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A Further Perspective
Two-Headed State Department?
Mrs. Clinton intervened nicely to secure the release of an American businessman held captive in Russia. Why won’t she do the same in a similar case in Dubai?
Arkadi Gontmakher, a Ukraine-born American had been buying crabs in Russia for the U.S. market for years when, one day in 2007, he was arrested in Moscow and charged with poaching, money laundering and organizing a “criminal community.” He’d been dealing with boat owners whose captains routinely offloaded over-quota catches in a South Korean port.
He languished in jail for nearly three years until his case came to trial. It is widely believed that inspectors and border guards are bribed in the Russian crab business; however, Gontmakher had not engaged in this and said he was under no obligation to determine from boat owners the legality of their catches.
Last December he was acquitted in a court in Kamchatka on Russia’s Pacific coast. While still in the courtroom, he was rearrested on the same charges. Because he had been having heart trouble he was taken to a hospital instead of jail. It could not treat his ailment so he was allowed to fly to Moscow where an operation for arrhythmia was proposed. He declined for fear commercial rivals would arrange for him to be killed on the operating table.
The U.S. Embassy asked for his release on humanitarian grounds to fly to the U.S. for an operation. There had been no action by the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Munich early this February. She raised the matter in their meeting. On February 20, Gontmakher was suddenly released, put on a plane and was home with his family in Bellevue, Washington, the next day.
That is how the State Department can work when it puts its collective mind to something. Compare it to Zack Shahin’s case in Dubai. A Lebanon-born American, Shahin was an Ohio businessman who spent several years working for PepsiCo in the Middle East when opportunities in Dubai beckoned. The emirate had embarked on a major development program to build hotels, office buildings, apartments, marinas — part of a plan to become a regional financial center.
In 2002, Shahin was a founder of Deyaar Realty, a property development company. By 2008 it had become the second largest in Dubai. On March 23 that year, police raided his home and arrested him. He was held incommunicado for two weeks, then forced to sign documents he could not read. He was told that if he did not, his wife would be arrested and his children taken by the state.
Thirteen months later he was finally charged with embezzling $100,000 from his company. The chairman and board of directors had approved that transaction as a bonus. This was verified by Ernst & Young, the company’s Certified Public Accountants.
Shahin has sought to post bail pending his trial, to no avail. His health has declined steadily. He has high blood pressure and cholesterol, a stomach ulcer and a slipped disk. In 2009 he underwent knee surgery for injuries received during his first two weeks of incarceration (when, he claims, he was tortured). A neck injury and heart issues required operations, as well. The doctor wanted him to stay in the hospital for six weeks of recuperation and physical therapy. When he agreed, security agents moved into his room, with the television on continuously and talking loudly. When he complained, he was told this would stop if he went back to jail. He did so without completing the recovery process.
He is one of several expatriate executives who have been arrested in Dubai on dubious charges. It may be no coincidence that the arrests occurred after Dubai’s government investment fund realized it had made several bad investments and was losing money. Hints have been made to Shahin representatives that a large amount of cash could smooth the way to his release. Meanwhile, no trial date has been set.
Letters by Shahin’s U.S. Senators and Representatives on his behalf have been ignored by Dubai. So have three State Department diplomatic notes. A meeting to see Shahin by our ambassador was canceled by Dubai authorities. It’s clear that the difference in the outcomes to date in the two cases is the personal involvement of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She considered Gontmakher’s plight to be important enough to risk a setback in the U.S.-Russia relations “re-set,” but has not yet been willing to risk offending the UAE by making Shahin an issue.
Russia, for all its flaws, has a record on democracy that compares favorably to that of the UAE, an undisguised authoritarian operation. While the UAE’s energy resources are worthy of respect, they can’t compare with Russia’s, which also has the world’s only nuclear arsenal comparable to that of the U.S. Mrs. Clinton took a chance in raising the Gontmakher case and got the right result. Therefore, nothing should stop her from publicly insisting on Shahin’s release on humanitarian grounds. The only risk is that some UAE noses might temporarily get bent out of shape. It’s worth it.
