Our name getting dragged into the murky world of ME politics - released UAE files in the Guardian

[RichardDunneOwnGoal]

You must have been brainwashed by this rag. Get your facts straight before posting this rubbish.



Yes the UAE did participate in air strikes in Syria against ISIS and currently fighting the Shias (aka the Houthis) in Yemen.

and in addition, Khaldoon was the right-hand man of the crown prince before 08 and still is, City has nothing to do with it at all.

What are you talking about?

I'm not advocating his opinion or presenting it as fact, as Ive already said, as far as I'm concerned he's a nut. I was giving you his thoughts to illustrate a point.

He's a UAE citizen, and from my perspective, holds a similar world view to the likes of the MB, who the UAE wants to stamp out with the help of Britain?

I only raised it as I thought it was relevant to the topic.

How common are people who hold views like his in Abu Dhabi, in your opinion?

 

[Helmet Cole]

City ,ruining the middle east since 2008. I don't think we'll be a terrorists target as there is a large sporting facility owned by American Jews with 75000 people in it every game in Trafford that would be a more attractive target. There would also be the added publicity of an atrocity being witnessed by 659m fans globally. Surely bombing a few bitter blues and a load of empty blue seats owned by nice Muslims would be less of a target?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

No, nowhere in my post did I imply that, come on mate. The UAE populace isn't a homogenous blob who all think identically to one another, of course. But I'm not naive enough to think opinions/perspectives like his will be extremely rare in the UAE. Clearly there must be some degree of an undercurrent of similar sentiment in the UAE, otherwise the rise of the MB in Egypt and the growth of likeminded groups/ideologies wouldn't be seen as such a great threat by the ruling powers of Abu Dhabi and other UAE states. It's certainly seen as a major threat in Saudi Arabia, by all accounts.

I'm not advocating any of that lad's views by the way, his perspective was somewhat fascinating but he that was largely because he was a bit of a nutter. But he was perfectly succinct and articulate, he clearly sees the world through a very particular lense, and has hold of his faculties. That's the worrying thing, he wasn't actually a complete nut, he was an intelligent lad with some unsettling opinions. And he was completely honest about them given the anonymity granted to him online.

Like I said, I don't think the region is wanting for people who see the world the way he does, which should be a concern.

Certainly seemed to concern Khaldoon, judging by the leaked documents in the Guardian.

What particularly bothers me is that our club is now directly linked to all of this.

You seemed to imply it in your fourth paragraph from the end; you certainly seemed to give credence to the proliferation of the views he holds.

There are people in every country who despise those that lead them, especially if their views don't conflate with their own: we have Yanks who are convinced Obama is a communist; and people in this country who think the Royal Family are lizards from another planet. I don't doubt for a second there are people in the UAE that hate the Sheikhs and therefore Sheikh Mansour. Those views will be held by a significant minority of the population as well too, but that doesn't distinguish it from any other nation state in that regard imo.

I don't doubt either that lobbying of our government goes on at the highest levels within UAE politics, which would naturally include KAM in that process. An ability to do this more effectively was doubtless a motivation behind the purchase of the club. They are a hugely powerful and well resourced nation for their size and want a global influence and reach to match that. That is perfectly natural.

From what I can gather from those who've been there, the UAE is a relatively stable, well-functioning region with quite a few wide boys and sharks operating on the fringes of those societies, as is inevitable when there's a shitload of cash swilling about, but that the population is, in general terms, quite happy with their lot and that there's no real appetite for regime change. Very much like our governments hand out social security to prevent civil unrest, governments in the UAE dish out enough largesse to keep the population satisfied. A desire for self-preservation should make an established order sufficiently generous, if they've got any sense.

Do I think we're at a heightened risk of a terrorist attack by being owned by an Abu Dhabi based Sheikh? To suggest not would be descending into the realms of the absurd; but to what extent? Any more than united being owned by American Jews? Or PSG?

You cannot legislate for the acts of people who (seemingly) blow up a plane carrying Russian tourists on their way back from Egypt. Such an act, if attributable to ISIS, demonstrates a recklessness which means all bets are off, but all you can do is stop going to games or assume the situation is under control as far as a terrorist attack on our club is concerned.

I'll pick the latter all day. I've got too much living to do to constantly live in fear that it's all going to end whilst watching City play.

I reckon I've got significantly more chance dying in the car on the way to the game and I don't worry about that.

 

[oakiecokie]

Is the OP the same person who threw a wobbler on why our Owner should not be paying for an Oz player going on loan to Bolton ? Nuff said.

 

[RichardDunneOwnGoal]

You seemed to imply it in your fourth paragraph from the end; you certainly seemed to give credence to the proliferation of the views he holds.

There are people in every country who despise those that lead them, especially if their views don't conflate with their own: we have Yanks who are convinced Obama is a communist; and people in this country who think the Royal Family are lizards from another planet. I don't doubt for a second there are people in the UAE that hate the Sheikhs and therefore Sheikh Mansour. Those views will be held by a significant minority of the population as well too, but that doesn't distinguish it from any other nation state in that regard imo.

