Tom Friedman on the Iraq-Syria crisis in the New York Times today --
Meanwhile, let’s strengthen the islands of decency — Tunisia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Kurdistan — and strengthen our own democracy to insulate ourselves as best we can.
Nothing elsewhere in the column refers to the UAE, nor does it offer any criteria which would single out the UAE -- the most active financial backer of the Sisi government in Egypt -- as meriting particular support. If the criteria are a Gulf country with sectarian harmony and proximity to democracy, the worthy country would be Kuwait.
But Kuwait doesn't have a flashy airline.
Photo: Emirates First Class cabin bar.