This is the craziest shit I’ve read in a while:

The force is intended to conduct special operations missions inside and outside the country, defend oil pipelines and skyscrapers from terrorist attacks and put down internal revolts, the documents show. Such troops could be deployed if the Emirates faced unrest or were challenged by pro-democracy demonstrations in its crowded labor camps or democracy protests like those sweeping the Arab world this year.

A little later on:

People involved in the project and American officials said that the Emiratis were interested in deploying the battalion to respond to terrorist attacks and put down uprisings inside the country’s sprawling labor camps, which house the Pakistanis, Filipinos and other foreigners who make up the bulk of the country’s work force. The foreign military force was planned months before the so-called Arab Spring revolts that many experts believe are unlikely to spread to the U.A.E. Iran was a particular concern.

And this:

Mr. Rincón’s visa carried a special stamp from the U.A.E. military intelligence branch, which is overseeing the entire project, that allowed him to move through customs and immigration without being questioned.

Wow.

I like it. It’s classy, which is nice; sometimes Middle Eastern design veers a bit gaudy for me. Fantastic work.

Right on.

Check out this morning’s Wall Street Journal: “BP Eyes Stake Sale to Abu Dhabi.”

You jackasses are making it too easy to mock you and/or too difficult to defend you!

The geniuses at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi have installed, well, the title says it all: “The ATM that dispenses gold bars.”

Seriously.

But last summer I mentioned how they wanted to shoot the flick in Dubai, and Dubai naturally balked at the questionable content (see Sex And A Different City).

So now I guess the movie takes place … in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

Weird.

See Abu Dhabi is less concerned about image than Dubai. More conservative, even. If they were brothers Dubai would be the flashy one with a fancy car – like a stupid-expensive Lamborghini. Abu Dhabi would have a more stoic Bentley.

Thus it seemed really odd to me that they’d let them film in Abu Dhabi. So I did a little research.

Apparently the production filmed in Marrakech, Morocco as a double for Abu Dhabi.

I can only assume that they called it “Abu Dhabi” instead of “Dubai” out of spite? I mean, Dubai is still better known. And glitzier.

And if you’re playing that much with reality, shoot, go film it in Epcot and save some money.

Anyway, here’s the trailer if you care:

The search in Morocco is still on, but now it’s affecting the television schedule in the UAE; the final episode of Million’s Poet scheduled for tonight has been postponed.

Million’s Poet (I hope the name sounds cooler in Arabic) is like American Idol, but with Nabati poetry instead of singing.

Probably more modest dress, as well.

Check out the Khaleej Times’ article: “Final episode of ‘Million’s Poet’ postponed.”

UPDATE: Rescuers found the sheikh’s body on Tuesday. Abu Dhabi will observe three days of mourning.

Sketchy.

Apparently his “glider” went down in Morocco.

But the pilot was found in good shape.

Not buying it.

When the manager of the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund with an estimated $627 billion in assets gets lost in a “glider” accident in Morocco I call bullshit.

I mean, this is a family who torture people for fun (see The Sheikh of Abu Dhabi Gets Away With Torture).

I totally bet they’re capable of pushing their brother out of a “glider” for some SWF improprieties.