Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI1564
2007-09-19 12:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL-U.S., SYRIA AND IRAN

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9731
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001564 

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL-U.S., SYRIA AND IRAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001564

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL-U.S., SYRIA AND IRAN


1. SUMMARY: An editorial in "Al-Khaleej" compares U.S. and Israeli
claims about Syrian nuclear weapons/technology to statements about
Iraqi WMD, and wonders whether the U.S. is lying, "again". A
columnist in "Al-Bayan" views the U.S. and Israel as collaborating
to weave around Syria the same pattern of lies woven around Iraqi
WMD. The U.S. seeks to fool the American public into believing that
withdrawal from Iraq would harm American interests, and to
intimidate Syria and force it to abide by American conditions. An
editorial in "Al-Bayan" believes that Israel's claims about Syria's
nuclear capabilities and American support for them indicate that the
U.S. and Israel are developing plans to attack Syria. A UAE writer
in "Al-Ittihad" opines that the U.S. military maneuvers in the Gulf
are not just for show, but are preparations for war. An op-ed in
"Al-Ittihad" stresses that Israel is not concerned about the Syrian
regime per se, but about Iranian influence. End Summary.


2. Under the headline "From war to war", the editorial in
Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 09/18
read:

"Is this a new lie about an alleged "nuclear" Syria and its weapons
of mass destruction an American Zionist fabrication? Does this
indicate that a new war will be launched against Syria despite the
fact that [similar] allegations against Iraq were not proven?"


3. Under the headline "Israeli provocations to Iran", Dr. Abdul
Wahab Badr Khan, wrote 09/18 in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official
daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000):

"Israel is not worried about Syria or its regime. Rather, it is
worried about Iranian capabilities in Syria and, moreover, that
Syria might help Iran in any war imposed on it [Iran]. Last year's
war on Lebanon demonstrated the danger of the Israeli air force;
Syria therefore must prepare itself to face it as Hezbollah did. As
long as the United States continues to address Damascus with demands
and conditions, without clarifying any price for the concessions,
the only option for Syria is to stick to Iran and assume the obvious
consequences"


4. Under the headline "A New Campaign of Lies", a columnist, Magdi
Shendi, wrote a 09/18 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan"
(circulation 85,000):

"The new American campaign of lies is not connected this time with
the Israeli violation of Syrian airspace. [It is about] weaving a
joint American-Israeli series of lies - in the same pattern
fabricated about Iraq's possession of nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons -- to give the naove American public the
impression that withdrawal from Iraq would cause great harm to
American interests; to make Damascus believe that all its movements
are being monitored by the U.S. and Israeli intelligence; and to
make Damascus understand that Syrian attempts to obtain new weapons
will be in vain, and that the only way out for Syria is to sit at a
table to find solutions that would suit American conditions."

"As the Americans and Israelis believed that antagonism between
Fatah and Hamas was an opportunity that should not be missed, do
they now believe that the lukewarm relations between Cairo and
Damascus and the exchange of words between Damascus and Riyadh is an
opportunity for Israel to get what it wants from Syria?"


5. The 09/18 editorial entitled "A suspicious amplification of
Syrian nuclear power" in "Al-Bayan," read:

"The campaign against alleged Syrian nuclear power reminds us of the
Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction that America and Israel promoted
to justify actions ranging from imposing sanctions to taking
military actions..."
"The Israeli escalation has been going on against Syria for the past
weeks, starting first with Israeli maneuvers in the Golan Heights,
then [moving to] Syrian threats, after which Israel calmed its tone,
denying intentions of war against Damascus on the basis that there
was no reason to do so. Then, suddenly, Israel wages its raids and
is now reiterating the same series of justifications. Apparently,
something is cooking; everybody should be cautious."


6. Under the headline "Gulf countries and the imminent American
war", UAE writer, Mohammed Al-Hammadi, wrote 09/19 in "Al-Ittihad":


ABU DHABI 00001564 002 OF 002


"No one can tell for sure whether war between America and Iran is
imminent, or whether a deal may occur. That said, military
maneuvers in the Gulf are certainly not just for show; they are a
preparation for war."
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