Trump has prominent Muslim business friends in Dubai

Republican presidential candidate and frontrunner Donald Trump is known for his diatribes against Muslims. In a recent statement, the Trump campaign recommended a ban on Muslim immigration into the United States.

Trump said there should be a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until the country's representatives could "figure out what is going on." His campaign office claimed the discrimination was justified because large segments of the Muslim population bear "great hatred toward Americans." Trump has also called for the deportation of 11 million illegal immigrants in the US. He also wants to erect a substantial wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

As well as being a GOP presidential candidate, Trump is a prominent real estate mogul and also featured in a popular TV series, The Apprentice, until recently. Trump is both the chair and president of The Trump Organization and founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. According to the Wikipedia entry on Trump: In 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth at $4 billion.[49] In June 2015, Business Insider published a June 30, 2014, financial statement supplied by Trump. The statement reflects his net worth as $8.7 billion. Of that amount, $3.3 billion is represented by "Real Estate Licensing Deals, Brand and Branded Developments", described by Business Insider as "basically [implying] that Trump values his character at $3.3 billion."[50]In spite of — or perhaps because of — his controversial views Trump has the support of many celebrities including Dennis Rodman, Jesse Ventura, and Ted Nugent among 14 listed here.

Trump certainly has Muslim friends in the Gulf area. One is Hussain Sajwani, head of Damac Properties a Dubai-based luxury real estate company. Trump calls Muslim Sajwani not only a good friend but a great man. Trump even flew off to Dubai to spend time with Sajwani when they announced their joint huge real estate project in the UAE.

The project will include 104 villas and mansions with a price tag beginning at more than $1 million U.S. and at the higher end will be over $10 million each. The development will also have the "Trump World Golf Club." The video appended shows the opening of the resort. The Trump Private Mansions are touted as "the most distinguished address in Dubai", including a view of the Trump International Championship golf course. The development includes a luxury spa, restaurants, and stores.

Sajwani has a clouded history, being convicted in 2011 for a land deal with an Egyptian government minister. He was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. However, a settlement was reached in 2013 with the new more friendly government and Damac properties is free to operate again in Egypt. The Dubai project also faces issues concerning conditions for migrant workers on these construction projects. Workers have been required to work 14 plus hours in temperatures of up to 100 degrees F and have poor living quarters as well. At a press conference in Dubai in 2014 a reporter from Vice news asked: “Mr. Trump, the workers who build your villas make less than $200 a month. Are you satisfied?” People in the room reportedly gasped at the question. Trump refused to answer, instead remaining stone-faced. The project’s publicist then told the reporter, “That’s not an appropriate question.”

Trump is not content with his Dubai Muslim friends. His company is also exploring opportunities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. If he wins the presidency of the US, perhaps Trump will issue special presidential passes for his wealthy Muslim business friends so they can enter the United States. The passes will trump the Trump ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

Hillary Clinton complains of closure of NDI office in Dubai

The Dubai office of the National Democratic Institute has been closed down by the UAE government. Clinton said that she regretted the decision after meeting with foreign ministers of the Gulf States in Saudi Arabia.

Clinton remarked:"We are as you know, as anyone who has visited the United States, strong believers in a vibrant civil society ... I expect our discussions on this issue to continue," A German pro-democracy think tank was also closed in Dubai.

Foreign funded advocacy groups have been prosecuted in Egypt as well including the NDI. They were going to be charged but the intervention of the U.S. enabled the group to return to the U.S. For more see this article.

While the NDI does try to promote democracy, more accurately its mission is to help create a government that is favorable to U.S. interests. It is hardly surprising that governments of whatever stripe might consider them agents of a foreign government. They are! For more on the NDI see this article. The NDI is funded by the U.S. government.

Billions in cash smuggled out of Afghanistan

Worried about future security Afghans have smuggled out 8 billion dollars by car, private jet, and through border crossings. Although Afghans are now limited to taking only 20 ,000 out of the country no doubt that limit is regularly broken.

Khan Hadawal who is deputy governor of the Bank of Afghanistan said:"It's hard to estimate exactly how much is going out of Afghanistan, but I can tell you in 2011, 4.5 billion was (flown) out of Afghanistan," Much of the money goes to Dubai where many of the Afghan elite who benefit from the NATO occupation will probably retire if things go bad when NATO withdraws.

The article notes that there is some construction of new multimillion-dollar communities in Kabul hoping to convince Afghans to stay in Afghanistan. Apartments in one community will start at $ 70,000. Much of Kabul was destroyed by years of war.

Foreign aid keeps the Afghan economy running. If this aid dwindles or dries up many worry that the Afghan government and economy will not be able to sustain itself. For more see this article.

