US President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Obama on Thursday approved a civilian nuclear deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which some observers see as striking a contrast with Iran's defiant nuclear drive. (AFP/Saul Loeb)From The Christian Science Monitor:
Backers says the agreement with the United Arab Emirates is a model for other countries in the region. But critics worry about the UAE's ties with Iran.
Washington - The Obama administration, anxious to demonstrate America's willingness to deepen relations with reliable partners in the Muslim world before the president's much-heralded speech to that community early next month, has signed a controversial nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
The nuclear accord, negotiated by the Bush administration but left for President Obama's sign-off, is touted by the new administration – as it was by the former – as a model for future civilian nuclear cooperation with Arab countries.
With Obama set to lay out his vision for America's cooperation with Muslim countries from Cairo June 4, the US-UAE accord is also seen as a counterpoint to Iran's nuclear program and its combative relations with the international community.
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My Comment: Did the U.S. have a choice. The Gulf Arabs have the money, resources, and technical expertise to develop such a program. From where I stand, it appears that the U.S. had no choice but to go along with this project ..... or let someone else do it instead.