[Cyclefrance]

Globalisation is a two-way street. One of the risks you have to bear. You buy their's then they buy yours.

Big Cat's - sorry, Jaguar's assessment of the UAE isn't so biased a view IMO. They are probably the most-forward-looking of the Middle East nations. The way Dubai has expanded as a container hub, Emirates Airlines and, more currently, the drive towards tourism, and real-estate ventures such as Palm and The World are all examples of their extremely active and financially aggressive approach to developing their nation and expanding their interests beyond their immediate shores.

Also, it’s a bit late in the day to complain that business activities will not be all true blue and above board. The deal will undoubtedly involve back-handers and politicians on the take when the stakes are so high and opportunites so available. When has it been any different? Strip away these issues and fundamentally it must be far better that the UAE finances are directed into positive and peaceful initiatives such as those described above, than to funding terrorist and/or other subversive organisations. The West stands to gain more getting closer to a nation that shares its goals and objectives especially when that nation is so geographically important (Straits of Hormuz, proximity to Iran, etc.,) – makes a nice change not having to contemplate invasion, that’s for sure.

The ports deal and its Arab connotations is bound to be controversial, what with terrorism’s tentacles spreading ever further and deeper. But the surface fear that this generates has to be tempered by the solid fact that the goals of Al Quaeda are not shared by the majority of Arabs, and certainly not by nations and rulers such as those of the UAE. Our governments will do more to protect the long-term interests and safety of its peoples by fostering strong and positive relations with such an entity, whether it is Arab or not, than nurturing and responding to the immediate fears being voiced whose basis is unfounded if not very shaky, to say the least.