SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003024

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B;
RRU-NEA
IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE
PITRANSGRESS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON


1. Summary: The Arabic-language media remained critical of the
U.S. position on the current conflict in Lebanon. In "Al-Khaleej,"
three editorials criticize Rice's visit and question U.S. motives in
the ongoing crisis. An article in "Akhbar Al-Arab" describes Rice's
visit to Lebanon as a consolation prize for Lebanon. Finally, an
editorial in "Al-Bayan" describes Rice's visit to Lebanon as
useless, as she did not focus on the need for an immediate cease
fire. End Summary.


2. Under the headline "Hello Lebanon", the Sharjah-based
Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) published
the following on 07/25 in an unsigned front-page editorial:

"... What did Condoleezza Rice bring to the Lebanese government,
torn and heart-broke as they are by this Nazi-style aggression?
What did she bring to the wounded and to those Lebanese politicians
shocked by the insanity of this war, at a time when they cannot even
count the number of their martyrs, while a third of them are
displaced, their towns destroyed and their native soil desecrated?
Did she offer them boats to evacuate to Cyprus while the Israeli
attacks continue, because, in her opinion, they require more time?
Perhaps there is still a wall in a house somewhere that has not yet
been destroyed, a bridge that is not demolished or a convoy carrying
displaced people that has not yet been bombed."


3. Under the headline "End the law of the jungle", the Sharjah-based
Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" published the following in a
07/25 editorial:

"This is the beginning of efforts to create more balance, end
double-standard policies and stop the practice of supporting the
killer and condemning the victim in regards to aggression against
Arabs... If one wanted to implement Resolution 1559 through the
massacres committed by Israel over the past 14 days, one should
first implement all of the prior resolutions concerning Palestine,
Lebanon and all the other countries in this region. Once this
happens, someone might then believe that there is genuine concern
about international legitimacy and international resolutions... Why
are these forces not sent to Palestine, to Gaza and the West Bank,
to protect the Palestinian people from murder and destruction?
...End the law of the jungle first. Then the world can live in
peace and harmony."


4. Under the headline "Rice, rewards and the new Middle East",
Lebanese columnist Saad Mehio wrote the following in a 07/25
editorial in the Sharjah-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej":

"Rice's statement was no coincidence. Rather it was a product of
the diplomacy of war waged by Israel in Lebanon and Palestine. This
war has two goals: to regain the dignity of the Israeli army and to
change the distribution of power, and perhaps the maps, of the
Levant... To put it plainly, the U.S. has exported its crisis in
Iraq to the other countries in the region. Instead of being
blackmailed by Iran and Syrian because of Iraq, the U.S. has
launched a counter-attack on Lebanon and Palestine. Indeed, the
U.S. does not just blackmail these countries, but threatens them
too. Will these threats make it easy for Washington to 'cool things
down' in Iraq, so they can regain control? "


5. Under the headline "Condolences to Lebanon, Support to Israel",
the Abu Dhabi-based Arabic-language daily "Akhbar Al-Arab"
(circulation 20,000) published the following in a 07/25 unsigned
editorial:

"Condoleezza Rice echoed George Bush in her statements upon arriving
in the region: 'The Israeli military operations must continue to
encourage Lebanon to put pressure on Hezbollah to return the
abducted Israeli soldiers.' But it seems now that the objective of
this Israeli aggression is far more than just returning the
soldiers. Condi has spoken of the birth of a new Middle East, and
in her eyes, Lebanon is nothing more than one of the labor pains of
that birth."


6. Under the headline "They hear no voice but Israel's", the
Dubai-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000)
published the following in a 07/25 editorial:

"The Austrian newspaper 'Die Presse' has recently confirmed the
world's suspicions that in seeking peace and security, the United
States only listens to Israel. U.S. officials never give
independent statements on Israeli actions. And as the publication
noted, the new Middle East which Secretary Rice has talked about
will actually be a monster more difficult to control. It added that
in the past, U.S. Secretaries of State have tried to resolve Middle
East crises by building dialogue with both friendly and hostile
countries. But today the U.S. and Israel do not hesitate to
threaten those countries involved in the conflict between Lebanon
and Syria, and refuse to negotiate with them... The United States
is supporting Israel not just by refusing the cease-fire, but also
by participating in the aggression against Lebanon. This is what
the New York Times disclosed in reporting the U.S.'s expedited
delivery of smart bombs to Israel. Such bombs can destroy bunkers,
and their first target is no doubt Hassan Nasrallah. In sum, we are
not optimistic about Condi's trip to the region. It is not useful,
and cannot possibly produce a cease-fire."

SISON