~~GULFWIRE~~VOICES OF THE REGION~~WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW~~WEEK OFNOVEMBER 18, 2002~~ (fwd)

["Clement M. Henry" <chenry@mail.la.utexas.edu>]

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Clement M. Henry
Professor of Government
University of Texas at Austin
Austin TX 78712
tel 471-5121, fax 471-1061

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***** GULFWIRE ~~ VOICES OF THE REGION ~ WEEKLY ARAB PRESS REVIEW ******
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           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 18, 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:  UN resolution 1441 – Saddam's options

Ghassan Tweini, Director General of An-Nahar newspaper, addressed an open
letter to Saddam Hussein in An-Nahar newspaper (Lebanon, Nov. 11), saying,
"resignation is more honorable."  "Arabs still have a chance of peace
through the use of your resignation in a historic initiative to end your era
without destruction, bloodshed and occupation, an initiative allowing Arabs
to turn over the table on the United States and Israel by tendering (after
your approval) your resignation and get into the international game with
this last card to refute the pretexts of war."  Tweini added, "what happened
in the Security Council proves that the United States has not changed its
position. The decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein has been made and is
being put into effect, resolution 1441 being the first chapter of this plan.
In other words, the resolution, if implemented, will certainly lead to the
end of Saddam Hussein's regime."

Jordanian writer Raja Talab said in al-Rai newspaper (Jordan, Nov. 13), that
it is not an exaggeration to say that the resolution 1441 is the most cruel
and humiliating resolution in the history of international relations, a
resolution that destroys the elements of the national sovereignty of a
country that is a member of the United Nations.  The resolution transforms
Iraq into one big inspection area, and therefore the resolution is a war in
and of itself.  The Iraqi regime has no other option but to accept.
Accepting this resolution is "suicide and not salvation," as the Iraqi
regime has no means left to postpone U.S. plans, including the option of
Saddam's resignation.

Writer and analyst Rajeh Al-Khouri said in An-Nahar newspaper (Lebanon, Nov.
14), that "due to the major difficulty in implementing the resolution, one
can describe the situation as follows: the Security Council invited Saddam
Hussein to go up to the rooftop and throw himself off, or George Bush will
do it for him.  It is a draft that is equal to a decision of execution."

Jordanian writer Saleh Al-Qallab said in Asharq al-Awsat newspaper (London,
Nov. 14), that the resolution is a tool to cause war rather than avoid it.
It is a victory for the U.S. Administration and a defeat for Arabs and other
states seeking a role in the international arena.  "The Iraqi leadership has
no choice but to accept this resolution and its onerous conditions.  It is
the worst possible option.  If this is victory, then what is defeat?" added
Al-Qallab.

Saudi writer Yusif Makki, a specialist in comparative politics, said in al-
Watan newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Nov. 13), that the resolution "is only a
short pause on the path to war that the United States has decided to launch
against Iraq, which itself is a prelude to redrawing the political map of
the whole region."

Randa Taiyeddine, the Paris Bureau Chief of al-Hayat newspaper (London, Nov.
13), urged Saddam Hussein "to learn from his past experience, or at least to
follow Syrian diplomacy and its ability to adapt itself to the super power."

Lebanese writer and analyst Waddah Sharara said in al-Hayat newspaper
(London, Nov. 13), that "Arabs should urge Saddam to leave Iraq and should
contribute to the establishment of his succession, rather than seek a share
in the Iraqi spoils."

Writer Abdulkarim Abu Al-Nasr said in al-Watan newspaper (Saudi Arabia, Nov.
12), that "the long-standing battle between Saddam Hussein and the United
States has reached its final stage as the Bush Administration has succeeded
to make the goals of the United States and the Security Council one and the
same."

Liberal Kuwaiti writer and analyst Ayed Al-Mannaa asked in al-Watan
newspaper (Kuwait, Nov. 13), if it is really possible that the Iraqi regime
will not commit a "material breach" to the resolution.  He further asked
whether Saddam's acceptance of the resolution is not merely an attempt by
the regime to buy time, and to give closed-door diplomacy a chance to bring
about what it failed to achieve in nearly a decade and a half.  He also
asked whether the Iraqi government has realized that a storm more violent
than that of 1990 is certainly coming and that grave digging is inevitable.

