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OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0046/01 0130421
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130421Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0281
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 1244
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000046 
 
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: BUSH'S VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: 
 
Two days before President Bush's arrival in the UAE, Gulf News 
published a front page Open Letter to the President.  The pointed, 
detailed letter harshly criticized both the President and his 
Administration's actions in the Middle East, and expressed the view 
that the region has abandoned any expectations that the President 
can make any positive difference.  The text of the letter, published 
in English, is included below in its entirety. 
 
The editorial in "Al-Khaleej" mocked National Security Council 
Director Steven Hadley's counsel that the region should not expect 
enormous breakthroughs from Bush's visit as patently obvious, as 
only the most naove person would believe that the United States 
would change its policy of unconditional support for Israel. 
 
The editorial in "Al-Bayan" deems President Bush's visit 
unnecessary, if he intends to do the usual: talk about peace but 
never translate his words into action.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2. Under the headline "Letter to George W. Bush," the banner 
editorial in Dubai-based English Daily Gulf News (circulation 
100,000) read: 
 
Begin Text 
 
Dear Mr. President, 
 
On the occasion of your first official trip to this vital reign, it 
is only appropriate to raise a few points which might also be raised 
by the leaders you meet. 
 
Unfortunately, you landed here with prejudice and pre-formed 
opinions. By describing Israel, moments after you arrived, as 'the 
land of freedom' and 'justice', you have shown total ignorance of 
the political situation in the Middle East and the issue you claim 
to want to solve in the remaining 12 months of your presidency. 
Israel, Mr. President, continues to defy every UN resolution, 
exercise unprecedented oppression on the occupied Palestinian people 
and persecute its Muslim and Christian population.  We realize that 
containing Iran, selling more weapons and securing cheap oil 
supplies are the main issues on your mind as you tour the region. 
But you need to look beyond the neocons rhetoric and speak directly 
to the people who have been unjustly thrown out of their land, 
victimized for decades by your 'strong ally' Israel.  As for other 
matters, such as the promise of democracy and human rights, which 
you are expected to raise in your official talks in the region, we 
really don't take them seriously.  Your dreadful record on both 
gives you no moral right to lecture others. 
 
Mr. President; 
 
In a famous speech in 2003 you announced an "historic" shift in US 
foreign policy. You pledged to support democracy and liberty while 
declaring "victory" in Iraq. More than four years later, Iraq is in 
chaos. It has virtually disintegrated and "the surge" did little to 
stop the killing or ease the sectarian tension. At the same time, 
you gave up on your freedom-for-all prophecy. We are all back to the 
old ways of doing business - arms and oil. The agenda of your 
current tour is evident. 
 
Mr. President; 
 
This is your first official trip to a land you long claimed has a 
very special place in your heart.  The land of the Prophets. 
However, you started out wrong.  By maintaining your support of an 
Israeli "Jewish State", you are flouting your own ideals upon which 
your great country was founded more than two centuries ago.  So much 
for the promise of democracy.  What you advocate in fact is the 
creation of states on religious and racial lines, thereby justifying 
the atrocious actions of terrorists who hate and seek to eliminate 
the followers of other religions: The same terrorists you like to 
blame for every ill on earth and every failure of yours. 
 
Mr. President; 
 
It has been reported that you are here to "lecture" us on democracy 
 
ABU DHABI 00000046  002 OF 002 
 
 
and human rights.  But with a record like yours, you will not be 
very convincing.  The people you are addressing have greater respect 
for human rights and dignity. 
 
You also said that your current tour aims to realize the long 
neglected peace in the Middle East. Regional peace, Mr President, 
will not be achieved by escalating tension and threatening to change 
regimes. And most importantly, it will not be achieved by supporting 
Israel, which continues to defy international law, occupy Arab 
lands, oppress the Palestinians and rebuff peace initiatives. 
 
Mr. President; 
 
We hope you have enjoyed the trip so far. The scenery is great. The 
food is exotic. As for the more "serious" things, it is unlikely you 
will make any difference". 
 
End Text 
 
¶3. Under the headline "A Misplaced advice", the 01/11 editorial in 
Sharjah-based Arabic Daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) read: 
 
"The advice from the U.S. National Security Adviser Steven Hadley 
was unnecessary.  No one needed to have it said that one should not 
expect any enormous breakthroughs from Bush's visit, particularly 
since he defined his visit to the region upon his arrival, in Israe: 
The United States will continue to be a close ally and ensure the 
security of the Jewish state. 
 
Only a naove person would believe that Bush's visit will produce 
anything but preplanned results. 
 
"Bush's mission is clear and has nothing to do with the Palestinian 
cause or seeking a solution.  In fact, he will try to use this cause 
in another way, one that serves the broader American strategy by 
seeking to turn the Arab-Israeli conflict into a secondary issue, 
get Arab countries join regional alliances that include Israel as a 
partner, and establish as grounds Arab normalization with Israel, 
'for free' [without reciprocal concessions].  Normalization without 
'paying dues' has been Bush Administration's goal for some time; it 
has repeatedly declared this. 
 
"Bush's current target is Iran; in his own words, "Iran poses a 
threat to the world peace".  He seeks to turn the the Arab-Israeli 
conflict into an Arab-Iranian conflict, while [ignoring] Israel, a 
country heavily loaded with nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and 
[with] aggressive, expansionist, racist and lawless policies, [and 
implying that these] do not threaten International peace! 
 
"These are briefly the goals of his visit.  And we certainly do not 
expect any "enormous breakthroughs." 
 
 
¶4.  Under the headline "Forming Peace is not only words", the 
editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 01/11 (circulation 
85,000) read: 
 
"If peace, as  Bush's said during a press conference with Olmert 
upon his arrival in Israel, was his visit's "product", then the 
visit was unnecessary.  His product has been on the open market for 
a long.  Coming to the region to simply remarket it neither promotes 
it nor stops it from falling. A Palestinian-Israeli settlement based 
on the concept of two states requires some other "product". 
 
SISON