French " Maquis" of WW2...and feeding the coalition forces info..
To do this, they had to "recognize" the Taliban regieme...they certainly could not have done the job if they REFUSED to recognize the Taliban....DUH
Not being a Koolaid drinking union member...I still believe that homeland security in the form of the US COAST GUARD...is our first line of defense....
Especially since they are inspecting suspicious cargoes 3 miles offshore..