I don't doubt either that lobbying of our government goes on at the highest levels within UAE politics, which would naturally include KAM in that process. An ability to do this more effectively was doubtless a motivation behind the purchase of the club. They are a hugely powerful and well resourced nation for their size and want a global influence and reach to match that. That is perfectly natural.

From what I can gather from those who've been there, the UAE is a relatively stable, well-functioning region with quite a few wide boys and sharks operating on the fringes of those societies, as is inevitable when there's a shitload of cash swilling about, but that the population is, in general terms, quite happy with their lot and that there's no real appetite for regime change. Very much like our governments hand out social security to prevent civil unrest, governments in the UAE dish out enough largesse to keep the population satisfied. A desire for self-preservation should make an established order sufficiently generous, if they've got any sense.

Do I think we're at a heightened risk of a terrorist attack by being owned by an Abu Dhabi based Sheikh? To suggest not would be descending into the realms of the absurd; but to what extent? Any more than united being owned by American Jews? Or PSG?

You cannot legislate for the acts of people who (seemingly) blow up a plane carrying Russian tourists on their way back from Egypt. Such an act,mif attributable to ISIS, demonstrates a recklessness which means all bets are off, but all you can do is stop going to games or assume the situation is under control as far as a terrorist attack on our club is concerned.

I'll pick the former all day. I've got too much living to do to constantly live in fear that it's all going to end whilst watching City play.

I reckon I've got significantly more chance dying in the car in the way to the game and I don't worry about that.

No that's not fair mate, the only thing I meant to give credence to was the notion that people who see the world the way he does aren't that uncommon. Not specifically speaking about the UAE, but in the wider Muslim world. The fact that Morsi and the MB were widely voted into office in Egypt would lend credence to that.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I put it to @Akai in respect of Abu Dhabi in particular and he hasn't responded, would've been interesting to hear his perspective.

There are people in every country who despise those that lead them, especially if their views don't conflate with their own: we have Yanks who are convinced Obama is a communist; and people in this country who think the Royal Family are lizards from another planet. I don't doubt for a second there are people in the UAE that hate the Sheikhs and therefore Sheikh Mansour. Those views will be held by a significant minority of the population as well too, but that doesn't distinguish it from any other nation state in that regard imo.

Can't really agree there to be honest mate, it's a reasonable enough point but the lunatics who think the Royal family are lizards for example are free to discuss and spread their lunacy online. They're not a threat to the British state or security, and as such there's no appetite for them to be politically surpressed here or abroad.

This specific kind of Islamist ideology in the Middle East poses very real threats to many a state, hence the desire from UAE states to surpress these groups wherever they crop up. Such is the fear that they could inspire Sunnis elsewhere, such is the pervasiveness and reach of that kind of ideology.

It's quite clearly one of the biggest threats to peace in the Muslim world at present. Among many other things of course.

More or less agree with the rest of your conclusions though.

 

[RichardDunneOwnGoal]

Is the OP the same person who threw a wobbler on why our Owner should not be paying for an Oz player going on loan to Bolton ? Nuff said.

No, I didn't agree any of the club's income being used to subsidise another club in the CFG.

But that's for another thread, please keep this one on topic.

 

[George Hannah]

May I suggest an amendment to the title of this thread- something not implying a Man City connection would be more accurate.

 

[SWP's back]

Is that really your only real takeaway from what I've written?

To answer your question:

Bluemoon's off topic regulars, and the forum's intellectuals (i.e not you).

Hope this helps.

Living in this area, the locals are certainly not upset with the ruling elite. The average wage for emirati's is very high and that does much to suppress any feeling of resentment. The same goes for Qatar. The rest of the ME I wouldn't even pretend to know.

I wouldn't read any more into one blokes rant on Reddit than I would some of the RWNJ's on off topic.

 

[malg]

I'll be on the lookout for Muslamic ray guns in 116 now.

 

[SWP's back]

No that's not fair mate, the only thing I meant to give credence to was the notion that people who see the world the way he does aren't that uncommon. Not specifically speaking about the UAE, but in the wider Muslim world. The fact that Morsi and the MB were widely voted into office in Egypt would lend credence to that.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I put it to @Akai in respect of Abu Dhabi in particular and he hasn't responded, would've been interesting to hear his perspective.



Can't really agree there to be honest mate, it's a reasonable enough point but the lunatics who think the Royal family are lizards for example are free to discuss and spread their lunacy online. They're not a threat to the British state or security, and as such there's no appetite for them to be politically surpressed here or abroad.

This specific kind of Islamist ideology in the Middle East poses very real threats to many a state, hence the desire from UAE states to surpress these groups wherever they crop up. Such is the fear that they could inspire Sunnis elsewhere, such is the pervasiveness and reach of that kind of ideology.

It's quite clearly one of the biggest threats to peace in the Muslim world at present. Among many other things of course.

More or less agree with the rest of your conclusions though.

On the point of suppression, the UAE and Qatar will send you to prison for posting on Facebook that the police are shit or denigrating another UAE citizen. Bad mouthing the rulers is also against the law.

With that in mind, of course they want to suppress groups such as for MB that wish for regime change.