MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA/UAE ELECTIONS/IRAQ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003947

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA/UAE ELECTIONS/IRAQ


1. Summary: A columnist in "Al-Bayan" opines that the main reason
why the U.S. is concerned with North Korea's nuclear experiment is
the fear of it leaking this technology to the Middle East like Syria
or Iran. Al Khaleej editorialized that what the U.S. fears most is
the emergence of a nuclear Japan. A UAE columnist in "Al-Khaleej"
believes that the electoral lists in the UAE have caused a division
between its citizens because 98% of the population did not have the
right to vote. "Al-Bayan" urges Iraqis to unite together and not
rely on the U.S. because America is only concerned with achieving
its oil and military interests in spite of its false words about
democracy. End Summary.


2. A columnist, Ahmed Omarabi, wrote a 10/12 op-ed in Dubai-based
Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000):

"It is understood that George W. Bush got very angry upon hearing of
North Korea's successful nuclear experiment. It is equally
understood that Japan, which has no military deterrence, even in the
traditional concept, will panic. But I do not see a good reason and
one that would inconvenience Arabs and Muslims. On the contrary,
the Arabs and Muslims should rejoice... The real American fear is
from North Korea exporting its technology and manufacturing
equipment for nuclear weapons to Arab and Islamic countries.
International security is not at the top of the concerns of the
American administration, but the first and greatest preoccupation is
the security of Israel... What can the American President do
towards North Korea? Nothing. The Bush administration has called
on the Security Council to "move immediately"... It is
inconceivable that the result will be a decision to launch an
international comprehensive military campaign because it is risky.
It is most likely that the Security Council will accept the
imposition of economic sanctions, but this will not change the fact
that North Korea has become a nuclear power. It is impossible to
push the wheel back. Also remember that the UN has already adopted a
resolution to that effect; the result was zero... American alarm
should be matched by Arab and Islamic joy."


3. Under the headline "Washington's other objectives",
Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) wrote
in a 10/12 op-ed:

"North Korea's nuclear test did actually bother the U.S. That is
not because North Korea is a threat to the U.S. That country knows
that the U.S. can wipe it out if it (North Korea) used the nuclear
weapons. Washington is bothered for other reasons, some are
important and some are more important. The North Korean test made
the U.S. lose credibility on the nuclear issue, both the Iranian
issue the "Israeli" issue. It is becoming difficult for the U.S. to
use the Iranian issue for political purposes. Israel's issue shows
the American double standard policies... The real concern, however,
was clear when the U.S. administration declared that any attack on
Japan will be considered an attack on the U.S. What the U.S. fears
most is the emergence of a nuclear Japan, not because Japan might
take revenge. That is not likely. But rather because a nuclear
Japan will make Japan strong enough to confront the U.S. policies.
That will make Japan's economic and foreign policies based on
Japan's interest, and not necessarily in agreement with the
interests of the U.S."



4. Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000) stated
in the following editorial on 10/11:

"Korea's experiment surprised the world. Condemnations rolled from
every side and, of course, considering that this action constitutes
a threat to international peace and security, the United States
moved quickly to impose sanctions on Pyongyang through the UN
Security Council. All of this is understandable and it is
legitimate to have concerns but it should also be expected, if not
from Korea, than from some other country. The nuclear problem, in a
historical context, stems from beyond Korea, and even Iran. That is
because the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is
distorted with selectivity and double-standard policies and hence
caused violations... Russia has 15,700 nuclear warheads, Israel
alone has 200 bombs. The world needs to get out of this nuclear
madness rather than coexist with it."


5. Under the headline "The Chosen list of the UAE people", a UAE

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columnist, Dr. Abdul Khaleq Abdulla, wrote a 10/10 op-ed in
Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000):

"When 6,689 UAE citizens will go to the polls this December, more
than 300,000 UAE citizens will be merely observers and spectators
who will watch silently in pain. The UAE community has been
inadvertently divided into a tiny lucky minority (2%) and an
absolute majority (98%) that is deprived from exercising its
electoral right. Until yesterday, everyone was equal in not
exercising his electoral rights, but now, political equality has
dropped and new layers have emerged: UAE's chosen people against
UAE's non-chosen people. This is why, the joy that came from the
announcement of the electoral body list and the setting of a date
for elections to choose half the members of the National Council is
incomplete and raises thorny question as to why 2% will exercise
their electoral rights while 98% of the sons and daughters of the
United Arab Emirates will not? What distinguishes members of the
electoral list? Are they more prepared and mature in exercising
their electoral rights? Do they care more for their homeland than
other UAE citizens do? Are they more faithful to their leadership?
Either everyone exercises this right or no one practices it. The
right of elections is the right of all men and women, whether
educated or not, whether rich or poor, or whether official or
businessman. There isn't any convincing justification for excluding
anyone from exercising his electoral right".


6. Under the headline "Iraq between Baker's committee and Mecca's
conciliation", Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation
85,000) wrote in a 10/10 editorial:

"Washington endeavors to maintain its dignity and guarantee the
protection of its vital military, oil and strategic interests in the
region first and foremost. This is regardless of any words of
freedom and democracy and while adopting the formula that will meet
its priorities. The unity of Iraq's territory and its people is the
responsibility of the Iraqis. No one can help get this done except
Iraqis, if and only if they become firm in this regard. Their
neighboring countries should also assist them because the knife,
once it penetrates Iraq's body, will have no mercy on anyone coming
its way."

QUINN