About the Author
Peter Hannaford was closely associated for a number of years with the late President Reagan, beginning in the California Governor’s office. His latest book is Presidential Retreats.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
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Walter | 8.26.11 @ 7:33AM
I think most people will read this and realize the difference. When anyone expects favors from Ms Clinton they must be willing to "talk the talk and walk the walk." I wonder, how is Ms Clinton doing with that debt she accrued in her campaign for democrat nominee for president?
Bob K.| 8.26.11 @ 8:16AM
Good Point! Always consider character first!
lily | 8.28.11 @ 7:20AM
The Sec should invite the Dubai ambassador over to her office and offer him pork sandwiches.I am a 28 years old doctor, mature and beautiful.and now I am seeking a good man who can give me real love , so i got a username Lindasunny2002 on--a'ge'l'es's'da'te.c óm--.it is the first and best club for y'ounger women and old'er men, or older women and y'ounger men,to int'eract with each other. Maybe you wanna ch'eck 'it out or tell your friends!
Negro X| 8.26.11 @ 9:20AM
Nothing must be done to offend islam or the obama/clinton muslim cash cow. She lewinsky's muslims.
old white guy| 8.26.11 @ 10:13AM
muslims don't respect women and will not talk to her.
POST American| 8.26.11 @ 9:42AM
NOT UNTIL the CFR/RIIA usury feuled
Globalisation, TREASON and EUGENICS OP
is called out, and warmly and aweosmely prosecuted will ANYTHING start to turn around.
Our last 4 CFR front op administrations need
unflicnhing RETRO-active IMPEACHMENT.
--------------HUAC/NUREMBERG 2012--------------
---------TIME to man up boys!
Michael Tomlinson| 8.26.11 @ 10:26AM
When you lie down with the fleas of a camel you get fleas.
Dai Alanye | 8.26.11 @ 11:33AM
"This government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead."
Although it was more a campaign slogan than a genuine threat, the principle it states is justified. (Not that Ron Paul would agree, of course.)
Occam's Tool| 8.26.11 @ 1:17PM
Yes, but that was Teddy Roosevelt, not "hey, Iran should get the bomb" Paul.
Clint| 8.26.11 @ 3:46PM
Dr.Ron Paul's Foreign Policy Advisor Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Chief of The bin Laden Unit,
"On Iran, The President should:
3.) Call in Israel's ambassador to the United States and tell him that we understand that Israel believes Iran is a threat to its survival, and that we agree that Israel has every right to defend itself. If Israel believes it must go to war with Iran, then so be it. But also tell the ambassador that if Israel attacks Iran, the U.S. administration will declare U.S. neutrality in the war and immediately cut off military and financial support to all combatants in the war.
4.) Speak to the American people and tell them to expect to be brutally propagandized by U.S. citizen Israel-Firsters through AIPAC, their ubiquitous media shills, and the men and women they own in the U.S. Congress and federal bureaucracy. Urge Americans to ignore this effort by U.S. Israel-Firsters to get them to send their soldier-children to fight in a religious war in which the U.S. has no genuine national interest at stake, and in which U.S. participation would further bankrupt the country, require the reintroduction of conscription, and put America at war with all of the Muslim world -- Shia and Sunni -- for the foreseeable future."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Rise Up In Rebellion.
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.26.11 @ 6:13PM
Dear Clint
Please tell Dr.Ron Paul's Foreign Policy Advisor Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Chief of The bin Laden Unit,...TO KISS MY ASS.
He is nothing more than a suck-up to the six zillion Muslim bullies who want to finish up the holocaust of the Jewish people.
We Texans remember the Alamo. We know what it is to be surrounded by six billion bullies intent on our death.
Clint,
You "Israel lasters" are an embarasment to all Christians and Americans who believe in freedom.
Every time I see your "Israel murderer" posts from now on, I shall post this response. Get used to it.
Clint| 8.26.11 @ 8:38PM
Michael Scheuer said, Why Don't You Try & Make Me, Neo-Chickenhawk Israel Firster RINO-CINO, Kenny The Squirrel.
