<p>I guess it was time to get out of Dodge!</p>
<p>come on, free enterprise vs. being patriots…and these guys are basically running the clean u of the war</p>
<p>and if your really think its just a few billion, that’s kind of funny…</p>
<p>we see people talk on this site obout being American’s, loyalty, support for our troops, etc, then Halliborton takes its tax money and cuts and runs…so why should our government use a FORIEGN company to rebuild and do business in America</p>
<p>how are they going to explain that away…</p>
<p>Given the slim profits in the troop support work I don’t think H would mind giving it up much. They do better with their core business which is why they are moving the HQ to where the business is. I guess we all should stop buying them bad ferrun goods. Don’t know where I’ll get a new TV or clothes then. Let alone a good car.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s an outstanding business move. Dubai has a huge, highly credentialed expat work force, it’s a tax haven for employees, which will allow them to attract top talent, the quality of life is extraordinary - the streets are paved in gold from what I hear, and, everyone I know in business is trying to get a foothold in Dubai - everyone wants to be there. </p>
<p>As far as cutting and running, Haliburton will still have to pay U.S. corporate income taxes, at least for the next several years.</p>
<p>but should the US give its construction projects to a foreign company?</p>
<p>lets have a Dubai firm build our dams, etc…yeah, that’s a good plan</p>
<p>this WILL backfire on them and Bush will have to decide- Halliburton or the US…his patriotism will then be tested</p>
<p>See where his loyalties lie</p>
<p>and btw, Hallibortun has been doing a pretty lousy job</p>
<p>CGM, what’s wrong with having a Dubai firm build dams, etc.? The quality of work from Dubai firms is extraordinary. And the sheik is supposed to be an econonic development mastermind. </p>
<p>Besides, business today is very, very global. Doing business with a UAE headquartered business is NOT unpatriotic - it’s smart.</p>
<p>But, we went all through this re the Dubai ports thread, and, I wasn’t successful convincing anyone then and so it probably won’t work this time around either.</p>
<p>I thought I’d look up the UAE National Anthem, in case anyone here would like to learn the words (in English, of course):</p>
<p>Long live my country, live United, our Emirates
Your life for your people
Whose religion is Islam and whose guide is the Quran
We fortify you with the name of Allah, oh my homeland
My country, my country, my country, my country
Allah protects you from evil throughout time
Each of us swears to build you and work for you
Our work is pure, we work in purity
with all our lives, pure & unequivocal
The peace is everlasting and the flag lives on, my Emirates
You are the symbol of the Arab character
Every one of us sacrifices with all of our blood
We sacrifice with our very souls, oh, my homeland</p>
<p>We let other countries build our computers and airplanes. Get over the narrow world view. The more countries do business the less likely any trouble is. Business Rules.</p>
<p>Here’s more info about the flag that will soon fly over Halliburton’s headquarters:</p>
<p><a href=“http://worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/countrys/mideast/uae.htm[/url]”>http://worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/countrys/mideast/uae.htm</a></p>
<p>Fertility, neutrality, and oil forever!</p>
<p>(The tune for -</p>
<p>Every one of us sacrifices with all of our blood
We sacrifice with our very souls, oh, my homeland</p>
<p>Is very moving as well.)</p>
<p>Mini, why not instead post something that is actually informative, and useful? </p>
<p><a href=“Gulliver | The Economist”>Gulliver | The Economist;
<p>Interesting to note that 80% of the population of Dubai are foreigners, and, in such an environment, if you don’t like the way things are run, you can get an appointment with the sheik…</p>
<p>I prefer to have a few billion Chinese busy making clothes for WalMart than thinking about what a soft target the US could be.</p>
<p>As much as we owe China, I doubt they would have any reason to attack us, at least not until we can’t afford the interest payments anymore.</p>
<p>FYI Dubai is not a tax haven for Americans (unlike other expats), though there are tax free zones for corporations.</p>
<p>"Mini, why not instead post something that is actually informative, and useful? "</p>
<p>Funny, but I would never have thought that if I posted the American national anthem, and the meaning of our flag, to non-Americans that you would have thought either non-informative, or not useful.</p>
<p>Is there something about Arabs that bothers you?</p>
<p>That would be tough to sing at ballgames! :)</p>
<p>There IS something unseemingly about taking the war profits and hightailing to another country.</p>
<p>It’s slightly easier in Arabic, I think. 
