UAE troops in Afghanistan

[Dubai Vol]

From the BBC:

Troops from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been delivering humanitarian aid to their fellow Muslims and, on occasion, fighting their way out of Taleban ambushes. Though Jordanian forces have been carrying out some base security duties, the UAE's troops are the only Arab soldiers undertaking full-scale operations in the country.

Until now, their deployment has been kept so secret that not even their own countrymen knew they were here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7318731.stm

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

Eh...don't see what the big deal is. Afghanistan is about as justified a war as they come. I don't presume to suggest that Arab countries should be morally obligated to participate nor do I expect them to cheer us on. But there's certainly no real reason to oppose us going in there. A country gets attacked, they're allowed to take out the attacker.

 

[warpus]

Why has it been kept a secret? Because UAE would not support being allied with the U.S. ?

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

Why has it been kept a secret? Because UAE would not support being allied with the U.S. ?

UAE, at least the Dubai region of it, is pretty Western friendly. I doubt they'd be opposed to smiling and shaking hands with America. But taking part in one of our military actions is a different thing entirely.

 

[warpus]

UAE, at least the Dubai region of it, is pretty Western friendly. I doubt they'd be opposed to smiling and shaking hands with America. But taking part in one of our military actions is a different thing entirely.

Why, though?

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

Why, though?

No matter how justified, America is fighting a war against a Muslim country. Another Muslim country can't rightfully support that without pissing off some of their locals, some of whom may see it as an assault on Islam as a whole.

I suspect though that there'd be much less issue with aiding in Afghanistan if we didn't charge into the unprovoked, unnecessary clusterf*ck that is Iraq. If there was simmering anti-Americanism before than, it got multiplied a few thousand times after the fact.

 

[skadistic]

Why, though?

Israel.......

 

[Patroklos]

UAE, Egyptian, SYRIAN, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Saudi, and Jordanian troops participated in Iraq I by the division.

I imagine keeping their involvement secret had more to do with not giving Iran a reason to be pissed at them.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

UAE, Egyptian, SYRIAN, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Saudi, and Jordanian troops participated in Iraq I by the division.

That war of course was not nearly as controversial, had a UN mandate and a clear as day Causi Belli of a secular leader in an Muslim country invading another Muslim country. And it also probably helped that, without intervention, that secular led Muslim country could potentially become a threat to some of the other countries listed.

Afghanistan didn't attack another Muslim country and neither Afghanistan nor Iraq were a direct threat to any other nations in the region.

 

[Dubai Vol]

One more little known fact: UAE troops went to garrison Kuwait just before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Performing garrison duty freed US troops for the invasion. That didn't get a lot of attention either, but it was in the local paper at the time.

The USN operates out of Jebel Ali; the USAF flies out of Abu Dhabi. They've been some of my best customers.

 

[jessiecat]

One more little known fact: UAE troops went to garrison Kuwait just before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Performing garrison duty freed US troops for the invasion. That didn't get a lot of attention either, but it was in the local paper at the time.

The USN operates out of Jebel Ali; the USAF flies out of Abu Dhabi. They've been some of my best customers.

I don't know how many people have bothered to read the whole article but I was astonished at how long they've been there doing their "hearts and minds" bit. They get stuck in and really help people. Unlike others who don't know where to start. Too bad there's not more like them.

 

[Dubai Vol]

Just keep in mind that most UAE rank and file troops are not UAE nationals. They are Omanis. Just like the police.

 

[jessiecat]

Just keep in mind that most UAE rank and file troops are not UAE nationals. They are Omanis. Just like the police.

That's OK. Does it matter? We need more like them.

 

[Dubai Vol]

And already the backlash in the Arab press begins:

To sum it up, nobody really knew that the UAE had sent their own army to Afghanistan to give support to the Kuffaar[infidel]. Clearly, they are Murtadeen[apostate] and we ask Allah to dishonor these Arabs that have no Islaam.

May Allah’s curse be upon the Murtadeen of UAE.

May Allah allow the “freedom fighters” to strike terror into their hearts.

May Allah destroy the Crusaders and Apostates.

http://revolution.muslimpad.com/2008/03/28/quietly-the-uae-deployed-their-army-in-afghanistan-to-help-the-crusaders/

Not exactly mainstream, but still....