ARTICLE: Halliburton Chief's Move to Dubai Evokes Warnings on Hill, By Steven Mufson and Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, March 13, 2007; Page A02
Halliburton is a private-sector SysAdmin element. Dubai is emerging as a huge SysAdmin-style nation state that is beginning to engage in what I like to call "preemptive nation-building," not just in the Middle East (its emulation of Singapore) but increasingly in East Africa (send in the clones!).
As such, this evolution makes perfect sense to me.
Think horizontal and eliminate surprise.
Doesn't make you invincible or infallible. Just keeps you level and centered when the perturbations unfold.
Why important?
Everyone makes their hay/bucks/victories during the churn. If the churn disorients you, then you're shit outta luck.
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Comments (9)
I'm remembering the Dubai Port scandal last year and wondering if Halliburton might be in for a nasty surprise when the next juicy defense contract comes along:P
Posted by Michael | March 15, 2007 6:08 PM
One wonders why the Salafi elements haven't been more active in the nation-corp that is Dubai. The top down element of AQ's strategy is yet another weakness, I suppose.
Posted by subadei | March 15, 2007 8:19 PM
There was no scandal in Dubai World, which is a great company. The scandal was our knee-jerk racism.
Posted by Tom Barnett | March 16, 2007 9:29 AM
subadei,
I bet it's pretty hard for al-Qaeda to find local talent in a place like Dubai. As Tom likes to say, "disconnectedness defines danger." While they're surrounded by neighbors trying to keep out Western influences, Dubai is actively increasing their global connectivity. Before the Lebanese civil war, Beirut was considered the "Paris of the Middle East" and a regional banking hub. Dubai has since become the banking hub, and if you've got the money, they'll build you Paris on your own island. Their GDP growth is around 15%, and oil contributes less than 10% to the overall GDP. It's almost like Hong Kong with oil.
Posted by Nathan Machula | March 16, 2007 11:26 AM
It also takes them far away from the oversight they have been avoiding for six years and closer to Iran, a growing market for them (or at least their subsidiaries).
Posted by Hof1991 | March 16, 2007 5:32 PM
Nathan,
It's the very western principles you describe that would define Dubai as a particularly effective target of al qaeda. In effect, Dubai is the bastion of both global connectivity and western capitalism in the Arab middle east. Local recruitment difficulties aside why is it that Dubai is not a hot spot for al qaeda?
Posted by subadei | March 17, 2007 10:12 AM
Dr. Barnett, anyone: "Perfect sense," for Halliburton yes, but how best can international rule sets reset to provide greater oversight and accountability of multinationals like Halliburton seeking escape while better positioning itself for market opportunities in Dubai? Or do we simply stand by and watch as Bush's Wild West expands?
Posted by Tricia McKenzie | March 18, 2007 6:45 PM
It was that racism I was thinking about. Would Halliburton the Dubaian company be as attractive to the knee-jerk crowd as Halliburton the American company was?
Posted by Michael | March 20, 2007 5:49 PM
Well, I guess it's not like they paid any taxes when they were based here . . . ;-)
Posted by Mary Baum | April 8, 2007 8:50 PM