Dave, your research on the issue is extremely interesting -- and throws some light on why this deal is being pushed.

Even though the UAE oil may not currently go mostly to the US, the relationship building you refer to certainly gives the gov't here a greater voice (let's call it) as to where it is directed in the future, and at what price. It also gives them a trustworthy gatekeeper at this end, so that any shenanigans that take place would only be authorized shenanigans. I don't know enough about the industry to speculate as to what those shenanigans would be. But I know enough about our gov't to know that there will be shenanigans.

That NG is going to be used for EOR is also telling. I don't remember what's been written about the efficiency of this, but it again indicates a  reluctance (here) to move away from oil to EVEN NG.

The thing I'm not clear about is what form your paranoia takes? None of us thinks our own paranoia is paranoia -- it's justified fear and suspicion. Mine is directed at our US gov't, not Arab or other gov'ts who are always suspected of agency or complicity in terrorism. I won't repeat my views on that here.