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Diana T Fritz  08/27/2006 04:56:01 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

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UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 05208

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: PAO
    INFO:   ECON POL AMB DCM

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:WWROBERTSON
DRAFTED: PAO:THAMDI
CLEARED: PAO:AHOSHAN

VZCZCADI097
OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RHRMDAB
RHWSMRC
DE RUEHAD #5208 3611151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271151Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2939
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0970
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 005208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; 
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR MCKUNE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRACY AND DOUBLE STANDARDS 
 
¶1.  Summary:  A columnist in "Al-Ittihad" urged Arab governments 
to use Western countries as examples in bringing liberty upon 
themselves.  A columnist in "Al-Bayan" questioned the US pressure 
on religious groups and sanctions on their respective countries 
while at the same time ignoring similar terrorist groups.  "Al 
Bayan" is skeptical about the intentions of U.S. policies 
directed toward Arab and Muslims.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2.   Under the headline "Towards a Democratic Society", a 
columnist, Dr. Ahmed Al-Baghdadi, wrote in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic 
daily "Al-Ittihad," (circulation 65,000)12/27: 
 
"It is clear that American pressure for political reform has 
yielded fruit despite its slow process, especially in terms of 
parliamentary elections.  This slow development is completely 
prudent.  However, it is important to have a democratic society 
as well as a democratic government system..  The GCC countries, 
as an example, still reject many democratic principles, whether 
in the government or society.  They don't have political parties 
because they fear ethnic and tribal divisions will work against 
the interests of the country..  Because of Arab's low spirits, 
American attempts will be in vain.  It is true that you will find 
polling boxes, but they will also be accompanied with poverty, 
fraud and both overt and covert meddling.  A parliament will be 
formed, yet it will also be held captive by ethnic and 
secretarian differences leaving us with nothing but oppressive 
 
SIPDIS 
governments controlling our movements and liberties.." 
 
 
¶3.   Under the headline "A restrained democracy", a columnist, 
Khalid Sayed Ahmed, wrote in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan," 
(circulation 90,000) 12/26: 
 
"Western countries in general and the United States in particular 
impose huge amounts of pressure and place high demands on the 
Arab countries to introduce and enforce democratic reforms and 
expanded political participation..  However we find western 
countries using rigged rules and double standards on issues and 
values related to democracy.  They want to implement these values 
on certain countries, while they dictatorially reject 
implementing them in other countries for reasons that are 
preposterous..  This triggers the following question: Why the 
aggressive and prejudiced standpoint on having "Hamas" 
participate in legitimate elections?  The answer: The United 
States along with European countries seek to eviscerate 
legitimacy from any group with a religious background, and 
stigmatize it with the label of terrorism and violence, putting 
it under pressure to accept their rules of resisting the occupier 
with flowers..  It is very obvious that such policies are meant 
to confine resistance groups of religious orientation whereas 
similar terrorist groups are seemingly ignored.." 
 
 
¶4. Under the headline "Moderation First", Dubai-based Arabic 
daily "Al Bayan," (circulation 90,000) wrote 12/24: 
 
"There seems to be an element inside the decision-making chambers 
of Washington and in some of the Western capitals set on 
targeting Arab and Muslims, making Arab moderates wonder about 
their situation.  In some cases these moderates have been 
depicted to their countrymen as helpless to make any decisions to 
maintain their rights and sovereignty.  This has provoked 
extremists to become more extreme.  How else can we interpret the 
recent American decisions regarding Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia 
and Egypt, all of which indicate an enmity towards moderation.? 
The climax of this war against Arab moderation is clearly 
represented by the latest decisions made by the U.S. Congress 
against Saudi Arabia and Egypt, especially through Washington's 
call to take steps towards pressing Riyadh to change its 
educational curriculum while threatening to terminate its aid in 
light of the criticism recently directed to Egypt.  It seems that 
Congress has not caught up with the latest developments of reform 
in both of these countries..  Washington has no choice but to 
revise its stance so as to not impede the process of reform and 
losing Arabs with moderate tendencies and aiding extremists and 
damaging its future ties with Arabs and Muslims." 
 
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