Poet Jailed by UAE: Western Allies Remain Mum
The New Arab reports on protests for al-Qaradawi, who has been held incommunicado since 2017—a classic tactic of authoritarian regimes. This isn't an isolated incident; the UAE, a key US ally and significant arms buyer, consistently ranks among the worst for suppressing dissent. (Remember Jamal Khashoggi, or the constant 'stability' narrative around Saudi Arabia? Same playbook, different princely
state.) One might wonder if America's sudden concern for 'human rights' only surfaces when it's politically convenient or involves nations not purchasing billions in US weaponry. The diplomatic silence on al-Qaradawi speaks volumes, confirming that 'values' are secondary to 'deals' in the grand strategy of who gets to be a 'moderate partner' in the region. Evidently, a poet's disappearance isn't
as disruptive to regional stability as, say, criticizing an oil pipeline.