MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-IRAN TALKS/U.S. SANCTIONS ON SUDAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000894 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 ERELI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-IRAN TALKS/U.S. SANCTIONS ON SUDAN ¶1. SUMMARY: The unsigned front-page editorial in "Al-Khaleej" wonders what role the Arabs are playing in the Iranian-U.S. talks. In response to Bush imposing sanctions on Sudan, the editorial in "Al-Khaleej" describes Bush's policies as anti-Arab, focused only on showering them with sanctions and punishment. A columnist in "Al-Bayan" ridicules Arab politicians who continue to pin their hope on the U.S. playing a fair role in solving the problems of the Middle East. End Summary. ¶2. Unsigned front-page editorial under the headline "Dialogue on Iraq in the absence of Arabs", in Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 05/30 read: "The American-Iranian negotiations focus on Iraq in the absence of the Arabs; including the Gulf Cooperation Council. Obviously, these talks might take a long time because the Iranians, like the Americans, are in trouble and neither of them can declare their innocence from the historic and immoral mistakes made in Iraq... As much as they are looking for adjustments to their cross-cutting trauma, these negotiators are also determined to continue their lust for hegemony. Yes, Iraq is becoming a football hit and thrown by non-Arab legs in a game. It is a new game in a bloody festival that harvests the meat and blood of Iraqi Arabs while the Arabs are largely absent from what is happening... Must we beg for at least one unified position among the Arabs... or has the Arab nation turned into a mass of deaf and dead flesh?!" ¶3. The editorial under the headline "Rolling sanctions", in Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 05/30 read: "The penalties are again rolling down in the direction of Sudan. As usual, it seems that President George W. Bush has no job except to punish the Arabs wherever. Even when he is approaching the last days of his presidency, he continues to commit his full time to retribution against Arabs and passing resolutions against them. He does this in order to besiege Arabs, destroy their abilities and sow discord in their homes... These new sanctions carry disadvantages and reflect negative effects on Sudan and its people. But the worst part is that Bush says he imposes these sanctions in his defense of human rights and the conscience of the world, while at the same time, the United States practices war crimes against humanity in Iraq and Palestine... Washington will continue to be "the mother of sanctions" with no credibility, regardless of its desire to adopt the alleged human rights, so as long as it sustains Zionist terrorism. Those who cover war crimes in occupied Palestine and in Iraq should not be entitled to criticize war crimes occurring here or there." ¶4. Under the headline "Is the strike imminent?", a columnist, Abdul-Wahab Bader Khan, wrote 05/29 in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): "Cheney's talks during his recent visit to the region imply that Washington is not in favor of giving more time to diplomacy in light of Iran's success in Uranium enrichment... Many military experts believe that the nature of a possible American strike against Iran does not allow the U.S. room for preparations similar to those witnessed by the Security Council prior to the invasion of Iraq. All Washington can do is to prepare its allies and friends, as well as other major players such as Russia and China, that the move is imminent." ¶5. Under the headline "The Race", a columnist, Ahmed Omarabi, wrote a 05/29 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000): "Candidates for the U.S. presidency from both the Republican and Democratic parties are currently engaged in verbal games seeking to prove their utmost loyalty to Israel and the American Jewish movement in general. As for the practical reflection of the American commitment towards the Jewish state, we do not need to wait until the results for the forthcoming presidential elections are ABU DHABI 00000894 002 OF 002 announced. We know for a fact that the United States does not mind losing its national interests and national economy for the Jewish people. The Federal budget is suffering from a mythical deficit because of the expenditures on wars and security around the world. The most important question that needs to be answered is: On what basis or criteria do Arab leaders consider the United States a neutral and honest mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict?" ¶6. The editorial under the headline "Where is the international interest?", in Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 05/29 read: "It is understood that the U.S. Administration does not listen nor see the daily acts of terror carried out by Israel against the Palestinian people. Unlike other administrations, one cannot differentiate between the present administration and what Israel does. However, where are the Europeans? Where is the UN Secretary-General and his organizations? And above all, where are SIPDIS the Arab nations?" 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