An editorial in al-Ahram newspaper (Cairo, Nov. 11), said that "Iraq is
facing a historic moment that will have important impacts on the entire Arab
region. Courage often lies in wise decisions and not in those made under the
pressure of provocation."

Ibrahim Nafea, editor-in-chief of al-Ahram newspaper, said (Cairo, Nov. 11),
that the resolution is a substantial opportunity to continue weapons
inspections in Iraq, which could avert a military strike, and might even
lead to the lifting of sanctions.

Writer Abdelwahab Badrakhane said in al-Hayat newspaper (London, Nov. 11),
that the U.S. Administration succeeded in leading the international
community to get on board its war train, which was not initially on the
world's agenda. The matter now depends on the U.S. will and maneuvers.
Moreover, the United States also managed to contain any questioning of
its plans toward Iraq, including its plans for regime change and the
possible occupation of the country.

Liberal Kuwaiti Parliament member Ahmed Al-Rubei said in Asharq al-Awsat
newspaper (London, Nov. 11), that "if the United States wages war on Iraq,
which is most probable, nobody has the right to say that Syria deceived the
Arabs [by voting for the resolution], as the U.S. decision is made in
Washington and not in Damascus.  When the United States decides to hit the
Iraqi regime it will not even consult with its allies in Paris and Moscow,
let alone Syria."

Jordanian writer and analyst Fahd Al-Fanek said in al-Rai newspaper (Jordan,
Nov. 11), that "once again, the United States has an Arab cover-up for its
plan to hit Iraq, which is Syria's vote for the resolution."  He said that
it is untrue that a Syrian abstention would have barred the United States
from striking Iraq, for resolution 1441 is a U.S. decision that would have
passed anyway, with or without Syria's vote.

Writer Zuheir Kuseibati said in al-Hayat newspaper (London, Nov. 10), that
"Syria's vote for resolution 1441 was not surprising for it knows that an
abstention would cost Syria complete isolation.  Whatever the announced
justifications for its voting, Syria knows as well as other Arabs the
outcome of standing in the face of the U.S. storm."

Liberal Kuwaiti analyst and writer Ahmad Beshara said in al-Qabas newspaper
(Kuwait, Nov. 11), that resolution 1441 could be described as "the mother of
all resolutions," as it has put Iraq in a serious dilemma.  The time for
change in Iraq has come, and the demise of the Iraqi regime has been brought
about by all those who voted for the resolution, including the Arab group
represented by Syria and the Muslim group represented by Malaysia.  Whoever
believes that they served Iraqi interests by voting for the resolution was
either misinformed, or did so to serve his own interests.

Kuwaiti writer Muhammad Al-Rumeihi said in al-Rai al-Aam newspaper (Kuwait,
Nov. 12), that "the time for maneuvering and postponing has come to an end.
Though the outbreak of a war has become most probable, other possibilities
are still conceivable: Saddam and his entourage have the possibility to give
up power under an international agreement, and Saddam is working on that
now.
This ideal solution could get the approval of the United States and other
concerned countries in the next few weeks, but if this option is delayed it
will be difficult to accept in the 25th hour," he added.

Jordanian writer Osama Al-Sherif said in al-Dostour newspaper (Jordan, Nov.
11), that Iraqi regime should take the initiative, face the dark reality of
the conditions the Iraqi people are living under, and initiate real reforms.
If it does so, the United States would not dare to carry out strikes against
a country that is taking steps toward democracy and pluralism; that is, if
Saddam's ultimate goal is really Iraq's salvation and not the regime's.

========================================================================
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
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and expertise in the public and private spheres.  Its focus is on major and
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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
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is sometimes stinging to the targets of its criticism.  We hope to
illuminate not infuriate. For those who rely on an understanding of
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sentiments in the Gulf is to move forward in these relationships at their
peril.

Patrick W. Ryan
Editor-in-Chief, GulfWire
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