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Probably the most disturbing video of our century, that shows Sheikh Issa
bin Zayed al Nahyan, one of 22 royal brothers of the UAE President and
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince attacking a helpless Afghan merchant with the
assistance of police and others is threatening a multibillion-dollar
nuclear power deal between the US and the Gulf kingdom.
The deal was sealed on January 15 during President Bush’s last week in
office, but needs to be recertified by the Obama Administration. Under
its terms, the US agrees to provide nuke technology and equipment to the
UAE.
In contrast to the agreement the U.S. has signed with other countries,
including India, under the proposed deal the UAE will forego the right
to uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. The processes are
essential for making the fuel that power nuclear reactors but are also
used to produce nuclear weapons.
Jim McGovern, the Democratic co-chairman of the congressional Human
Rights Commission, viewed the videotape published by ABC News on April
22, 2009 and told that it was “one of the most horrific things I have
ever seen in my life”.
McGovern blasted the UAE's "culture of impunity" which permitted the
royal, Sheik Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to commit such violent acts
without apparent concern of facing prosecution. As witnesses noted, the
UAE initially declined to detain or prosecute Sheik Issa, even after
viewing the tapes, which were shot in 2004. Nor did it investigate
uniformed officials who appear on the tape, aiding Issa as he beat,
shocked, bloodied, burned and drove over his victims.
McGovern praised ABC for bringing the tape to public notice. "If it
wasn't for this videotape," Sheik Issa's shocking practices "would have
gone unnoticed," the lawmaker said. "And shame on us for not bringing
something like this to light."
McGovern urged a halt to "further U.S. expenditures of funds, training,
sales or transfers of equipment or technology including nuclear until a
full review" of the incidents captured on the video. View full report
at:
'Nahyan Sheikh' caught red-handed in a shocking Torture Video'
.
Chain Reaction
The pending civilian nuclear cooperation deal
between the U.S. and United Arab Emirates was "Half-baked
and hasty at best, foolhardy and dangerous at worst", the
UAE deal should not be rushed through Congress, nor should
its paper clauses obscure the real regional dynamics behind
the rush to nuclear power.
The United States cannot stop the UAE from pursuing civilian
nuclear energy. Indeed, it is the UAE's right to do so. What
the United States can do is avoid making deals that put
industry above security. No matter how you try to sell it,
nuclear power plants are, as energy guru Amory Lovins says,
a "nuclear weapons starter kit."
The United States should take a hard look at nuclear energy
and think about the implications of correcting climate
change by actively promoting an energy source that can be
made into humankind's deadliest weapon. View full report at:
How the U.S.-UAE nuclear deal could set off a Middle East
arms race.
UAE Torture Tapes Shock House Hearing
A House hearing became a sea of stony faces,
grimaces and shielded eyes Wednesday as attendees were
played 10 minutes of harrowing video footage showing a
United Arab Emirates sheik brutally torturing an Afghan
grain dealer and others. View full report at:
UAE Torture Tapes Shock House Hearing.
Updated: May 20, 2009
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