US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI527

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000527 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; 
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH;ALSO FOR MOC 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION:  CONDOLEEZZA RICE 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S STATEMENTS DURING HER 
FIRST VISIT AS SECRETARY OF STATE DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL 
PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA.  ABU DHABI TV AND DUBAI TV BOTH 
CARRIED EXCERPTS OF HER STATEMENT DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE IN 
THE UK.  AN UNUSUALLY POSITIVE EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" LAUDED HER 
STATEMENTS AND NOTED THAT THE U.S. SEEMS TO BE CHANGING ITS 
FOREIGN POLICY AND WILL LISTEN TO THE "VOICE OF REASON" INSTEAD 
OF THE "VOICE OF THE CANNON".  ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AKHBAR AL 
ARAB" NOTED THAT THE U.S. WOULD NOT BE USING POWER TO IMPOSE 
DEMOCRACY.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  LAUDING SECRETARY RICE'S STATEMENT YESTERDAY, "AL BAYAN" 
EDITORIALIZED 02/05: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS- 
ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 40,000) 
 
"SECRETARY OF STATE RICE DID A GOOD THING YESTERDAY BY ANNOUNCING 
THAT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN IS NOT ON THE U.S. 
ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA AND THAT HER COUNTRY STILL HAS 
`DIPLOMATIC MEANS' TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH TEHRAN.  RICE'S 
STATEMENTS POINTED OUT A NEW APPROACH IN THE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 
THAT GIVES WAY TO THE `VOICE OF REASON' INSTEAD OF THE `VOICE OF 
CANNONS', WHICH WERE HEARD VERY LOUDLY DURING THE BUSH'S FIRST 
PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION. SINCE THE U.S. IS THE MOST POWERFUL 
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPPORTING 
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.  THESE RESPONSIBILITIES COULD 
BE EASILY ACHIEVED BY ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATION IN 
RESPONSE TO DISPUTE AND CONFLICT, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO FUNDAMENTAL 
SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE VIOLENCE OF WAR.  THE WHOLE 
WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE U.S. TO ASSUME THIS DIPLOMATIC ROLE, AND 
IT IS DEFINITELY CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING PEACE IF IT HAS A REAL 
DESIRE TO BUILD A CLIMATE THAT IS MORE SECURE, STABLE AND QUIET. 
THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF JUSTICE, DEMOCRACY, AND FREEDOM 
WITHOUT ANY BLOOD SHED." 
 
3.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "RICE'S PROMISES," AKHBAR AL-ARAB" 
EDITORIALIZED 02/05: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, CIRCULATION 
20,000) 
 
". IT IS NORMAL THAT RICE WILL HAVE AN AGENDA TO RE-BUILD THE 
MIDDLE EAST ACCORDING TO A NEW VISION THAT FOCUSES ON THE SPREAD 
OF U.S. DEMOCRACY, LIKE IN OCCUPIED IRAQ AND PALESTINE. AS STATED 
BY MANY U.S. OFFICIALS, WASHINGTON DOES NOT WANT TO IMPOSE 
DEMOCRACY THROUGH MILITARY POWER BUT THROUGH AGREEMENT." 
SISON