Cablegate: Media Reaction: Bush's Second Term, Mideast

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000260

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S SECOND TERM, MIDEAST

1. Bush's Second Term

A) "[Condoleezza] Rice Has Endorsed the Neo-
conservatism"

The "International Outlook" column of the centrist, pro-
status quo "China Times" commented (1/21):

"Secretary of State appointee Condoleezza Rice's
congressional confirmation hearing showed that neo-
conservatism is indeed a powerful force in the Bush
administration. Even though Rice herself is not a
follower of neo-conservatism, her testimony showed her
determination to implement neo-conservative policy -
namely, she will promote global democratization even if
it means that she has to use force to do so. .

"But in the aftermath of the United States' invasion of
Afghanistan and Iraq, what are the results of
Washington's attempts to implement political
democratization [in these two countries]? The answer
is evident if one just takes a look at the situation in
Iraq. The Bush administration is clearly aware that it
is a `mission impossible' to hold a genuine democratic
election in Iraq now. The United Nations and European
countries all believe that holding an election so
rashly [now] would do more harm than good [to Iraq].
Some Iraqi officials who are like United States'
puppets also believe that the election to be held in
Iraq in late January should be postponed. But the Bush
administration is determined to have the election held
as scheduled and its purpose is to show [the world] the
success of the United States' overthrow of the Saddam
Hussein regime and the implementation of democracy [in
Iraq]. .

"The blacklist proposed by Rice [during her
confirmation hearing] is just a move to endorse the
Pentagon; also, it is actually an excuse prepared for
the Bush administration's move to launch another war
again and a warning signal sent in advance to the
international community."

B) "Hopes for Peace in Bush's Next Term"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
editorialized (1/20):

". Anyone familiar with international politics must
agree that the greatest challenge to US diplomacy is a
clash of civilizations between the US and the Muslim
world, and the question of how to deal with China's
rise in Asia. .

"The question of China's growing strength directly
clashes with the traditional friendship between Taiwan
and the US since Washington's China policies have a
direct impact on the quality of Taiwan-US interaction.

"Bush will not be controlled by electoral concerns
during his final four years in office. Nor will he be
as likely to be controlled by vested interests. He
will be able to let go and demonstrate a politician's
vision and ideals. Hopefully, Bush will be able to
strengthen his insistence on the universal values of
democracy and human rights in the US-China
relationship, and carefully measure the latent threat
that China poses to the Asian region, while at the same
time offering stronger support for Taiwan's democratic
development and its realization of human rights.

"Taiwan and China share a common language and heritage
as well as historical links. For this reason Taiwan is
ideally placed to understand China's authoritarian
nature. Taiwan should continue to caution the Bush
administration that Beijing is manipulating guilt over
China's treatment by Western powers and Japan in the
19th century, in combination with a rising tide of
nationalism, its growing military might and the lure of
its huge market, as a way of forcing the US to conform
to its `one China' policy that oppresses Taiwan. .

"Although Bush's involvement in the Iraq war has been
repeatedly criticized, the fact that he won a second
term shows that this involvement passes the test of US
popular opinion. As a staunch ally of the US, Taiwan
supports Bush in his war against terror, and hopes that
by working with the US, stability in the Taiwan Strait
can be strengthened and Taiwan's democratic reforms can
avoid becoming a victim of manipulation from across the
Strait. ."
2. Mideast

"Two Elections Give Hope for Peace in the Middle East"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" said in an editorial (1/21):

". [Mahmoud] Abbas is the `address' for Israel
communications. He must show he can take decisions,
and if he makes promises, he can deliver on those
promises. As for the Israeli public, they must first
feel secure before they will back a comprehensive peace
deal - by the Palestinians ceasing attacks on civilians
and ending rocket attacks. The Islamic world, which
generally welcomed the election of Abbas, must help by
assisting in dismantling the structure of the refugee
society - by giving the Palestinians people the
prospect of a permanently secure and prosperous future.
.

"Abbas has a popular mandate for change - what about
Iraq? The election is less than two weeks away and
bombings continue. . The election is vitally important
- it will legitimize the new Iraqi government and give
it a positive dynamic for a peaceful future. The U.S.-
led coalition must look towards withdrawing from Iraq
as local security forces and the Iraqi army take over
more responsibilities.

"Imperfect though the Iraqi election is, it is a step
in the right direction and will give a forward movement
to peace. The Iraq election will mean that only the
Palestinians and the Iraqi have genuinely popularly
elected leaders - no small achievement. Other
elections in the Arab would have been shams.

"So, while these two elections have been marred by
violence, they will at least produce elected
governments - and provide an example to the rest of the
Middle East. And that is no small achievement. The
Middle East is inherently unstable, but peace between
the Israelis and the Palestinians and an end to unrest
in Iraq would go a long way towards making the Middle
East - and the world - a more peaceful and happier
place."

PAAL

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