It's obvious that Dubai is going to be the greatest city in the world. How long will we be able to say that the United States is the world's greatest country!!! We're too busy struggling with our economy! Rome fell, and so can we if we don't get our act together!

Yes, they're an ally, but for how long?   Time*treat, hope you don't mind since Saipan isn't in the UAE, but a couple of years ago I joined a company in FL called Universal Healthcare owned by a Dr. Ashtay Desai from India. Many people don't realize it, but the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act began privatizing Medicare by allowing private companies (not necessaily insurance companies) to design plans for Medicare recipients. They then receive about $1,000 a month per enrollee from CMS and it's costing American taxpayers millions. I've skipped a lot to be brief, but I thought of this when you mentioned Dubai because of an article I once found about where some of our Medicare taxes is going. Thought you'd be interested.
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=53290&cat=1
Here's another article about how we're building their economy. Keep in mind that the investors are big contributors to the Republican Party.
http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/march/03-08-20.htm

It is interesting, I didn't want to steer anyone's opinion by adding "but for how long". Heh.
You know a place is small when they list a gas station & casino as "points of interest".
We offshore too many things, IMO. E.g, on the one hand, we have these identity theft issues, yet our tax returns (and many other bills with personal info) are being processed in India.

It must be nice to have people donate all that money to build the palm island. Thats one guy who is definitely laughing all the way to the bank

on another note we are failing as a nation because of capitalism.
Russia gave up on the cold war one reason they sited is because we would destroy ourself from within. Seems like were headed that way. Our economy is in the dumpster now.

Speaking of using offshore help, this same medicare advantage company had an 800 number for customer service. If you've ever been frustrated when calling a help desk for HP, multiply that by 10! Anyway, a local newspaper article said that the call was reaching a call center in India where everything was processed. In early 2007 the FL Dept of Financial Services ordered a cease & desist because the good doctor wasn't putting the required (by law) reserves into the fund. An insurance company must keep a percentage of reserves to cover its debt obligations in case of failure. Smart man. He had different plans set up as different companies. Anyway, this year they use a customer service department in Orlando. The over 65 crowd was complaining that it's hard enough to hear, but when you can't understand the person...well, you know. :-)   Just something not kosher about a Federal Program being outsourced. You & I may disagree strongly on some issued, but you have no idea how much I agree with you about the fleecing of America.   Here's another Medicare scam we pay for. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15320188/    One doctor in FL got paid over $600,000 one year by offering patients a questionnaire about their health!!