Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI844
2003-02-19 13:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
null
Diana T Fritz 06/05/2007 10:26:04 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM February 19, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 844 - UNKNOWN) 

TAGS: OIIP, KMDR 

Captions: None 

Subject: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00844

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: PAO 
 INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM 
Laser1:
 ACTION: PAO 

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: ADCM:TWILLIAMS
DRAFTED: PAO:AHOSHAN
CLEARED: PAO:TPONCE

VZCZCADI120
OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RUEHFR
RHRMDAB RUCJACC RUCQSOC
DE RUEHAD #0844 0501342
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191342Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8470
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0577
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0640
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL//PA//
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000844 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/P, INR
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: IRAQ


UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000844

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/P, INR
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: IRAQ



1. SUMMARY: DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO IRAQ CONTINUED TO GENERATE
EXTENSIVE COVERAGE IN THE UAE'S MEDIA. EDITORIALS LAUDED THE
FRENCH AND GERMAN POSITIONS AND URGED THE ARABS TO SUPPORT THESE
POSITIONS IN FACE OF U.S. DETERMINATION FOR A WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
THE EDITORIALS CRITICIZED ARABS' FAILURE TO AGREE ON AN EMERGENCY
ARAB SUMMIT AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME. HOWEVER, MANY COLUMNISTS
BELIEVE THAT A WAR AGAINST IRAQ WILL BE LAUNCHED WHETHER IRAQ
COOPERATES WITH THE UN INSPECTORS OR NOT. END SUMMARY.


2. SHARJAH-BASED ARABIC PAN-ARAB DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ"
EDITORIALIZED ON 2/18:

"THE HUGE DEMONSTRATIONS THE WORLD WITNESSED LAST SATURDAY
REJECTING AN AMERICAN (LED) WAR AGAINST IRAQ HAVE RESTORED THE
HUMAN FACE OF OUR WORLD ... ALTHOUGH BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE AFRAID
OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE STREET, WHICH SUPPORT JACK STRAW'S
REMARKS THAT BRITAIN CANNOT TAKE PART IN A WAR WITHOUT POPULAR
SUPPORT, THOSE WHO BLOW THE TRUMPETS OF WAR ARE PERSISTENT,
WHETHER IN LONDON OR WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON WILL NOT BE CONFINED
UNLESS IT SNATCHES A NEW RESOLUTION FROM THE UN TO MAINTAIN A
COVER FOR ITS AGGRESSION... UNLESS THE FRENCH, GERMAN, RUSSIAN
AND CHINESE POSITIONS ARE BACKED WITH A STRONGER AND PRACTICAL
ARAB STANCE, THE AMERICAN-BRITISH DECEPTION IS EXPECTED TO
SUCCEED. AFTER ALL, NO ONE IN THE WORLD WILL BE MORE INTERESTED
IN ARAB INTERESTS THAN THE ARABS THEMSELVES."


3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "AN ARAB EMERGENCY SUMMIT IS A MUST," ABU
DHABI-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AKHBAR AL-ARAB" EDITORIALIZED ON
2/18:

"... THE ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS' FAILURE TO DECIDE A DATE FOR AN
EMERGENCY SUMMIT IS A REFLECTION AND AN EXTENSION OF THE ARABS'
SITUATION, WHICH COULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ELIMINATE IN 10
YEARS. NEVERTHELESS, EFFORTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CONVENE SUCH A
SUMMIT SO THAT THE ARABS DISCUSS THE EXCEPTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
FACING THEM. WE BELIEVE A WAR AGAINST IRAQ IS A GRAVE
DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD DEEPLY SHAKE THE ENTIRE ARAB FOUNDATION."


4. COMMENTING ON REMARKS MADE BY BRITISH PREMIER TONY BLAIR ON A
LEGAL COVER FOR THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE FOR WAR, ABU
DHABI-BASED SEMI-OFFICIAL ARABIC DAILY "AL-ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED
ON 2/18:

"... IT SEEMS THAT THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DOES NOT KNOW THAT
THE UN AUTHORITY AND THE INTERNATIONAL LEGALITY FROM WHICH HE
SEEKS ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN HUMILIATED AND DESPISED BY A RACIST AND
TERRORIST ENTITY ... BRITAIN PLANTED ITS SEEDS IN THE REGION AND
AGAINST WHICH DOZENS OF RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, NONE OF
THEM WAS IMPLEMENTED..."


5. DR. AISHA AL-MARRI WROTE IN HER COLUMN IN "AL-ITTIHAD" ON
2/19:

"THE INTENDED WAR AGAINST IRAQ IS A DARK COMEDY AND A MAZE WHERE
ALL ROADS WILL LEAD TO THE 'OPTION' OF WAR. IF IRAQ COOPERATES
WITH THE INSPECTORS AND REVEALS NEW INFORMATION REGARDING HIS
ARSENAL, IT IMPLIES THAT HE HAS BEEN HIDING THEM FOR A LONG TIME,
WHICH SUPPORTS U.S. CLAIMS AND BOOSTS THE OPTION FOR WAR. BUT,
IF IRAQ DOES NOT REVEAL ANY NEW INFORMATION, IT MEANS THAT IT
STILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED... THIS MAZE CAN ONLY LEAD TO
THE OPTION OF WAR..."

WAHBA