U.S. Arranged Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran

Brian Hook, head of US State Department's Iran Action Group, arranged clandestine meetings between Israel and UAE to cooperate on Iran (AFP)

Middle East Monitor: Israel and UAE held two secret meetings on cooperation against Iran

US sources said that Israel and the United Arab Emirates had held two secret meetings during which they coordinated joint measures against Iran, reported the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

The sources added that during the secret meetings between Israel and the UAE, which were held by the US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, both sides exchanged intelligence on Iran, claiming that the UAE considers Iran, like Israel, as a threat to its security.

A US source said that the first secret meeting was held last spring, followed by another recent secret meeting. The official did not disclose the timing and venue of the meetings between Israel and the UAE, which have been known to a few officials in the US administration.

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WNU Editor: That is what I call smart diplomacy.

More News On Reports That The U.S. Arranged Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran

U.S. Arranges Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran -- WSJ
The U.S. Has Joined Secret Talks With Israel and the U.A.E. The Topic? Iran. -- The New York Times
Israel and UAE Held U.S.-brokered Talks on Iran, Report Says -- Haaretz
US said coordinating secret Iran talks between Israel, Emirates -- Times of Israel
Report: Israel and United Arab Emirates in Washington-Brokered Talks on Countering Iran -- Algemeiner
US Arranged Secret Israeli-UAE Talks That Got Tel Aviv to Commit to US-led Gulf Coalition – Report -- Sputnik

U.S. Acknowledges That It Is Operating A Clandestine Base In The U.A.E.

CNN

DOD Buzz: Air Force Acknowledges Clandestine Base in UAE

For the first time in over a decade, the U.S. Air Force is publicly acknowledging it runs an air war out of Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

The U.S. embassy in country recently worked with Emirati counterparts to make the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing — an Air Combat Command-run unit at the base — known, officials told Military.com.

Military.com first spoke with members of the 380th on a trip to the Middle East earlier this summer on condition the name and location of the base not be disclosed, and that full names of personnel not be used due to safety concerns amid ongoing air operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

While the 380th was established at the base on Jan. 25, 2002, the U.S. military has had a presence on the base for approximately 25 years. The base is home to a variety of combat operations.

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WNU Editor: When you have U-2s landing at the base .... 'Catching' a U-2 fresh back from America's air wars (Reuters) .... it is quite obvious that more is happening at the base than what is publicly known.

U.S.-United Arab Emirates Sign Nuclear Deal

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States signed an agreement Thursday on civil nuclear cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

Calling the agreement "a powerful and timely model for the world and the region," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the deal, along with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.

"We applaud the UAE's commission -- commitment to the highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation in its pursuit of nuclear power," Rice said.

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U.S. And U.A.E. To Sign Nuclear-Cooperation Pact

From Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration plans to sign a nuclear-cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, according to officials involved in the negotiations, despite concerns in Congress.

The pact, one of the administration's final foreign-policy acts, could help the U.A.E. become the first Arab nation to develop a nuclear-power industry as early as 2017, said these officials. The Bush administration has championed the agreement as a model for promoting peaceful nuclear energy, while guarding against weapons proliferation.

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