Dubai: A view of the US in Iraq

This is an interesting article from a writer based in Dubai. It would be nice if some references were given. I did not realize that the Pentagon announced it would withdraw a large percentage of US troops in mid 2008. If there were such an announcement I imagine it would be accompanied by a number of qualifiers. I am not sure how credible predictions of a 26 per cent chance of victory are or even what victory is supposed to mean.


Cards are stacked against US in Iraq
By Dr. Mohammad Akif Jamal, Special to Gulf News
Published: July 14, 2007, 00:04


The contradicting statements made by American officials regarding the situation in Iraq reflect the weakness of the US political stand in the country, despite its military and economic might.

They also mirror what is far more alarming for Iraqis, which is the uncertainty of their country's future, such as when the Pentagon announced the intention of US President George W. Bush's administration to withdraw a large part of its troops from Iraq in mid-2008, while General David Petraeus, Commander of the American forces in Iraq, said the US needs about 10 years to win the war in Iraq.

Meanwhile, veteran US military chiefs, who experienced the war in Vietnam, voiced deep concerns about what is happening in Iraq, pointing out that the US troops have six months to win the war. Otherwise, they have to face a similar scenario to what happened in Vietnam.

This would result in huge losses in the political and moral support the US administration needs from the American people to carry on with this war.

The statements issued by the Pentagon aim to enhance the political position of Bush's administration and weaken the pressure applied on it from the Democrat-dominated Congress and the growing anger of the American public.

With the increase in fatalities among the US troops, General Petraeus seems to be more in touch with reality in his reading of the future of what is going on in Iraq, unlike the Pentagon theorists, who are used to twisting the truth to manipulate American public opinion.

A recent study conducted by Professor Patricia Sullivan from the University of Georgia's School of Public Affairs estimates that the US has a 26 per cent chance of victory in a war that could endure approximately 10 years.

The research was based on a case study of 122 conflicts that have erupted in different parts of the world since the Second World War.

In these conflicts, some major powers such as the US, Great Britain, France, the former Soviet Union and China faced much weaker forces including small countries and even militias and terrorist groups.

This study model succeeded in predicting the outcomes of the struggle in 80 per cent of the cases.

The study revealed that the militarily advanced countries have failed to win 39 per cent of the military conflicts against less powerful countries or sides throughout the past 60 years, with many factors behind this.

These include the aim of the conflict, as fighting against liberation movements mostly ends in failure.

They also include the area of the conflict and it closeness to another powerful country that supports the weaker side, as well as the nature of conflict, qualified military leaderships, regional and international compassion with one side or the other.

The legitimacy of the use of force in ending conflicts is another one of the determining factors, as well as a superpower's loss of the people's confidence, the variety in the nature of culture and history between the parties of conflict and political flexibility, ability to manoeuvre and the availability of resources to sustain the conflict.

No defined target

In conflicts that erupt between superpowers and minor ones, most advanced and devastating weapons are put aside because there is no defined target for them, and in case such weapons were used, the superpower would be condemned by the international community for endangering the lives of civilians and their properties.

Meanwhile, the superpower's armed forces will be an easy target for the weaker party in the conflict, as they are fighting in unfamiliar territory and hostile land.

Studies such as Sullivan's do not sound alarm bells for strategy planners and policy makers of major powers, mainly because in such conflicts there is no ultimate winner or loser except in a few cases.

Most conflicts that erupted after the Second World War, when the UN and its affiliated organisations were being established, ended with the two parties of the conflict sitting at the negotiating table with a mediator from the UN, another regional organisation or another major power.

Such negotiations usually granted the superpower some of the targets it had for entering the conflict.

In the Iraqi case, the US had many targets for invading Iraq and interfering in its affairs, the most important of which was to hold the keys to solely dominate international energy sources and strategy, which in turn allows it to remain the world's sole superpower for many decades to come, and until the depletion of oil.

The best proof of the US's hunger for control through oil is its growing pressures on the Iraqi government and its various institutions including the parliament, to speed up the endorsement of the new oil and gas law and put it into effect, which binds any subsequent executive authority.



Dr. Mohammad Akif Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.

Promoting Iraq oil to Big Oil

No doubt this will be a luxury conference far away from the conflict in Iraq providing the utmost for relaxation and an atmosphere where future business connectiions can be forged! The real purpose of the oil bill is evident. The bill should probably be through parliament before the conference.

Iraq Oil, Gas, Petrochemical & Electricity Summit confirmed to take place in Dubai, UAE on 28-30 May 2007

Posted: 24-04-2007 , 18:20 GMT


In agreement with the Iraqi Government, the Iraq Development Program (IDP) is proud to announce that the official Iraq Oil, Gas, Petrochemical & Electricity Summit will now be taking place in Dubai, UAE on 28-30 May 2007.

For the most important sectors of the Iraqi economy, this historic landmark event will be the first of its kind since the formation of Iraq's Unity Government, with these key decision makers participating with the full intent of establishing relationships and entering into contractual negotiations with all international operators wishing to be part of both the upstream and downstream sectors.

