MEDIA REACTION: US PRESSURE/DUBAI PORTS

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000862

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 AE KPAO TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: US PRESSURE/DUBAI PORTS



1. SUMMARY: AN EDITORIAL IN "AL-KHALEEJ" URGED ARAB COUNTRIES TO
STAND THIER GROUND DURING THE COMING ARAB SUMMIT TO FOIL ANY
AMERICAN PRESSURE AIMED AT STOPPING ARAB SUPPORT FOR HAMAS. AN
OP-ED IN "AL-KHALEEJ" CONTRASTS OPPOSITION TO THE DUBAI PORTS
DEAL WITH U.S. SUPPORT FOR FREE TRADE. AN END SUMMARY.


2. Under the headline "Handling American pressures", Sharjah-
based Pan-Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 3/6
wrote:

"It is no secret that America is facing many setbacks and
disappointments... The situation now in Iraqi and Palestinian
and have impacted American policy which in turn makes Washington
increase its pressure on Arab countries. Washington seeks to use
the upcoming Arab summit as a forum to present its demands, or in
other words, to continue its failed policies... The goal of U.S.
Secretary Condoleezza Rice's recent visit to the region and her

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demands, represent a tough example of how the Bush Administration
deals with countries of the region... It is up to the Arab
summit to turn its resolutions into actions and not merely
communiqus that will end up in the drawers, as has always been
the previous case. The Palestinian issue is the responsibility
of all Arabs."



3. The Dean of the Department of Political Science at the UAE
University, Dr. Ali Al-Ghafli wrote in Sharjah-based Pan-Arab
daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 3/7:


"Senator Hilary Clinton is leading a fierce campaign in the U.S.
Congress to foil the P&O deal. Hilary is not alone among the
opponents of the deal and finds herself in direct confrontation
with her spouse Bill Clinton who strongly supports the deal...
American opposition of direct Arab investment into U.S. markets
while at the same time American investments are penetrating the
entire world, makes American preaching on globalization a deceit
and delusion. American endeavors to promote free trade values
but later refuse reciprocal treatment, adhering to security
concerns and fear of foreign intervention in their national
security. At the same time, America ignores the similar concerns
when they come from other nations... However, they hasten to
accuse Arab nations of backing terrorisms and establishing
diplomatic relations with the Taliban, a very unfair and baseless
accusation. The UAE must be well aware of the dimensions of the
American allegations and accusations and come up with the proper
mechanism to contain them before they distort the image of the
UAE and its national interests."


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