VZCZCXRO8486
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0946/01 1581252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071252Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9084
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1192
RHMFIUU/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000946 
 
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: IRAQ/G-8 SUMMIT & PUTIN'S STATEMENTS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: "Al-Khaleej" is skeptical of statements made by the 
U.S. ambassador in Iraq who said that chaos will deteriorate further 
in Iraq if U.S. forces leave.  A columnist in "Al-Khaleej" and 
"Al-Bayan" describes the tension between the U.S. and Russia on the 
eve of G-8 summit as a return to the Cold War.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2. Under the headline "The habit of lying", the editorial in 
Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 06/07 
read: 
 
"The Bush's Administration has not deserted the habit of lying ever 
since it took power.  This has been demonstrated in each substantial 
issue, whether external or internal.  Yesterday Russia scoffed at 
the administration's allegations that the missile shield, which will 
be installed in the Czech Republic and Poland, is to protect the 
United States from North Korean and Iranian missiles...  The 
statements made by the U.S. ambassador in Iraq in which he stressed 
that chaos will deteriorate in Iraq if U.S. forces leave are either 
extremely foolish or, are in fact, mocking the minds of people.  He 
speaks as if what is happening in Iraq now is not chaos.  Do the 
dozens of people who spend their nights at random places in the 
streets of cities co notate stability?  Or do the thousands of 
Iraqis fleeing the country mark prosperity?  Is the sectarian and 
ethnic division that is growing day after day an indication of the 
rule of law and order?  The American Administration knows that its 
scheme is collapsing in Iraq, and that the method of its withdrawal 
will have a major impact on their interests in the region and the 
world.  It is thus living in the illusion that things in Iraq will 
turn to their advantage in order to avoid the bitterness of its 
defeat, and the erosion of its interests abroad.  All of this 
happend because the Bush Administration did not take into account 
the interests, stability and prosperity of the Iraqi people.  It 
also did not take into consideration the interests of neighboring 
countries.  This is because it actually believes in the 
"constructive chaos" that allows this administration to manage 
conflicts in order to protect its interests and maximize them." 
 
 
¶3. Under the headline "Russia and the cold war", columnist, Hussam 
Kanafani, wrote in a 06/07 in "Al-Khaleej": 
 
"... It may be too early to talk about a new and clear "cold war". 
However, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who 
is the heir to the Soviet Union, undoubtedly yearns to the former 
glory of his country.  Today he searches for ways to achieve his 
objectives, especially now that the extension of the United States 
and NATO is approaching the Russian border...  Russia now is 
searching for its lost sovereignty.  It seems that Putin found in 
the international circumstances an opportunity to re-endorse his 
country's sovereignty to the maximum.  The impasse and the failure 
that the American policies are witnessing in the world, especially 
after the war on Iraq, and the human attrition there, in addition to 
the unprecedented division in the United States, gives Putin a 
chance to show that his country can be a strong player in 
international politics.  Russia today is on the way back, at least 
politically, to the Soviet Union.  Soon and it will not be long, the 
global balance will be restored." 
 
 
¶4.  Under the headline "Bush-Putin and the crisis during the 
summit", the editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 
(circulation 85,000) 06/07 read: 
 
"The tension between Washington and Moscow is unprecedented since 
the Soviet Union's collapse.  This was reflected in the mutual 
bickering between the two capitals on the eve of the G-8 summit, 
with a language that not only reflects the depth of mutual 
suspicion, but also signals the end of what was like a honeymoon 
that prevailed in their relations after the fall of the Berlin wall. 
 It also possibly signals the beginning of a new wall between them. 
The Bush Administration continues to preach to Moscow on democracy 
and human rights; which inturn made Putin react strongly, 
threatening to oce again re-direct the Russian missiles to European 
countries.  It is as if he is trying to remind eeryone of the fact 
that his country continues topossess a strategic military arsenal 
that can no be ignored." 
 
ABU DHABI 00000946  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
 
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