On Tuesday this week, President George W. Bush defended the integrity of the state-owned Dubai Ports World and the deal that would have the United Arab Emirates-owned company control traffic in several major U.S. ports.  "I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British (sic) company," the President said:

I'm trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to people of the world, we'll treat you fairly. And after careful scrutiny, we believe this deal is a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country, and at the same time, send that signal that we're willing to treat people fairly....  But I also want to repeat something again, and that is, this is a company that has played by the rules, that has been cooperative with the United States, a country that's an ally in the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through.

But in the arena of global economic trade, the United Arab Emirates in fact plays by the rules of the Arab League boycott of Israel.  A policy that singles out one nation for unfair economic treatment in the region otherwise dominated by despotic Arab regimes.  Beside the reasonable concerns about a nation flagged by the 9/11 Commission for its financial ties to al-Qaeda and links to A.Q. Khan's nuclear gray market, the UAE thus actively fuels popular Arab and Muslim resentment of Israel and sustains the culture of radical rejection against non-Arab national rights in the Middle East which perpetuates the very conditions for terrorism to thrive.

Following are recent examples of boycott requests that have been reported to the Office of Antiboycott Compliance. These examples are illustrative and not exhaustive....

United Arab Emirates

Prohibited Boycott Condition in a Contract

"Tenderer shall verify on his own responsibility the laws and regulations in Abu Dhabi which apply to the performance of the services, including the boycott of Israel."

Prohibited Boycott Condition in an invitation to bid

"Documents to accompany tenders [include] the declaration and Israel boycott certificate. It states the tenderer must accompany his offer with the following, written signed declaration. ‘We declare that we are a company which is not owned by any companies that have violated the approved rules of the boycott and that we do not own or participate in companies that are in violation of the approved rules of the boycott. Further, we do not have, nor does any of the companies that are considered to be a parent company or a branch of ours, any dealings with any Israeli party, whether directly or indirectly. Furthermore, a certificate issued by the Israel boycott office in UAE confirming that neither the supplier nor the manufacturer are blacklisted, should also be accompanied.

Reportable boycott condition in a purchase order

"19. Israeli Clause

The seller shall not supply goods or materials which have been manufactured or processed in Israel nor shall the services of any Israeli organization be used in handling of transporting the goods or materials."