MEDIA REACTION: POWELL'S WARNINGS TO SYRIA IRAQ THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002174

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: POWELL'S WARNINGS TO SYRIA IRAQ THE
ROADMAP


1. SUMMARY: POWELL'S WARNINGS TO SYRIA, THE RECONSTRUCTION OF
IRAQ, AND THE ROADMAP DOMINATED COVERAGE IN UAE PRINT MEDIA. AN
"AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL CRITICIZED THE SITUATION IN THE REGION
FOLLOWING THE WAR IN IRAQ AND ARAB ATTITUDES TOWARDS RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS, NOTING THAT THE U.S. AIM IS TO PROTECT ISRAEL.
ANOTHER "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL LABELED U.S. THREATS TO SYRIA AS
GUARANTEES OF ISRAEL'S SECURITY. AN "AKHBAR AL ARAB" EDITORIAL
URGED THE U.S. TO EXERT SERIOUS EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ROADMAP
AND NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY ISRAEL'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT. END
SUMMARY.


2. CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S INTERVIEW WITH THE ISRAELI NEWSPAPER
"YEDIOTH AHRONOTH" RECEIVED EXTENSIVE EDITORIAL COVERAGE IN UAE
ARABIC MEDIA, WHO QUOTED HER AS SAYING "THE U.S. ADMINISTARTION
BELIEVES THAT ISRAEL'S SECURITY IS THE KEY TO SECURITY NOT ONLY
IN THE REGION, BUT ALSO IN THE WORLD."


3. Criticizing the situation in the region after the war in Iraq
and Arab attitudes towards recent developments, Sharjah-based pan-
Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" editorialized 5/05:

"... It seems that some or even most of the Arabs did not
understand that they should eliminate 'resistance,' 'struggle,'
'jihad' and 'liberation' from their dictionary, intellect,
agenda, and even their memory. Besides, Arabism, pan-Arabism,
unity or anything in this regard must be eliminated and replaced
with concession, surrender, submission, and reality under the
pretext of modernization, rationale and the balance of power ...
A memory has to be drilled and later erased. Minds, hearts, and
passions have to be replaced. Skin has to be extracted, books
and heritage and all that has to do with genuineness and Arab
civilization should be destroyed, similar to what happened to
Iraq's museums and libraries. We are expected to replace this in
order to present our credentials for the new American era in a
world where its security has become the security of Israel, its
life is Israel's life, and its future is Israel's future, as
Condoleeza and others believe ..."


4. NOTING THE SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE U.S. TONE TOWARDS SYRIA, ABU
DHABI-BASED SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 5/05:

"THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF TONE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND SYRIA, WHICH
CHANGED FROM THAT OF A DEBATE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING TO THAT OF
THREATS AND INTIMIDATIONS THROUGH THE MEDIA IS VERY REGRETTABLE
... THE U.S. REALIZES THAT ANY NEW TREMORS IN THE REGION WILL
HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES NOT ONLY ON PLANS FOR IRAQ BUT ALSO
FOR PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST ..."


5. Commenting on Secretary Powell's visit to Syria and his
demands, Sharjah-based pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" editorialized
5/04:

"... As we thoroughly ponder these demands, we realize that these
are issues that have nothing to do with the bilateral
relationships between Syria and Lebanon on one hand and the U.S.
on the other. These issues are related to the Arab-Israeli
conflict and directly to 'Israeli Security,' which has nothing to
do with U.S. security, and the U.S. has summed up the world's
security as 'Israeli security.' Powell's visit is to achieve
this goal, which is to remove all factors threatening the
security of the Zionists, and this is also one of the major
reasons for the occupation of Iraq. So saying that the major aim
for the U.S. war against Iraq was on behalf of Israel is not far
from the truth; it is the reason behind Powell's visit to
Damascus and Beirut ..."


6. UNDER THE HEADLINE "POWELL AND HIS ISRAELI AGENDA," "AL-
KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 5/03:

"... SYRIA REALIZES THAT THEY FACE DANGERS, CHALLENGES, AND
DIRECT PRESSURES, BUT THEY ALSO REALIZE THAT THEY CAN'T FORGET
THEIR UNCHANGEABLE PATRIOTIC NATIONALISM RELATED TO THEIR LAND
AND THEIR RIGHTS, BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS, IT MEANS ITS (SYRIA)
DOWNFALL AND SURRENDER ..."


7. CLAIMING WASHINGTON IS COMMITTING A NUMBER OF MISTAKES WITH
THE NEW PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED
ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 5/03:

"... WASHINGTON, WITH ITS FOCUS ON ABU MAZEN THAT REACHES AN
EXTENT OF 'POLISHING' IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE ARAFAT FROM THE
POLITICAL SCENE, IS GIVING THE WRONG SIGNS TO THE PALESTINIANS
AND IS MAKING THEM SKEPTICAL OF THE NEW PRIME MINISTER'S REAL
MISSION THAT PUSHES THEM TO ENCIRCLE HIM INTERNALLY ... ADDED TO
THAT, PALESTINE IS NOT AN ISSUE OF A PERSON OR AN AUTHORITY, IT
IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED WITH NO EDITING OR TRICKS, IN ORDER FOR THIS ARAB
LAND TO BE LIBERATED AND FOR THE MIDDLE EAST TO BECOME STABLE
..."

8. REFLECTING ON POWELL'S STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE "MASSACRE"
COMMITTED IN GAZA YESTERDAY, "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 5/03:

"... SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL'S RESPONSE TO THE ISRAELI
INTENSIFICATION IN GAZA YESTERDAY CONFIRMS THAT 'THE ROADMAP WILL
BE IMPLEMENTED AS IS AND IN TIME.' AND HIS INVITATION 'TO EXCEED
THE SUICIDAL ATTACKS AND THE REVENGE OPERATIONS' EXPLAINS THE WAY
TO ACHIEVE PEACE IN PALESTINE AND THE REGION ... POWELL'S
COMMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE AND SYMBOLIZE A GOOD IDEA OF THE WAY TO
ACHIEVE THE EXPECTED GOALS. WHOEVER WANTS PEACE SHOULD EXCEED
THAT NEVER-ENDING WHIRLPOOL OF REVENGE AND VIOLENCE. THE ROAD IS
CLEAR AND REQUESTS SERIOUS INITIATIVES ..."


9. COMMENTING ON ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO THE "ROADMAP," ABU DHABI-
BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AKHBAR AL ARAB" EDITORIALIZED ON 5/02:

"... IF THE U.S. IS SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE 'ROADMAP,' AND
ITS CREDIBILITY IS NOW AT STAKE, THEN IT (THE U.S.) SHOULD
ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT IT (THE ROADMAP) WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE OR
MODIFICATION AND WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME SPAN ..."


10. IMPLICATING ISRAELI PM ARIEL SHARON FOR THE 'MASSACRES'
COMMITTED IN PALESTINE, "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 5/02:

"... WHOEVER BETS ON AMERICAN PRESSURE ON ISRAEL ... IS ONLY
LIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE AMERICAN VIOLENCE
IN IRAQ SIMILAR IN GOALS TO THAT OF ZIONIST VIOLENCE IN
PALESTINE. IT IS THE SEASON OF MASSACRES AGAINST ARABS, AND THE
POLITICAL CRUMBS THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED ARE ONLY PART OF A
COMEDY THAT SUCCEEDED IN THE PAST. THE BETS ARE STILL ON
REGARDING THE SUCCESS OF ITS (THE COMEDY) NEW CHAPTERS."

WAHBA