Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI4318
2006-11-20 13:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: US VETO/ABIZAID'S COMMENTS

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
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O 201324Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7712
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
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RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004318 

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: US VETO/ABIZAID'S COMMENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004318

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: US VETO/ABIZAID'S COMMENTS


1. Summary: A UAE columnist in "Al-Ittihad" wonders how credible
the U.S. is as it stands alone using its veto to defend Israeli
crimes. "Al-Khaleej" comments on Abizaid's warnings on a third
world war by saying that "stupid" U.S. polices are the biggest
threat to world peace and security. "Al-Khaleej" is also critical
of the U.S. use of its veto against Arab condemnation of Israel.
End Summary.


2. A UAE columnist, Rashid Saleh Al-Oraimi, wrote on 11/20 in Abu
Dhabi-based semi-official Arabic-language daily "Al-Ittihad"
(circulation 65,000):

"...The United Nations General Assembly voted two days ago with an
overwhelming majority in favor of a resolution condemning Israel and
their vile crime in Beit Hanoun. ...The first notable feature in
this UN resolution is the size of its unanimity: All of the
countries of the world from all the continents voted in favor of it
while the US, Israel, Australia, and four forgotten islands,
differed from the way and voted against the resolution. Although
General Assembly resolutions are set for moral purposes rather than
practical, the issuance of such resolution now, and with such
unanimity, sends many political messages. Let us begin by
respectively reviewing the parties concerned. This resolution,
first and foremost, delivers an explicit message to Israel, saying
that that the entire world has become aware of the nature of its
terrorist practices as the resolution condemns in clear terms
Israel's violations against the simplest requirements of human
rights treatment, as dictated by international laws and the values
of civilization and humanity. The international resolution also
sends the message to the American administration that its
unconditional support of Israel costs an exorbitant price. In
addition to the erosion of US political and ethical credibility,
America's reckless trends encourage extremist violence in the
Palestinian territories and pour more oil on the fire in the already
volatile Middle East. Like a vicious circle, America ignites fire
with one hand while with its other hand alleges efforts to put these
fires out. How credible is the US as it stands isolated from the

world in a ditch with only Israel and four small islands forgotten
in the jungles of the Pacific...?"


3. Under the headline "About World War III", Sharjah-based pan-Arab
daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) wrote in an 11/20
editorial:

"When General Abizaid warned of a third world war if the ideology of
Muslim extremists is not confronted, he actually was continuing the
U.S. administration's campaign again what it calls "Islamic terror"
or "Islamic fascism." All of this is done to justify military
interventions and waging wars to force states and peoples to accept
U.S. dominance and to achieve the neo-conservatives' imperial
ambitions. They seem to have not abandoned these ambitions despite
the miserable failure of their policies all over the world and in
the mid-term congressional elections. There is no force in the
whole world that is a threat to world peace and could ignite a third
world war except the U.S. with its sponsored country, Israel. Their
aggressive policies and strategies, which are based on biblical
religious promises, are a burden on humanity and they could lead to
holy wars and a clash of civilizations. Concerns about U.S.
policies are not limited to the people of the world only, but
include an increasing number of former U.S. officials. James Baker
sees the neo-conservatives' policies as a threat to U.S. values.
Former Secretary Albright describes the current U.S. policy as
disastrous and so did the former U.S. national security advisor
Zbigniew Brzezinski. Many American writers have also warned of the
dangers of the U.S. policies. It is the stupid U.S. policy which is
preparing the way for a third world war because this policy is the
biggest threat to world peace and security."



4. Under the headline "U.S. Veto", Sharjah-based pan-Arab daily
"Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) wrote a 11/19 editorial:

"The United States acts as if it was alone in this world. It wages
its wars, disasters and dissensions, relying on its surplus of power
and on diabolical plans laid out by the neo-conservatives to control
the world without paying any regard to the United Nations, the
international legitimacy, or international law. The U.S. does this
in order to make their dream of imperial domination a reality

ABU DHABI 00004318 002 OF 002


throughout launching wars under various names which are mostly aimed
at our Arab and Islamic countries. The "American" veto in the
Security Council and the General Assembly's vote against the Arab
draft resolution is a new testament to those who do not want to
understand that the United States, like Israel, does not want peace
in the region nor does it seek to a just and honorable settlement of
the Arab and Palestinians issues. All the allegations of the Bush
administration's promises to form a Palestinian state are empty talk
geared at circumventing every Arab or international effort to reach
an acceptable settlement. For once, the Arabs should think about
American attitudes and realize how the US administration exploits or
fools them when all the rest of world has recognized the reality of
this administration and started to reject it."

SISON














MR 20 Nov 2006 UNCLASSIFIED