MEDIA REACTION: BUSH DECLARATION/IRAQ

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001221

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
LONDON FOR MOC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: BUSH DECLARATION/IRAQ



1. SUMMARY: THE DETERIORATING SITUATION IN IRAQ AND PRESIDENT
BUSH'S STATEMENT DENYING THE PALESTINIANS THEIR RIGHT OF RETURN
DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. AN
EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" NOTED THAT THE U.S. MADE ITS DECISION TO
BURN ITS BRIDEGES AS A PEACE MEDIATOR. ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL
KHALEEJ" POINTED OUT THAT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT HAS ADOPTED SHARON'S ATTITUDES. END SUMMARY.


2. NOTING THAT THE U.S. CAN NO LONGER BE SEEN AS AN HONEST
BROKER FOR THE PEACE PROCESS, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED "AL
BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 04/17:

". IT SEEMS THAT THE U.S. HAS MADE ITS DECISION TO BURN ITS ROLE
AS BEING MEDIATOR IN THE PEACE PROCESS AND IS PLAYING A NEW ROLE
WITHOUT SHAME TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ZIONIST ENTITY AND SUPPORTING
ITS BRUTAL AND NAZI-LIKE ATTACKS AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS."


3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "THE DANGERS OF TAKING SIDES," ABU DHABI-
BASED SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 04/17:

". EXTREMISM WILL ONLY LEAD TO MORE EXTREMISM, AND BLIND
FAVORITISM WILL NOT MAKE THE VICTIM ABANDON HIS RIGHTS, IT WILL
LEAD TO ENHANCING THE SENSE OF HATRED, AND WILL OPEN ALL DOORS OF
VIOLENCE, WHICH THE MIDDLE EAST HAS EXPERIENCED FOR A LONG TIME.
IF THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS LOGICAL
STAND FOR JUSTICE, THEN THIS REGION WILL REMAIN PRISONER OF A
CYCLE OF EVIL VIOLENCE."


4. NOTING THAT THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD STOP THE INTERNATIONAL
CHAOS CAUSED BY THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION, SHARJAH-BASED PAN-
ARAB DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 04/16:

". IF THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD DO NOT TAKE OFF THE DRESS OF
FEAR AND WEAKNESS, THEN THE AMERICAN WOLF WILL EAT THEM UP ONE
AFTER ANOTHER. THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION WANTS A WORLD WITH NO
ORGANIZATION."


5. POINTING OUT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH'S DENIAL OF THE RIGHT OF
RETURN IS A SHAMEFUL ACT, "AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 04/16:

". IN BUSH'S STATEMENT AGAINST THE ARABS AND PALESTINIANS, HE IS
TELLING THE WHOLE WORLD THAT THAT POWER IS PARAMOUNT AND THAT THE
POLICY THAT WAS IMPOSED BY THIS POWER WILL NOT BE CHANGED. THIS
MEANS THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ANY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OR ANY
HUMANE LAWS. BUSH'S ATTITUDE IS WORSE THAN BALFOUR."


6. UNDER THE HEADLINE "BUSH IN SHARON'S BOAT," "AL KHALEEJ"
EDITORIALIZED 04/15:

"THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH PUT HIMSELF IN SHARON'S BOAT
WHEN HE ADOPTED ALL THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITUDES, AS IF
THIS GREAT COUNTRY HAS BECOME A ZIONIST `KIBBUTZ' THAT HOLDS THE
NAME OF THE UNITED STATES. BUSH'S ATTITUDES LATELY SHOWS CLEARLY
THAT THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE CRAZY IN ITS ACTIONS
TOWARDS ALL THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS. BUSH IS FALLING
MORE AND MORE WITH THE ELECTIONS GETTING CLOSER, WHICH MEANS HE
SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL."

WAHBA