Dr.Ron Paul's Foreign Policy Advisor Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Chief of The bin Laden Unit,
"On Iran, The President should:
3.) Call in Israel's ambassador to the United States and tell him that we understand that Israel believes Iran is a threat to its survival, and that we agree that Israel has every right to defend itself. If Israel believes it must go to war with Iran, then so be it. But also tell the ambassador that if Israel attacks Iran, the U.S. administration will declare U.S. neutrality in the war and immediately cut off military and financial support to all combatants in the war.
4.) Speak to the American people and tell them to expect to be brutally propagandized by U.S. citizen Israel-Firsters through AIPAC, their ubiquitous media shills, and the men and women they own in the U.S. Congress and federal bureaucracy. Urge Americans to ignore this effort by U.S. Israel-Firsters to get them to send their soldier-children to fight in a religious war in which the U.S. has no genuine national interest at stake, and in which U.S. participation would further bankrupt the country, require the reintroduction of conscription, and put America at war with all of the Muslim world -- Shia and Sunni -- for the foreseeable future."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Rise Up In Rebellion.
Margie| 8.27.11 @ 1:15AM
What an idiot this man is.
A Religious war? How is it that a nation that would defend itself against another that wants its destruction a Religious war?
A war is a war.
What a dope.
And so disgustingly disingenuous. To say that it would put America at war with all of the Muslim world for the forseeable future?
What?
Like we're not already?
What a (to use a favorite word of the Pual-bots) bufoon!!
I abhor you snakes.
Clint| 8.27.11 @ 7:27AM
You seem so upset Israel Firster RINO-CINO Crank Lady Margie.
Apparently, this latest news has you all atwitter & angst ridden:
"Rasmussen Has Ron Paul Running Closest With Obama
Erik Hayden Aug 24, 2011:
Who does the president fare worst against in a head-to-head matchup? On Wednesday, Rasmussen released its latest nationwide early campaign survey. And right now, Barack Obama does well against Mitt Romney (46 to 38 percent) and narrowly leads Perry (43 to 40 percent) and Michele Bachmann (43 to 39 percent).
Which means, if you combine these results with the Rasmussen poll released Tuesday, the GOP candidate doing the best against the president is....Ron Paul? Yesterday's head-to-head poll showed the libertarian trailing the president 39 to 38 percent, by presumably the same methodology. "
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Rise Up In Rebellion.
Tim| 8.27.11 @ 2:26PM
"You seem so upset.."
.."all atwitter & angst ridden"
On the other hand, vipers never get upset~ and serpents don't either. They just slither and writhe and attack, are filled with pure deceit and poisonous venom.
They serve their purpose well, as they are destined to do.
Margie| 8.27.11 @ 4:02PM
We're out here, hiding in Western Pennsylvania now, but we're still Joisey White Trash Bogots.
We're Scared of The Tea Party.
Purple Lips| 8.26.11 @ 4:17PM
The Sec should invite the Dubai ambassador over to her office and offer him pork sandwiches. Then she should fart. According to the DOD, farting is an offense in Islam.
Riff Raff| 8.26.11 @ 7:17PM
The reason is there was no "Reset button" with Dubai.
mike| 8.27.11 @ 2:48PM
muslims don't respect women and will not talk to her.
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mike| 8.27.11 @ 2:49PM
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
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celebritiestoday | 8.28.11 @ 10:18AM
If you lie down with the fleas of a camel you get fleas.
Oldefarte| 8.28.11 @ 12:05PM
These countries are only important to us due to ''''OIL'''', which should not be so [but are] due to Democrats' historical STUPIDLY insisting upon the importance of environmental issues over vital energy needs. If Salazar/Interior would stop foot-dragging on issuing drilling permits, and if oil companies would be allowed to drill in our three oceans substantially, we could tell these oil supplying countries to STICK IT [but as Dandy once said, IF IFS AND BUTS WERE CHERRY AND NUTS, WE'D ALL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS]!!!!!!
sly311| 9.2.11 @ 4:36PM
How about those two Americans being held in Iran? They were just sentenced to eight years each, which will make it a total of 10 years. What's up with that? Or, were they really up to something?