Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

I suggest that the OP look into using AA's distance-based "Explorer" award, which does permit en-route stopovers and routings via the Atlantic. Once UL joins oneworld, this award should provide good value for Business Class travel (up to 20,000 flown miles for 130,000 AAdvantage miles). And there will be even more routing options once QR joins oneworld, but that might happen until 2014.

If necessary, look at using BA Avios for short-distance Coach flights (like MCI-ORD, or CMB-MLE) to avoid going into the next mileage band on the Explorer award.

And I'm pretty sure that the AA agent who said that one can travel from ORD to CMB via AUH on EY as a single award was mistaken: AA one-way awards between North America and Asia 2 do not permit connections in the Middle East.