MEDIA REACTION: SITUATION IN WEST BANK LEBANON IRAQ

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003709

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: SITUATION IN WEST BANK LEBANON IRAQ



1. SUMMARY: ISRAELI INCURSIONS INTO THE WEST BANK AND LEBANON
AND THE SITUATION IN IRAQ DOMINATED COVERAGE IN UAE PRINT AND
ELECTRONIC MEDIA. AN EDITORIAL IN "AKHBAR AL ARAB" CLAIMED THAT
THE REGION NEEDS TO BE SAVED FROM "SHARON'S FIRES." AN EDITORIAL
IN "AL ITTIHAD" DESCRIBED TERRORISM AS A DISEASE THAT THREATENS
THE WHOLE WORLD. ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL KHALEEJ" CRITICIZED
ISRAEL'S "ATTITUDE OF INNOCENCE" IN RECENT TIMES. END SUMMARY.


2. UNDER THE HEADLINE "THE INNOCENT AND FRIGHTENED ISRAEL,"
SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 8/11:

"... ISRAEL, WHO POSSESSES THE MOST MODERN WEAPONS FROM AMERICA'S
DEADLY ARSENAL OF WMD AND IS CAPABLE OF THREATENING AND ATTACKING
ANY PLACE IN THE REGION UNDER AMERICAN PROTECTION, IS COMPLAINING
TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL WHILE HIDING BEHIND A FENCE.
NEVERTHELESS, RESORTING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS AN ARAB HABIT,
AND BUILDING THE WALL IS A POSITIVE SIGN THAT THE OCCUPIERS CAN'T
GO ON WITH THEIR OCCUPATION AND BRUTALITY WITHOUT FURTHER LOSSES
OR FEAR, DESPITE ALL THE MASSACRES THAT THEY COMMITTED AND MIGHT
COMMIT."


3. CLAIMING THAT TERRORISM HAS BECOME A DISEASE THREATENING THE
WHOLE WORLD, SEMI-OFFICIAL ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL-
ITTIHAD" 8/10 EDITORIALIZED:

"... FACING THIS DISEASE OF TERRORISM REQUIRES THE SOLIDARITY AND
COOPERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ... WHAT WE ARE SEEING
TODAY (EXAGGERATED SCENES OF VIOLENCE AND CRUELTY) HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH ISLAM AND COULD NEVER BE COMMITTED BY ANY PERSON WHO IS
BLESSED BY GOD WITH THIS RELIGION ... A RELIGION OF MERCY,
TOLERANCE, AND GOOD."


4. CRITICIZING THE RECENT STATEMENTS OF HUSSEIN AL KHOMEINI,
GRANDSON OF AYATOLLAH AL KHOMEINI, IN WHICH HE ASSERTED THAT THE
SAME ACTIONS THAT BROUGHT DOWN SADDAM'S REGIME COULD HAVE THE
SAME RESULT IN IRAN, ABU DHABI-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AKHBAR AL
ARAB" EDITORIALIZED 8/10:

"... HAS WASHINGTON BECOME THE WORLD'S "MONSTER," CALLED TO
FRIGHTEN AND THREATEN REGIMES IN ORDER TO ACCEPT ANY REQUIRED
CHANGES? ... THE U.S. DOES NOT HAVE THE SOLUTION, OR ELSE IRAQ
WOULD BE LIVING IN HAPPINESS, PROSPERITY, AND ORDER. USING
AMERICA TO FRIGHTEN THE WORLD IS A CLEAR POINT THAT THERE IS A
POLICEMAN IN THE WORLD THAT CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE."


5. UNDER THE HEADLINE "SAVE THE REGION FROM SHARON'S FIRES,"
DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN"
EDITORIALIZED 8/10:

"... WITHOUT SHAME, THE ZIONISTS PRESENTED AN "OFFICIAL
COMPLAINT" TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL AGAINST SYRIA AND LEBANON. SO
NOW THE TYRANT ATTACKER IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INNOCENT ... THE
ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FIRES IN THE REGION IS FOR THE ISRAELI
TROOPS TO WITHDRAW FROM OCCUPIED ARAB LANDS. WITHOUT THIS, THERE
IS NO HOPE FOR PEACE."

ALBRIGHT