MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA/UAE ELECTIONS/IRAQ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003947 SIPDIS 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 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC 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 ABU DHABI 00003947 002 OF 002 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