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DE RUEHAD #0039/01 0100925
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O 100925Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0270
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 1242
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000039 
 
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: PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO THE 
MIDDLE EAST 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: 
 
A columnist in Al-Bayan believes that Israel will continue to 
influence American presidents toward igniting international wars 
after President Bush leaves. 
 
An editorial in Gulf News considers President Bush's visit as an 
attempt to salvage his administration's reputation in the Middle 
East. 
 
The editor-at-large for Gulf News doubts that President Bush will 
fulfill his wish to be recorded in history as the U.S. leader who 
resolved the Palestine-Israel issue, unless he takes a much firmer 
line with Israel than any previous American president has ever dared 
to do. 
 
A columnist in Al-Khaleej calls on Arabs not to pin their hopes on 
Bush's visit to the Middle East.  He suggests that President Bush is 
concerned with peace in the region only to the extent that it will 
contribute to saving the reputation of the Republican party during 
the forthcoming presidential elections. 
 
A columnist in Al-Khaleej opines that Bush's visit will be consonant 
with an Israeli plan, and therefore that it cannot result in peace 
nor end Israeli aggression. 
 
The editorial in Al-Bayan states that since President Bush 
unconditionally adopts Israel's policies, there is no value to his 
visit.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2. Under the headline "American Militarization," a columnist, Ahmed 
Omarabi, wrote in 01/10/08 "Al-Bayan": 
 
"At the end of this year, Bush will leave after having fulfilled his 
'duty.' Still, the Jewish Zionist movement and the mass makers of 
weapons (such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, General Dynamics and 
others) will continue to influence Bush's successor towards igniting 
international wars.  Thus military aggression and not diplomatic, 
peaceful reconciliation will set the direction of America's foreign 
policy, regardless of the sequence of its presidents." 
 
 
¶3. Under the headline "Bush is Trying to Leave a Mark for His 
Legacy," the 01/10 editorial in Dubai-based English Daily Gulf News 
(circulation 100,000): 
 
"After he leaves office, Bush is determined to be remembered by 
history as the U.S. leader who resolved the Palestine-Israel issue. 
But time is running out for him as he only has until the end of the 
year." 
 
"This is why this visit to the Middle East, and anything else he 
does during the remainder of his term is unlikely to succeed unless 
a much firmer line is taken with Israel than any previous American 
president has ever dared to do." 
 
"But as that is likely to be a vote-loser for the Republican Party, 
whoever their candidate is, it is improbable that it will be pursued 
for fear of losing the American Jewish vote." 
 
 
¶4. Under the headline "An Attempt to Salvage Something", the Editor 
at Large, Francis Mathew, wrote 01/10 in Dubai-based English daily 
Gulf News (circulation 100,000): 
 
"For an American president who started with very little foreign 
policy experience, Bush has done more in the Middle East than any of 
his predecessors, unfortunately not for the better." 
 
"This week's trip will be an attempt to salvage something and an 
admission that the Middle East is too important to simply ignore." 
 
 
¶5. Under the headline "Awaiting Bush's Visit", a columnist, Fahmi 
Huwaidi, wrote 01/08 op-ed in "Al-Khaleej":(circulation 90,000): 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00000039  002 OF 002 
 
 
"I pity those who are pinning their hopes on the arrival of 
President Bush to the region tomorrow because current signs show 
that the man is not coming for the region's sake and is not 
concerned about the region." 
 
"Bush gave guarantees to Israel and responded to Sharon's request, 
and then adopted the idea of a Palestinian state that serves the 
interests of Israel... The American President is concerned with the 
cause of peace in the region only to the extent that it contributes 
toward saving the reputation of his Republican party during the 
forthcoming presidential elections.  After all, the Republicans have 
reached their lowest levels.  He is trying to build hopes that he 
will succeed in foreign policy after his domestic policies have 
utterly failed." 
 
 
¶6. Under the headline "About Bush's Tour", a columnist, Jaafar 
Mohamed Ahmed, wrote 01/08 op-ed in "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 
90,000): 
 
"Bush comes to the region while he is fully aware that his 
administration is mired in the quagmires of his foreign wars and in 
major internal economic problems.  It is clear that the visit is 
meant to legitimatize [Bush and the White House], especially after 
[their] failure in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They are hoping that the 
visit will add some success to Annapolis' limited outcome, make the 
Israelis more responsive toward abandoning their settlements, and 
decrease their denial of the relevant international resolutions." 
 
"Prior to Bush's visit, we can already see pools of blood in Iraq, 
and Israel's bloody wave of violence targeting dozens of 
Palestinians and expansion of settlements. Nothing comes out of 
Washington except silence; this shows U.S. is satisfied with and 
accepts their actions.  Bush's visit, if complying with the Israeli 
plan, will never find real peace in light of the continuation of 
aggressive Israeli practices." 
 
 
¶7.  Under the headline "Bush's Visit: No Room for Anonymity", the 
01/08 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 
85,000) read: 
 
"Bush's speech on the eve of his visit to the region legitimated 
Israel's continued settlement building.  Bush did this 
intentionally: he sent this anonymous message to detect whether 
Olmert and Abbas are really considering putting in greater effort 
toward reaching an agreement." 
 
"If Bush wants to adopt Israel's policies unconditionally, then 
there is no value to Bush's visit". 
 
SISON