"Emirates rejects the apology issued by Delta Air Lines in response to comments made by its CEO on Monday 16th February which intimated a link between the Gulf carriers and the 9/11 attacks. We believe that the statements made this week by Mr. Anderson were deliberately crafted and delivered for specific effect. This brings into question his credibility as a CEO of a US public listed company, as well as the integrity of the submission which his airline has submitted to the US authorities."

Dear Mr. Anderson,

As the President of the U.S. – U.A.E. Business Council and as a former senior Pentagon official, your recent comments linking the current open skies debate to the September 11 terrorist attacks are disappointing and irresponsible, particularly in this current environment. Your line of thinking deserves no place in the current debate over open skies.

The 9/11 attacks were a national and global tragedy. Civilized countries and leaders condemned them in the strongest possible way. Among them was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, who said at the time that the “criminal acts” of 9/11 should “prompt a strong international alliance to eradicate terrorism and all those who provide assistance to it or harbor it.”

The U.A.E. is one of the U.S.’s closest and most reliable defense and security partners in the global fight against terrorism and extremism in the world today. For more than 12 years, its Special Operations forces fought alongside the U.S. military against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Even as I write, the U.A.E. is flying combat air operations as one of the most active members of the anti-ISIL coalition.

In fact, over the past 25 years, the U.A.E. is one of only three countries and the only Arab country to team up with the U.S. on six military coalition actions. The U.A.E. is a critical U.S. ally, providing essential intelligence sharing and cooperation, as well as support for U.S. troops, aircraft and naval vessels in the Middle East region.

I thank you for your time and attention to this important matter and extend an open invitation to discuss in more detail at your convenience.

Sincerely,


Danny E. Sebright
President