VZCZCXRO1904
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #1564/01 2621207
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191207Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9731
RHMFIUU/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1221
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001564 
 
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 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL-U.S., SYRIA AND IRAN 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  An editorial in "Al-Khaleej" compares U.S. and Israeli 
claims about Syrian nuclear weapons/technology to statements about 
Iraqi WMD, and wonders whether the U.S. is lying, "again".  A 
columnist in "Al-Bayan" views the U.S. and Israel as collaborating 
to weave around Syria the same pattern of lies woven around Iraqi 
WMD. The U.S. seeks to fool the American public into believing that 
withdrawal from Iraq would harm American interests, and to 
intimidate Syria and force it to abide by American conditions.  An 
editorial in "Al-Bayan" believes that Israel's claims about Syria's 
nuclear capabilities and American support for them indicate that the 
U.S. and Israel are developing plans to attack Syria. A UAE writer 
in "Al-Ittihad" opines that the U.S. military maneuvers in the Gulf 
are not just for show, but are preparations for war.  An op-ed in 
"Al-Ittihad" stresses that Israel is not concerned about the Syrian 
regime per se, but about Iranian influence.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Under the headline "From war to war", the editorial in 
Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 09/18 
read: 
 
"Is this a new lie about an alleged "nuclear" Syria and its weapons 
of mass destruction an American Zionist fabrication?  Does this 
indicate that a new war will be launched against Syria despite the 
fact that [similar] allegations against Iraq were not proven?" 
 
¶3.  Under the headline "Israeli provocations to Iran", Dr. Abdul 
Wahab Badr Khan, wrote 09/18 in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official 
daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"Israel is not worried about Syria or its regime.  Rather, it is 
worried about Iranian capabilities in Syria and, moreover, that 
Syria might help Iran in any war imposed on it [Iran].  Last year's 
war on Lebanon demonstrated the danger of the Israeli air force; 
Syria therefore must prepare itself to face it as Hezbollah did.  As 
long as the United States continues to address Damascus with demands 
and conditions, without clarifying any price for the concessions, 
the only option for Syria is to stick to Iran and assume the obvious 
consequences" 
 
¶4.  Under the headline "A New Campaign of Lies", a columnist, Magdi 
Shendi, wrote a 09/18 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 
(circulation 85,000): 
 
"The new American campaign of lies is not connected this time with 
the Israeli violation of Syrian airspace.  [It is about] weaving a 
joint American-Israeli series of lies - in the same pattern 
fabricated about Iraq's possession of nuclear, chemical and 
biological weapons -- to give the naove American public the 
impression that withdrawal from Iraq would cause great harm to 
American interests; to make Damascus believe that all its movements 
are being monitored by the U.S. and Israeli intelligence; and to 
make Damascus understand that Syrian attempts to obtain new weapons 
will be in vain, and that the only way out for Syria is to sit at a 
table to find solutions that would suit American conditions." 
 
"As the Americans and Israelis believed that antagonism between 
Fatah and Hamas was an opportunity that should not be missed, do 
they now believe that the lukewarm relations between Cairo and 
Damascus and the exchange of words between Damascus and Riyadh is an 
opportunity for Israel to get what it wants from Syria?" 
 
¶5.  The 09/18 editorial entitled "A suspicious amplification of 
Syrian nuclear power" in "Al-Bayan," read: 
 
"The campaign against alleged Syrian nuclear power reminds us of the 
Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction that America and Israel promoted 
to justify actions ranging from imposing sanctions to taking 
military actions..." 
"The Israeli escalation has been going on against Syria for the past 
weeks, starting first with Israeli maneuvers in the Golan Heights, 
then [moving to] Syrian threats, after which Israel calmed its tone, 
denying intentions of war against Damascus on the basis that there 
was no reason to do so.  Then, suddenly, Israel wages its raids and 
is now reiterating the same series of justifications.  Apparently, 
something is cooking; everybody should be cautious." 
 
¶6.  Under the headline "Gulf countries and the imminent American 
war", UAE writer, Mohammed Al-Hammadi, wrote 09/19 in "Al-Ittihad": 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00001564  002 OF 002 
 
 
"No one can tell for sure whether war between America and Iran is 
imminent, or whether a deal may occur.  That said, military 
maneuvers in the Gulf are certainly not just for show; they are a 
preparation for war." 
QUINN