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Diana T Fritz  08/26/2006 04:52:19 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

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UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 03024

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    INFO:   ECON POL AMB DCM

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:WROBERTSON
DRAFTED: PAO:AHOSHAN
CLEARED: PAO:THAMDI

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003024 
 
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 MCKUNE 
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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The Arabic-language media remained critical of the 
U.S. position on the current conflict in Lebanon.  In "Al-Khaleej," 
three editorials criticize Rice's visit and question U.S. motives in 
the ongoing crisis.  An article in "Akhbar Al-Arab" describes Rice's 
visit to Lebanon as a consolation prize for Lebanon.  Finally, an 
editorial in "Al-Bayan" describes Rice's visit to Lebanon as 
useless, as she did not focus on the need for an immediate cease 
fire.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Under the headline "Hello Lebanon", the Sharjah-based 
Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) published 
the following on 07/25 in an unsigned front-page editorial: 
 
"... What did Condoleezza Rice bring to the Lebanese government, 
torn and heart-broke as they are by this Nazi-style aggression? 
What did she bring to the wounded and to those Lebanese politicians 
shocked by the insanity of this war, at a time when they cannot even 
count the number of their martyrs, while a third of them are 
displaced, their towns destroyed and their native soil desecrated? 
Did she offer them boats to evacuate to Cyprus while the Israeli 
attacks continue, because, in her opinion, they require more time? 
Perhaps there is still a wall in a house somewhere that has not yet 
been destroyed, a bridge that is not demolished or a convoy carrying 
displaced people that has not yet been bombed." 
 
¶3. Under the headline "End the law of the jungle", the Sharjah-based 
Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" published the following in a 
07/25 editorial: 
 
"This is the beginning of efforts to create more balance, end 
double-standard policies and stop the practice of supporting the 
killer and condemning the victim in regards to aggression against 
Arabs...  If one wanted to implement Resolution 1559 through the 
massacres committed by Israel over the past 14 days, one should 
first implement all of the prior resolutions concerning Palestine, 
Lebanon and all the other countries in this region.  Once this 
happens, someone might then believe that there is genuine concern 
about international legitimacy and international resolutions...  Why 
are these forces not sent to Palestine, to Gaza and the West Bank, 
to protect the Palestinian people from murder and destruction? 
...End the law of the jungle first.  Then the world can live in 
peace and harmony." 
 
¶4. Under the headline "Rice, rewards and the new Middle East", 
Lebanese columnist Saad Mehio wrote the following in a 07/25 
editorial in the Sharjah-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej": 
 
"Rice's statement was no coincidence.  Rather it was a product of 
the diplomacy of war waged by Israel in Lebanon and Palestine.  This 
war has two goals: to regain the dignity of the Israeli army and to 
change the distribution of power, and perhaps the maps, of the 
Levant...  To put it plainly, the U.S. has exported its crisis in 
Iraq to the other countries in the region.  Instead of being 
blackmailed by Iran and Syrian because of Iraq, the U.S. has 
launched a counter-attack on Lebanon and Palestine.  Indeed, the 
U.S. does not just blackmail these countries, but threatens them 
too.  Will these threats make it easy for Washington to 'cool things 
down' in Iraq, so they can regain control? " 
 
¶5. Under the headline "Condolences to Lebanon, Support to Israel", 
the Abu Dhabi-based Arabic-language daily "Akhbar Al-Arab" 
(circulation 20,000) published the following in a 07/25 unsigned 
editorial: 
 
"Condoleezza Rice echoed George Bush in her statements upon arriving 
in the region: 'The Israeli military operations must continue to 
encourage Lebanon to put pressure on Hezbollah to return the 
abducted Israeli soldiers.'  But it seems now that the objective of 
this Israeli aggression is far more than just returning the 
soldiers.  Condi has spoken of the birth of a new Middle East, and 
in her eyes, Lebanon is nothing more than one of the labor pains of 
that birth." 
 
¶6. Under the headline "They hear no voice but Israel's", the 
Dubai-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000) 
published the following in a 07/25 editorial: 
 
"The Austrian newspaper 'Die Presse' has recently confirmed the 
world's suspicions that in seeking peace and security, the United 
States only listens to Israel.  U.S. officials never give 
independent statements on Israeli actions.  And as the publication 
noted, the new Middle East which Secretary Rice has talked about 
will actually be a monster more difficult to control.  It added that 
in the past, U.S. Secretaries of State have tried to resolve Middle 
East crises by building dialogue with both friendly and hostile 
countries.  But today the U.S. and Israel do not hesitate to 
threaten those countries involved in the conflict between Lebanon 
and Syria, and refuse to negotiate with them...  The United States 
is supporting Israel not just by refusing the cease-fire, but also 
by participating in the aggression against Lebanon.  This is what 
the New York Times disclosed in reporting the U.S.'s expedited 
delivery of smart bombs to Israel.  Such bombs can destroy bunkers, 
and their first target is no doubt Hassan Nasrallah.  In sum, we are 
not optimistic about Condi's trip to the region. It is not useful, 
and cannot possibly produce a cease-fire." 
 
SISON