The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is forcefully asserting itself into US politics with a record-setting lobbying effort to drown out critics both foreign and domestic.
The Arab World's second-largest economy spent $12.7 million last year to silence challengers to its ruling families and preserve its world-beating airline industry. After an initial public relations campaign to burnish its image following the 2006 Ports World debacle, the UAE spending spree has soared to new heights over the past few years as the Gulf power has gotten bolder.
