"And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four and a half years ago, they were not an ally, they were working with the enemy, and if those same people are still there today that were there then, these are real serious issues"
About this Quote
The subtext is bureaucratic as much as geopolitical. King isn’t only questioning a country’s loyalty; he’s questioning the people who vouch for it. "If those same people are still there today" shifts the target from the UAE to continuity inside the security apparatus - the officials, liaisons, and institutional networks that outlast news cycles and, often, administrations. It’s an argument that alliances aren’t abstract; they’re managed by specific actors with track records, incentives, and blind spots.
Contextually, this is post-9/11-era rhetoric, when Gulf partners were simultaneously framed as essential counterterror allies and scrutinized for permissive environments that could enable extremist financing or travel. King leans into that tension, refusing the comforting simplicity of "great ally" language. Ending on "real serious issues" is deliberately blunt, a politician’s way of signaling classified stakes without stating them: a warning flare meant to force hearings, vetting, and accountability rather than a premature seal of approval.
Quote Details
| Topic | War |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
King, Peter. (2026, January 15). And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four and a half years ago, they were not an ally, they were working with the enemy, and if those same people are still there today that were there then, these are real serious issues. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-think-people-who-sort-of-glibly-say-well-149880/
Chicago Style
King, Peter. "And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four and a half years ago, they were not an ally, they were working with the enemy, and if those same people are still there today that were there then, these are real serious issues." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-think-people-who-sort-of-glibly-say-well-149880/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four and a half years ago, they were not an ally, they were working with the enemy, and if those same people are still there today that were there then, these are real serious issues." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-think-people-who-sort-of-glibly-say-well-149880/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
