SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000046

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 SREEBNY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST



1. SUMMARY:

Two days before President Bush's arrival in the UAE, Gulf News
published a front page Open Letter to the President. The pointed,
detailed letter harshly criticized both the President and his
Administration's actions in the Middle East, and expressed the view
that the region has abandoned any expectations that the President
can make any positive difference. The text of the letter, published
in English, is included below in its entirety.

The editorial in "Al-Khaleej" mocked National Security Council
Director Steven Hadley's counsel that the region should not expect
enormous breakthroughs from Bush's visit as patently obvious, as
only the most naove person would believe that the United States
would change its policy of unconditional support for Israel.

The editorial in "Al-Bayan" deems President Bush's visit
unnecessary, if he intends to do the usual: talk about peace but
never translate his words into action. End Summary.



2. Under the headline "Letter to George W. Bush," the banner
editorial in Dubai-based English Daily Gulf News (circulation
100,000) read:

Begin Text

Dear Mr. President,

On the occasion of your first official trip to this vital reign, it
is only appropriate to raise a few points which might also be raised
by the leaders you meet.

Unfortunately, you landed here with prejudice and pre-formed
opinions. By describing Israel, moments after you arrived, as 'the
land of freedom' and 'justice', you have shown total ignorance of
the political situation in the Middle East and the issue you claim
to want to solve in the remaining 12 months of your presidency.
Israel, Mr. President, continues to defy every UN resolution,
exercise unprecedented oppression on the occupied Palestinian people
and persecute its Muslim and Christian population. We realize that
containing Iran, selling more weapons and securing cheap oil
supplies are the main issues on your mind as you tour the region.
But you need to look beyond the neocons rhetoric and speak directly
to the people who have been unjustly thrown out of their land,
victimized for decades by your 'strong ally' Israel. As for other
matters, such as the promise of democracy and human rights, which
you are expected to raise in your official talks in the region, we
really don't take them seriously. Your dreadful record on both
gives you no moral right to lecture others.

Mr. President;

In a famous speech in 2003 you announced an "historic" shift in US
foreign policy. You pledged to support democracy and liberty while
declaring "victory" in Iraq. More than four years later, Iraq is in
chaos. It has virtually disintegrated and "the surge" did little to
stop the killing or ease the sectarian tension. At the same time,
you gave up on your freedom-for-all prophecy. We are all back to the
old ways of doing business - arms and oil. The agenda of your
current tour is evident.

Mr. President;

This is your first official trip to a land you long claimed has a
very special place in your heart. The land of the Prophets.
However, you started out wrong. By maintaining your support of an
Israeli "Jewish State", you are flouting your own ideals upon which
your great country was founded more than two centuries ago. So much
for the promise of democracy. What you advocate in fact is the
creation of states on religious and racial lines, thereby justifying
the atrocious actions of terrorists who hate and seek to eliminate
the followers of other religions: The same terrorists you like to
blame for every ill on earth and every failure of yours.

Mr. President;

It has been reported that you are here to "lecture" us on democracy

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and human rights. But with a record like yours, you will not be
very convincing. The people you are addressing have greater respect
for human rights and dignity.

You also said that your current tour aims to realize the long
neglected peace in the Middle East. Regional peace, Mr President,
will not be achieved by escalating tension and threatening to change
regimes. And most importantly, it will not be achieved by supporting
Israel, which continues to defy international law, occupy Arab
lands, oppress the Palestinians and rebuff peace initiatives.

Mr. President;

We hope you have enjoyed the trip so far. The scenery is great. The
food is exotic. As for the more "serious" things, it is unlikely you
will make any difference".

End Text


3. Under the headline "A Misplaced advice", the 01/11 editorial in
Sharjah-based Arabic Daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) read:

"The advice from the U.S. National Security Adviser Steven Hadley
was unnecessary. No one needed to have it said that one should not
expect any enormous breakthroughs from Bush's visit, particularly
since he defined his visit to the region upon his arrival, in Israe:
The United States will continue to be a close ally and ensure the
security of the Jewish state.

Only a naove person would believe that Bush's visit will produce
anything but preplanned results.

"Bush's mission is clear and has nothing to do with the Palestinian
cause or seeking a solution. In fact, he will try to use this cause
in another way, one that serves the broader American strategy by
seeking to turn the Arab-Israeli conflict into a secondary issue,
get Arab countries join regional alliances that include Israel as a
partner, and establish as grounds Arab normalization with Israel,
'for free' [without reciprocal concessions]. Normalization without
'paying dues' has been Bush Administration's goal for some time; it
has repeatedly declared this.

"Bush's current target is Iran; in his own words, "Iran poses a
threat to the world peace". He seeks to turn the the Arab-Israeli
conflict into an Arab-Iranian conflict, while [ignoring] Israel, a
country heavily loaded with nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and
[with] aggressive, expansionist, racist and lawless policies, [and
implying that these] do not threaten International peace!

"These are briefly the goals of his visit. And we certainly do not
expect any "enormous breakthroughs."



4. Under the headline "Forming Peace is not only words", the
editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 01/11 (circulation
85,000) read:

"If peace, as Bush's said during a press conference with Olmert
upon his arrival in Israel, was his visit's "product", then the
visit was unnecessary. His product has been on the open market for
a long. Coming to the region to simply remarket it neither promotes
it nor stops it from falling. A Palestinian-Israeli settlement based
on the concept of two states requires some other "product".

SISON