James J. Zogby; 20/5/08
President George W. Bush may attempt to sound like a visionary, talk tough and criticise opponents as naive, but the Middle East which he visited last week is in shambles due, in no small part, to policies he has pursued or failed to pursue during his two terms in office. The president ostensibly travelled to the Middle East to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel’s founding and the 75th anniversary of US-Saudi relationship, and to deliver a keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Sharm El Sheikh. This all might have sounded like a trip planner’s dream project, except for the fact that while in the region, the president, despite his rhetoric, would have had hard time diverting attention from the fires burning all around. The broader Middle East, in this the last year of George W. Bush’s presidency, is more troubled, less secure and less hopeful than it was at the beginning of his term in office. Our polling shows that favourable Arab attitudes toward the United States are lower today than they were at the start of millennium. Likewise, Arabs are less trusting of US intentions, less confident in the US’ ability to work for peace, and less optimistic about their own future.
See: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=7985
Bush’s Mideast trek, a waste of time
20/5/08
U.S. President George W. Bush’s latest tour of the Middle East ended up being a waste of time and U.S. taxpayer’s money. If it achieved anything it is that the American president managed to lose yet more hearts and minds in the Arab world. The overall mood was captured by Egyptian newspapers, a good number of which traditionally reflect the government’s official point of view. The Cairo press was almost unanimous in its criticism of the Bush tour, a stance they would never have adopted unless directed to do so by the Egyptian presidency. The editorial in one Cairo daily opined that this was “hopefully the U.S. president’s last visit to the region.” Not exactly your typical welcoming Arab hospitality is it? But the truth is that Arab patience with Bush’s Middle East policy has run out.
See: http://www.metimes.com/Editorial/2008/05/20/bushs_mideast_ trek_a_waste_of_time/8519/
Israel banging (U.S.) war drums
Mel Frykberg, 20/5/08
During the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to Israel last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ensured that the Iranian nuclear dossier would be one of the main items on the discussion agenda. The prime minister urged Bush that further action was necessary to thwart what Israel and many in the West perceive as a rising threat to their national security: Iran’s nuclear program. According to a spokesman for Olmert, both countries agreed on the need for “tangible action” to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
See: http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/05/20/israel_banging_ us_war_drums/4975/
Bush is showing his true colours
Linda S. Heard; 20/5/08
For anyone with any notion of fair play the double standard the US President applies to the various players in this region is nauseating. But even more nauseating is the way that countries which bear the brunt of his tongue-lashing and suffer because of Washington’s biased treatment hang on to George W. Bush’s every word. When is it going to finally sink in? The US is no friend to the Arab world. What does it take for Arab leaders to get that message and quit kowtowing?
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10214497.html
Palestinian memory cannot be erased
Lamis Andoni;20/5/08
US president George Bush’s attempt, at the World Trade Economic Forum in Egypt, to ease Arab anger over his speech to the Knesset is too feeble and too late. Bush had addressed the Israeli parliament, on Israel’s 60th anniversary three days ago, saying the establishment of Israel had been “the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham and Moses and David - a homeland for the chosen people Eretz Yisrael”. By portraying the creation of Israel as a biblical fulfilment, he bestowed divine legitimacy on the process of its establishment and also cast the Palestinians’ narrative, along with their rights, outside of the realm of history.
See: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8F57C4AC-7396-414B-B68A-164414C9B562.htm
