Media Reaction: Victory of Hamas;Dhaka

UNCLAS DHAKA 000641 SIPDIS FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, RPALLADINO),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER),J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS) USARPAC FOR APOP-IM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Victory of Hamas;Dhaka Summary: Centrist English "NewS Today" says that the western reaction to the victory of Hamas is a mockery of its love for democracy. -------------- Victory of HAMAS -------------- "The West's real intentions in ME" Centrist English language newspaper "News Today" editorially comments (2/8): Nobody should have any illusions about the West's real intentions in the Middle-East after the way Washington and its allies have reacted to the results of recently held Palestinian elections. The picture is clear now---the West want a totally servile ME with Israel as the paramount power in the region. Why? Because that's the only way the industrialized West can control the world's largest known oil reserves. And the whole world knows that without abundant supply of oil everything would come to a grinding halt in those countries. In the recently held elections in Palestine, Hamas won a landslide victory over Fatah. Nobody, not even Israel, has complained of any irregularities in those elections. So, Hamas has been democratically elected by the Palestinian people. What's wrong with that? Many western leaders and political analysts have cited Hamas' militant past and its vow to destroy the state of Israel as the reason. But is that good enough to denounce Hamas' victory? Not only that Washington and Tel Aviv have clearly said that they wouldn't be talking to or dealing with the new leadership they would also cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. This stand makes a mockery of Washington's so-called love for democracy. What this means is that democracy is OK as long it serves our interests, otherwise not! Palestinians have overwhelmingly voted for Hamas. A far more reasonable and logical stand would have been welcoming the Hamas and hoping it would abandon its old policies. Hamas was never in power. But now that they are in power they would surely be more responsible and circumspect. The verdict of the people deserves to be honored if the love for democracy is genuine. President Bush's announcement that the US would defend Israel is not only uncalled for it is highly provocative also. It is a threat... We think that if the West is genuinely interested in peace it should respect the verdict of the Palestinians. If Hamas continues with its old policies the West can always cross the bridge when they come to it. But why this hate campaign now? Is the West really interested in peace? Only future can answer this question. Chammas