Though of course in a way Dubai is ideally suited for Haliburton and it’s ilk. I’m sure they’ll feel right at home.</p>
<p>I don’t see anything wrong with positioning a business - large or small - in a more favorable position for profit. Everyone I know who has relocated to Dubai, or who has repositioned or relocated a business there is very, very happy and is enjoying greater productivity and profitability, as well as enviable quality of life. Businesses with global interests especially thrive, because of the expat workforce.</p>
<p>But it’s not just the economics. The time zone makes it easy to work with and communicate with Europe and the west.</p>
<p>Personally, I would not wish to ever live there - I have zero interest in living in a country with their laws, however, everyone I know who lives there - relocated from the U.S., or Europe - is very, very happy.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to watch how their economic strategy plays out over the next 10-20 years.</p>
<p>It’s a weird city Dubai, full of extremes, and probably one of the last outposts of institutionalized racism. (Not that Haliburton would ever suffer from that) However, from a purely business perspective, it’s probably one of the best decisions they’ve made in a long time.</p>
<p>^^Exactly, Shrivats. I have very close friends who live in Media City - they have been there for about three years now and will likely never leave. I have other business associates or relationships in various places throughout Dubai. I would not want to live there - it’s just not my preference. However, if I were going to choose a business location and had the entire world to play with, and if my intentions were to operate globally, Dubai would almost certainly be my very first choice.</p>
<p>It’s simply impossible to ignore the economic advantages, and it’s also very hard to overlook the fact that every transnational business has a large presence there, and those who don’t are on their way…</p>
<p>What some of my friends tell me is really cool is that - from a business or economic development perspective - the sheik can do whatever he wants, in a moment’s notice. He doesn’t have to fool around with annoying issues like oversight etc. - he sees an opportunity, someone makes a strong case, the sheik makes a near-instantaneous decision and it’s a done deal. That gets to a country with a lot of “…sts” - the biggest this, the tallest that, the deepest something else, and so on…</p>
<p>In some ways, from a purely business/profitability perspective, it appears to have an “almost to good to be true” quality to it. I’m sort of a believer that there are no shortcuts to success, but, Dubai may actually be the first true exception. That’s why I’m curious to wait and see how it looks, say, 10-20 years out.</p>
<p>Mimi - Do a little better job of googling, and you’ll learn that the black in the flag doesn’t represent oil… </p>
<p>Dubai is a very multinational, pro-western place, providing its citizens with enormous educational and economic benefits. Don’t mix it up with a place like Saudi. </p>
<p>As for national anthems, how about this one (La Marseillaise)?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny’s
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts
To arms citizens
Form you battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows</p></li>
<li><p>What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is we they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!</p></li>
<li><p>What! These foreign cohorts!
They would make laws in our courts!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny</p></li>
<li><p>Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward
Against you we are all soldiers
If they fall, our young heros
France will bear new ones
Ready to join the fight against you</p></li>
<li><p>Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims
Who with regret are taking up arms against us
But not these bloody despots
These accomplices of Bouill?
All these tigers who pitilessly
Are ripping open their mothers’ breasts</p></li>
<li><p>Sacred Love for the Fatherland
Lead and support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Join the struggle with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
hasten to you virile (or manly) force
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory!</p></li>
<li><p>We shall enter into the pit
When our elders will no longer be there
There we shall find their ashes
And the mark of their virtues
We are much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins
We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining them</p></li>
</ol>