DUBAI CO. USES HITLER TO SELL REAL ESTATE IN U.A.E.

"Conqueror - The world is yours" (Harry's Place)

This guy is unbelievable. A Dubai-based company Conqueror Real Estate is standing by a decision to use Adolf Hitler in a national newspaper campaign in the United Arab Emirates. The ad, which places a picture of the Nazi dictator next to the tagline "Conqueror - The world is yours", ran in the national newspaper Gulf News and provoked a string of complaints.

But David Dakak, general manager of Conqueror Real Estate, said the ad had produced the desired effect and was part of the company's marketing strategy to provoke a response.

Dakak said: "I'm making business, I don't have any political opinion. He's a famous person -- bad or good, I don't care -- and I want to attract the attention of readers. And yesterday we had a lot of response. We had complaints, but it was one of the busiest days of the year too, so it has an affect."

I'm not sure if this is a "Dubai" thing or just the case of one guy and a moral vacuum.

FRANCE HELPING ARAB STATES WITH NUKE PROGRAMS

France helping Arab states with nuke programs (JPost)
France is acting to provide several Arab countries with peaceful nuclear programs, in order to wean the region off oil and boost Franco-Arab relations, a senior French Foreign Ministry official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

France has forged a nuclear cooperation deal with Libya and has discussed the possibility with Algeria and the United Arab Emirates.

The French have made sure that the programs would be only for "peaceful civil programs," the official said - mainly to supply drinking water by desalination.

"To move away from dependency on oil, an alternative must be introduced. That alternative is a civilian nuclear program," the French Foreign Ministry official said. "The position of the French government is clear - that we are in favor of a civilian nuclear buildup, but in a controlled framework."

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

3 GULF STATES WOULD ALLOW IAF OVERFLIGHTS TO BOMB IRAN

Report: 3 Gulf states agree to IAF overflights en route to Iran. (Haaretz)
Three Arab states in the Persian Gulf would be willing to allow the Israel Air force to enter their airspace in order to reach Iran in case of an attack on its nuclear facilities, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa reported on Sunday.

According to the report, a diplomat from one of the gulf states visiting Washington on Saturday said the three states, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, have told the United States that they would not object to Israel using their airspace, despite their fear of an Iranian response.

Al-Siyasa further reported that NATO leaders are urging Turkey to open its airspace for an Attack on Iran as well and to also open its airports and borders in case of a ground attack.

According to a British diplomat who spoke to an Al-Siyasa correspondent, Turkey will not repeat the mistake it made in 2003, when it refused to open its airspace to U.S. Air Force overflights en route to attacking Iraq.