MEDIA REACTION: LEBANON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003400

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TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: LEBANON


1. Summary: The unsigned editorial in "Al-Bayan" considers UNSCR
1701 doomed to failure. A UAE columnist in "Al-Ittihad" examines
the impact of Iranian aid to Lebanon through Hezbullah. A UAE
businessman wondered in "Al-Bayan" when the Americans will realize
that they were not Arabs' friends and emphasized that Americans
should review their relationship with Israel. An unsigned editorial
in "Al-Khaleej" considered President Bush's call for a new UN
Resolution to disarm Hezbollah as the first drop in the ocean of the
new Middle East. End Summary.


2. On 08/23, Emirati columnist Mohammed Al-Hammadi wrote in his
column in the Abu Dhabi-based semi-official Arabic-language daily
"Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000):

"... The financial assistance promised by the Arab States to
reconstruct Lebanon, which was stressed by the Arab Foreign
Ministers at their meeting a few days ago, should not be delayed or
be transferred at a turtle's pace. The Lebanese suffering and their
substantial losses cannot withstand the typical bureaucracy from our
Arab institutions. This is especially true because Iran, a
competing State in the region, has immediately sent its cash
assistance to the Lebanese through "Hizbullah" in front of all the
major satellite channels. We must admit that the Iranian funds have
succeeded in having a psychological and moral impact on the hearts
of the Lebanese people. The tangible effects will show within a few
weeks with the Lebanese rebuilding their own houses."


3. Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000) 08/23
editorialized:

"There is no reason to adopt a resolution calling for a second
international resolution, unless the objective is to grant Israel
what it has failed to obtain through its aggression, massacres,
destruction and displacement... Those who seek to pass a new
resolution by the Security Council in favor of Israel should first
protect Resolution 1701... Israel's continuing violations could
ignite the situation again in a way that could exceed what happened
during the previous days of the aggression."


4. UAE Businessman, Khalaf Ahmed Al-Habtoor, wrote in his op-ed in
Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan, (circulation 85,000) on 08/23:

"... Some Americans are becoming obsessed with this question: "Why
do they hate us?" when they watch satellite channels showing Arabs
and Muslims burning American flags... George W. Bush, for his own
objectives, wants us to believe that extremist elements hate
democracy and freedom. However, the Pentagon published a 2004
report on its website in greater openness. It says: "Muslims do not
hate our freedom, but dislike our policies. The vast majority of
them express their objections against what they see as biased
support to Israel against Palestinian rights. Therefore, when
addressing American public diplomacy efforts to introduce democratic
Islamic societies, Muslims see only hypocrisy in the service of
American interests." This is true. Arabs and Muslims' anger
simmers because of the American bias in favor of Israel, which is
evident every time the United Nations through the Security Council
tries to reach a resolution condemning Israel. It simmers every
time we see the United States use its right of veto, which is often
the sole opposing voice. It is time now for the United States to
revert to the role of impartial mediator, which it had previously
played and reconsider the nature of its country's relations with
Israel. There is no doubt that the day will come when Americans
will question whether Israel is really one of their most loyal
friends or that it is just befriending America, so long as America
continues to support it financially, wage wars on its behalf, and
turn a blind eye to the war crimes it commits."


5. Sharjah-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" editorialized
on 8/23/06 (circulation 90,000):

"U.S. President George W. Bush wants to pass a new resolution at the
United Nations Security Council to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon,
while his partner, Prime Minister of the Zionist entity, Ehud Olmert
seeks to hold a dialogue with the Lebanese government to normalize
relations between Lebanon and the Zionist entity. These two things
are like one drop in the new sea of the Middle East, which America
wants to place on the remains of the Arab world... The catastrophic
part of all this is that everything is publicly declared, and yet

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some continue to believe and wager that Bush's era can carry peace.
Reality and the Arabs' experience shows that Arabs during Bush's era
will only see wars, embargoes and sanctions. The neoconservatives
will not change their schemes or their perceptions through any
means... There is no alternative except for the Arabs to start
thinking about protecting themselves during this period."

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