SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO THE

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SIPDIS

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RRU-NEA
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WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO THE
MIDDLE EAST


1. SUMMARY:

A columnist in Al-Bayan believes that Israel will continue to
influence American presidents toward igniting international wars
after President Bush leaves.

An editorial in Gulf News considers President Bush's visit as an
attempt to salvage his administration's reputation in the Middle
East.

The editor-at-large for Gulf News doubts that President Bush will
fulfill his wish to be recorded in history as the U.S. leader who
resolved the Palestine-Israel issue, unless he takes a much firmer
line with Israel than any previous American president has ever dared
to do.

A columnist in Al-Khaleej calls on Arabs not to pin their hopes on
Bush's visit to the Middle East. He suggests that President Bush is
concerned with peace in the region only to the extent that it will
contribute to saving the reputation of the Republican party during
the forthcoming presidential elections.

A columnist in Al-Khaleej opines that Bush's visit will be consonant
with an Israeli plan, and therefore that it cannot result in peace
nor end Israeli aggression.

The editorial in Al-Bayan states that since President Bush
unconditionally adopts Israel's policies, there is no value to his
visit. End Summary.



2. Under the headline "American Militarization," a columnist, Ahmed
Omarabi, wrote in 01/10/08 "Al-Bayan":

"At the end of this year, Bush will leave after having fulfilled his
'duty.' Still, the Jewish Zionist movement and the mass makers of
weapons (such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, General Dynamics and
others) will continue to influence Bush's successor towards igniting
international wars. Thus military aggression and not diplomatic,
peaceful reconciliation will set the direction of America's foreign
policy, regardless of the sequence of its presidents."



3. Under the headline "Bush is Trying to Leave a Mark for His
Legacy," the 01/10 editorial in Dubai-based English Daily Gulf News
(circulation 100,000):

"After he leaves office, Bush is determined to be remembered by
history as the U.S. leader who resolved the Palestine-Israel issue.
But time is running out for him as he only has until the end of the
year."

"This is why this visit to the Middle East, and anything else he
does during the remainder of his term is unlikely to succeed unless
a much firmer line is taken with Israel than any previous American
president has ever dared to do."

"But as that is likely to be a vote-loser for the Republican Party,
whoever their candidate is, it is improbable that it will be pursued
for fear of losing the American Jewish vote."



4. Under the headline "An Attempt to Salvage Something", the Editor
at Large, Francis Mathew, wrote 01/10 in Dubai-based English daily
Gulf News (circulation 100,000):

"For an American president who started with very little foreign
policy experience, Bush has done more in the Middle East than any of
his predecessors, unfortunately not for the better."

"This week's trip will be an attempt to salvage something and an
admission that the Middle East is too important to simply ignore."



5. Under the headline "Awaiting Bush's Visit", a columnist, Fahmi
Huwaidi, wrote 01/08 op-ed in "Al-Khaleej":(circulation 90,000):


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"I pity those who are pinning their hopes on the arrival of
President Bush to the region tomorrow because current signs show
that the man is not coming for the region's sake and is not
concerned about the region."

"Bush gave guarantees to Israel and responded to Sharon's request,
and then adopted the idea of a Palestinian state that serves the
interests of Israel... The American President is concerned with the
cause of peace in the region only to the extent that it contributes
toward saving the reputation of his Republican party during the
forthcoming presidential elections. After all, the Republicans have
reached their lowest levels. He is trying to build hopes that he
will succeed in foreign policy after his domestic policies have
utterly failed."



6. Under the headline "About Bush's Tour", a columnist, Jaafar
Mohamed Ahmed, wrote 01/08 op-ed in "Al-Khaleej" (circulation
90,000):

"Bush comes to the region while he is fully aware that his
administration is mired in the quagmires of his foreign wars and in
major internal economic problems. It is clear that the visit is
meant to legitimatize [Bush and the White House], especially after
[their] failure in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are hoping that the
visit will add some success to Annapolis' limited outcome, make the
Israelis more responsive toward abandoning their settlements, and
decrease their denial of the relevant international resolutions."

"Prior to Bush's visit, we can already see pools of blood in Iraq,
and Israel's bloody wave of violence targeting dozens of
Palestinians and expansion of settlements. Nothing comes out of
Washington except silence; this shows U.S. is satisfied with and
accepts their actions. Bush's visit, if complying with the Israeli
plan, will never find real peace in light of the continuation of
aggressive Israeli practices."



7. Under the headline "Bush's Visit: No Room for Anonymity", the
01/08 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation
85,000) read:

"Bush's speech on the eve of his visit to the region legitimated
Israel's continued settlement building. Bush did this
intentionally: he sent this anonymous message to detect whether
Olmert and Abbas are really considering putting in greater effort
toward reaching an agreement."

"If Bush wants to adopt Israel's policies unconditionally, then
there is no value to Bush's visit".

SISON