Iraq has the world’s second largest proven oil reserves and the Government is now finalising its new hydrocarbon laws, following the declaration of the investment law for Iraq’s extractive industries. The timing of this summit could not be better.

The summit will welcome representation from the Iraqi Ministries of Oil, Industry & Minerals and Electricity, as well as the Iraq Energy Council, Investment Promotion Agency and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministries of Natural Resources, Industry and Electricity. It will also host many of the state companies operating under the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and senior representatives from the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO).

All attending Iraqi Ministries will be outlining the requirements for their relevant sectors in front of the senior corporate audience, before holding private consultations with some of the pre-eminent operators within the global energy sector.

These best-in-breed operators and companies will be represented at board level, with the summit having attracted interest from the likes of Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Lukoil, Total, Statoil, Marathon Oil, Kuwait National Petroleum, Schlumberger, Oracle, Technology Partners, ABB, BHP Billiton, General Electric, Siemens, Cummins Power, Pratt & Whitney, Bukkehave, Control Risks, Sumitomo, Babcock, AMEC, Mitsubishi, Marubeni, Wartsila, Deutz, Mitsui, Honeywell and a variety of medium-sized operators as well as leading Russian and Asian companies.

Furthermore, the summit will ensure the involvement of leading Iraqi businesses and families. A central pillar of the Iraq Development Program is to promote greater employment in Iraq through partnerships and to allow for international operators to meet with local Iraqi operators to explore partnering opportunities.

For more information and to register your attendance please visit:
http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org/idp/events/iog/index.htm






© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com

Halliburton move to Dubai to be investigated?

An obvious reason to move to Dubai is its liberal tax laws. Halliburton can save a bundle on taxes. Maybe Cheney can seek refuge in Dubai should he fear impeachment!


Senator calls on Treasury to investigate if Halliburton move to Dubai linked to Iran deals Mike Sheehan
Published: Monday March 12, 2007





A key U.S. senator is calling on the Treasury Department to ensure that a controversial Houston-based multinational corporation, Halliburton, is not benefiting financially from the move of its headquarters to the Middle East, according to a release advanced to RAW STORY.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) says in the release, "Halliburton has gone to extraordinary lengths in the past to do business with the terrorist government in Iran," citing recent Treasure investigations of the multinational's business dealings with Tehran. "The company's odd announcement this week certainly sets off alarm bells about its intention to do business with state sponsors of terrorism. When it comes to Halliburton we can't trust, and we need to verify."

The company announced its plan to relocate its headquarters to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

Halliburton chief David J. Lesar praised the move, as it would "help the company focus on the Middle East," calling it "the seat of our operations."

The 52-year-old Lesar, who took over the reins of Halliburton after former CEO Dick Cheney became U.S. vice president, said the move to Dubai, UAE was "the next step in a strategic plan announced in 2006 to focus on expanding Halliburton customer relations with national oil companies."

Elsewhere, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), likely 2008 presidential candidate, also issued a statement in response to the Halliburton announcement.

"I think that raises a lot of serious issues we have to look at," said the former First Lady. "Does this mean they are going to quit paying taxes in America? They are going to take all the advantage of our country but not pay their fair share of taxes?"

She continued, "They get a lot of government contracts - is this going to affect the investigations that are going on? Because we have a lot of evidence of misuse of government contracts and how they have cheated the American soldier and cheated the American taxpayer. They have taken the money and not provided the services, so does this mean that we won't be able to pursue these investigations?"

The junior senator from New York warned, "I think we are going to be looking into that in Washington."

The Lautenberg release in full follows below.

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In response to the announcement that Halliburton's CEO is moving the company's headquarters to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on the Treasury Department to make sure Halliburton's move is not part of a larger effort to increase Halliburton's business with Iran by evading current U.S. sanctions laws prohibiting any U.S. company from doing business with terrorist states.

Under current U.S. terror sanctions law, U.S. companies are prohibited from doing business with certain terrorist nations. However, the law contains a loophole that allows foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to do business with terrorist states. Senator Lautenberg authored legislation in the last Congress that would have extended the reach of sanctions laws to the foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies. The measure failed by one vote, but Lautenberg plans to reintroduce the legislation this year.

In recent years the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas has investigated Halliburton's business with Iran through its foreign subsidiary, Halliburton Products & Services, Ltd (HPSL). These investigations have all focused on whether Halliburton has violated U.S. terror sanctions law by using HPSL as a front company to do business with Iran.

"Halliburton has gone to extraordinary lengths in the past to do business with the terrorist government in Iran," said Senator Lautenberg. "Given Halliburton's past dealings with Iran, the company's odd announcement this week certainly sets off alarm bells about its intention to do business with state sponsors of terrorism. When it comes to Halliburton we can't trust, and we need to verify."



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