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New U.S.-U.A.E. Deal Raises Eyebrows Amid Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

New U.S.-U.A.E. Deal Raises Eyebrows Amid Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Program Radio Free Europe 20 Jan 09 –

By Golnaz Esfandiari

The United States has signed an agreement to cooperate in developing a civilian nuclear energy program in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).

The deal — signed in Washington on January 15 by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her U.A.E. counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nayhan — has been promoted by the Bush administration as a major foreign-policy accomplishment and an expression of Washington’s interest in cooperating with countries that are committed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

But critics are concerned that the agreement, inked as President George W. Bush prepares to leave office, could lead to a nuclear-energy race in the Middle East amid growing concern over Iran’s nuclear activities.

The agreement must be approved by the incoming administration of Barack Obama before being sent to Congress. From there, Congress will have 90 days to act.
‘Commerce Above Common Sense’

So far, Obama and his team have been silent about the deal, but others in the Democratic camp have been vocal in their opposition to it.

One is Ed Markey, a congressman from Massachusetts who has been a strong critic of nuclear energy. Markey has urged Obama to reject the deal and halt what he has termed “the Bush administration’s policy of placing nuclear commerce above common sense.” He further warned that, “In the Middle East, a nuclear-energy race could be as perilous as a nuclear-arms race.” ……………………..There is also concern that the nuclear technology delivered to the U.A.E. could get to Iran. The country has reportedly been used in the past by nuclear smugglers,

New U.S.-U.A.E. Deal Raises Eyebrows Amid Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Program – Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2009

January 20, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized