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~~GULFWIRE~~VOICES OF THE REGION -- WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW~~WEEKOF OCTOBER 28, 2002 (fwd)




More Gulf wire - this time from our friend and colleague Shafeeq Ghabra at
Kuwait University --CH
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 18:23:45 -0600
From: GulfWire e-Newsletters <GulfWire@arabialink.com>
To: "<<GULFWIRE>>" <GulfWire2@arabialink.com>
Subject: ~~GULFWIRE~~VOICES OF THE REGION -- WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW~~WEEK
OF OCTOBER 28, 2002

************************************************************************
***** GULFWIRE ~~ VOICES OF THE REGION ~ WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW ******
************************************************************************

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS AND
THE U.S.-GCC CORPORATE COOPERATION COMMITTEE

THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND FUTURE STUDIES, KUWAIT UNIVERSITY

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4, 2002

=========================================================================
COMMENTS AND REACTIONS OF ARAB OP-ED WRITERS IN ARABIC NEWSPAPERS ON
PREVAILING NEWS ISSUES IN THE ARAB WORLD
=========================================================================
THE WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW IS A PRODUCTION OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND
FUTURE STUDIES, KUWAIT UNIVERSITY AND IS REPRINTED HERE WITH PERMISSION
=========================================================================
THE VIEWS CONTAINED IN THESE ITEMS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF
GULFWIRE OR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS
=========================================================================

Weekly Arab Press Review

The Center for Strategic and Future Studies
Kuwait University

The following report reviews the comments and reactions of Arab op-ed
writers in a selection of 13 Arabic newspapers, on the prevailing news
issues in the Arab world each week.

This week's issue: France and Russia: From disapproving to opposing a U.S.
war on Iraq

France and Russia's objection to a U.S. war on Iraq has not been a mere
tactical maneuver that lies within the scope of international balances of
power. Both countries, and France in particular, have shown full-blown
opposition to this war, which was made clear at the UN Security Council.
How and why is this the case, and where are France and Russia going with
this matter, in the eyes of the Arab world?

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper (London, Oct. 24) believes that France, partly
supported by Russia, is following a strategy that might succeed in thwarting
U.S. efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein. "If French president Jacques
Chirac manages to prevent the war and then save Saddam's regime, he will be
in a position to bolster French interests in Iraq. For similar reasons,
Russian President Vladimir Putin would like to hamper U.S. efforts by
imposing a strict timetable for the new resolution."

Writer Abdelwahed Al-Hamid said in Al-Riyadh Newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Oct.
21) that France has historically provided evidence of its rejection of U.S.
hegemony. In the climax of the dispute between the western and eastern
blocs, late French President Charles De Gaulle clearly expressed his
rejection of this hegemony. "Chirac's France is not much different from De
Gaulle's. We have just seen France insist on a bigger role for the United
Nations in dealing with the weapons inspection in Iraq and how the United
States has had to bow to French efforts."

Saudi writer Mahmoud Mahfouz said in Al-Riyadh newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Oct.
22), that "every state seeks its own interests and defends the position that
guarantees it these interests. It also participates in serious negotiations
with other parties to increase its share in the cake and guarantee its
interests in the region. Thus Russia tries to find a balance between its
political and economic interests in Iraq now, and the possible profits from
accepting a U.S. strike. France is doing the same. The Iraqi cake is
tempting for it is full of economic opportunities and spoils, and different
states have only to agree with the United States to guarantee their
interests and their share in the anticipated earnings."

Lebanese writer Randa Taqyeddine, director of Al-Hayat newspaper's Paris
office, said (London, Oct. 30), that there is a consensus in France among
the different parties (left and right) to oppose the U.S. war aimed at
"changing the Iraqi regime, not out of love for this regime but because such
a war constitutes a risky adventure with unknown results ... France's
refusal to support Bush's venture puts the country in a predicament, for it
jeopardizes
French interests and its relations with NATO states, but at the same time it
is a logical and wise decision." Taqyeddine asked if France would be able
to stay out of Bush's alliance, and what the cost of such a position would
be. "Though they insist on rejecting the U.S. adventure, Chirac and his
Foreign Minister realize the difficult task they are facing. But are they
able to spare France a war without getting dragged into it?"

Liberal Kuwaiti writer Hamed Al-Homoud said in Al-Hayat newspaper (London,
Oct. 29), that "Germany and France, both important members of the European
Union and NATO are against any war the United States will wage without
consulting them, fearing such unilateral world dominance. Their position is
also engendered by economic factors, as these two states know very well that
their companies will not get the important contracts that U.S. companies
will get in post-Saddam Iraq." Russia is one of the countries that will be
most seriously affected by a regime change in Iraq, added Al-Homoud, as Iraq
owes Russia eight billion dollars in debts. The Russian government and
opposition (communist and far right parties) have good ties with Baghdad.
Russia is more afraid than Germany and France of losing out of the Iraqi
market after a regime change, because the latter countries can compete with
U.S. companies long term, but there is weak hope that Russian companies can
do the same.

Al-Akhbar newspaper (Egypt, Oct. 22) quoted Russian expert Colonel General
Leonid Ivashov, Vice-President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, as
saying that "the United States is facing an economic crisis that can only be
overcome by capturing oil-rich regions of the world." The newspaper added
"the United States will carry out an attack against Iraq for profound
reasons and will not be deterred by a UN Security Council resolution."

The Al-Watan newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Oct. 22), said Chirac is the De Gaulle
of our era, as he is playing a historic role in the Middle East and is
strongly defending the powers of the Security Council.

Jordanian writer Adnan Nasrawin said in Al-Dostour newspaper (Jordan, Oct.
20), that Chirac deserves to be described as "the hero of peace diplomacy
and international law," as he affirmed to Americans and the whole world that
no state can decide to wage war against another state without getting the
green light from the Security Council.

Writer Hayat Al-Hweik Attiya said in an open letter to Chirac, published by
Al- Dostour newspaper (Jordan, Oct. 20), that this is a historic opportunity
for France to take the lead in Europe: "an opportunity for you (Chirac) –
with the support of Germany (which has regained its strength and has shifted
from its Nazi history to your human policy) and of Russia, China and all of
international public opinion – to prove that independence is not a myth and
to give birth to a logic that is different from that of the cowboy's."

Writer Mahmoud Awadh said in Al-Watan newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Oct. 23),
that "France knows that the United States can move to hit Iraq at any time
and that neither France nor any other state can prevent it from carrying out
its plans. But in this case, the international community would not be
accountable for the consequences of such unilateral action, which would lead
that international arena into a state of anarchy in regards to international
law, and would pave the way for the law of the jungle."

========================================================================
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND FUTURE STUDIES

Established in the year 2000, the Center for Strategic and Future Studies is
an independent Kuwaiti think-tank affiliated with Kuwait University. The
governing body is a Board of Trustees comprised of 11 members from both
within and outside the university, representing a wide range of experience
and expertise in the public and private spheres. Its focus is on major and
current strategic issues relating to Kuwait, the Gulf region, and the Middle
East. The center seeks to build awareness and encourage debate on sensitive
issues, primarily in the realm of East/West discussions and strategic
issues.
In this capacity, the center tries to reach out to non-Islamic and non-Arab
nations and cultures in the spirit of debate, understanding, and mutual
tolerance. In doing so, our activities include: conferences, seminars,
roundtable discussions, publications, media analyses, and large-scale E-mail
distributions of our reports and studies.

Center for Strategic and Future Studies
Kuwait University
Director: Dr. Shafeeq Ghabra
Media & Research Coordinator: Farah Al-Nakib

Tel : (+965) 483-4197
Fax : (+965) 482-4645

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EDITOR'S COMMENT
GulfWire does not take an editorial position on the issues and opinions
reported here and aims to remain objective in coverage of developments in
the Arab Gulf states. However, it is important that among the insights we
provide, we bring the reality of contemporary opinion in the Gulf even if it
is sometimes stinging to the targets of its criticism. We hope to
illuminate not infuriate. For those who rely on an understanding of
developments in the region to ignore the reality of public and official
sentiments in the Gulf is to move forward in these relationships at their
peril.

Patrick W. Ryan
Editor-in-Chief, GulfWire
========================================================================

Independent commentary provided in 'GulfWire' and materials contained in the
linked Internet sites do not necessarily reflect the views of the National
Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee
or Ryan & Associates.

The 'GulfWire' family of e-newsletters is an information service of the
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate
Cooperation Committee Secretariat.

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For more information on the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the
U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee visit http://www.ncusar.org and
http://www.usgcc.org or call 202.293.0801.

========================================================================
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
President and CEO: Dr. John Duke Anthony

U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee
Secretary: Dr. John Duke Anthony

1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW
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Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202.293.0801
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Patrick W. Ryan
Editor-in-Chief, GulfWire
mailto:gulfwire@arabialink.com
C. R. Trisdale
Deputy Editor
mailto:CRTrisdale@ArabiaLink.com

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