MEDIA REACTION: NEW BUSH ADMINISTRATION; IRAQ

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003517 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ROBERT PALLADINO DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NEW BUSH ADMINISTRATION; IRAQ A) "To Face the Growing Conservative Atmosphere in the U.S. Political Arena" The pro-status quo "China Times" said in an editorial (11/6): ". The U.S. media have pointed out that the key issue to the latest elections is neither the war in Iraq nor economic issues but `ethical values.' ". Such Conservative thinking will certainly be reflected in U.S. foreign and defense policies in the next four years. "After the election results were clear, President Bush is both domestically and internationally expected to be able to commit himself to `correcting the wrong' of the past, as he does not have any re-election pressure anymore. [People] hope that he can be a truly tolerant leader, who will listen to those who did not vote for him in the United States and respect different views of foreign countries about U.S. policies. Thus, the world can enjoy post-Cold War peace and stability under U.S. leadership. However, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches will all be under Republican control, and Bush has won so much popular support, which gives him a strong mandate. As a result, in the next four years the whole world may have to give up unrealistic expectations and pragmatically face a world depicted under the dominance of U.S. Conservatism. B) "Heavy Attack to Seek an End and Let U.S. Troops Go Home for Christmas?" Kung Yan, an associate professor in Taipei, wrote in the conservative, pro-unification "United Daily News" (11/8): "Bush sent 20,000 troops to Fallujah just after he was re-elected. This was also the largest-scaled action in Iraq since April 2003. The world became nervous again. "Why is Bush doing this? We need to notice two reasons. First, the anti-terror war needs an ending after it was started. Second, the fighting in Iraqi fields must be completed as soon as possible. The best is to settle it before Christmas. ". Without trying to feel and understand in depth about the belief and lifestyle of the Islamic world, this war is determined to cause high casualties. One only wants to ask, when he was making policy decisions, why Bush did not think of using religious communications and dialogue to resolve disputes and seek peace?" KEEGAN