09 January, 2008

Dubai Counters Rising Terror Threat

"DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (AP) -This oil-rich Persian Gulf state has outfitted high-rises with the latest security, installed an iris-recognition ID system and nearly completed a 500-mile-long barrier along its borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

With such efforts, the United Arab Emirates has created one of the world's most comprehensive homeland security and anti-terrorism systems. That has kept Dubai — the jewel in the nation's crown and a stop on President Bush's Mideast trip — free from the Islamic extremist attacks that have plagued other countries in the region.
[...]
"They can build the finest security into their new infrastructure as it is constructed, unlike the U.S. and in Europe where it has to be retrofitted into the older installations, like ports, airports and critical infrastructure," said David Stone, former head of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

Experts acknowledge that threats remain, including the possibility of radicalization among the UAE's large foreign worker population."


--more here

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

shouldn't it be "UAE counters rising ....."? since when Dubai represents the whole UAE.

rosh said...

"Experts acknowledge that threats remain, including the possibility of radicalization among the UAE's large foreign worker population."

"They are tightly controlled, but there is recognition throughout the Persian Gulf region that foreign workers present a security threat...... "

I didn't quite catch that? What sort of threat is he talking from foreign workers? The only ones who protested (or got into violence) were those labourers, and it had jack to do with religious fanaticism?

Para Glider said...

foreign workers present a security threat.....

they/we do, of course, but it's not a terror threat. It's a political one. Sooner or later, the UAE will face a general strike to which they will have no ready response. Probably not for a year or two, but couple the plummeting dollar with local inflation and what do you think will happen?

rosh said...

"they/we do, of course, but it's not a terror threat. It's a political one."

I understand to an extent, however, why shove such statements in a topic titled "Dubai Counters Rising Terror Threat".

To those oblivious to the GCC - how would you think it comes across? I could say more....but that'd be stating the obvious.

BCA said...

Of course, a large amount of foreign workers could pose a serious threat to any country.

Anybody with a work contract, can come in...imagine a terrorist network that sets up some kind of labour intensive company here and hires 200 people that are affiliated to them and brings them legally into the country. Once on the UAE soil, they could do anything...this seems obvious...therefore it is well known that people in UAE are overall well monitored...

rosh said...

"imagine a terrorist network that sets up some kind of labour intensive company here and hires 200 people ..........."

Terrorists recruit anywhere/everywhere. 15 of the 19 9/11 men were KSA citizens, not "foreign workers"!

How are "foreign workers" a TERROR threat?

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