Bush's Backing of Rumsfeld Shocks and Angers Arabs

Reuters ^ | 5.10.04

[ambrose]

Bush's Backing of Rumsfeld Shocks and Angers Arabs

Mon May 10, 4:52 PM ET Add World - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Firouz Sedarat

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief on Monday over President Bush (news - web sites)'s robust backing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation.

Critics had called for him to quit after the furor over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners but analysts, editors and ordinary Arabs were united in their condemnation of Bush who said the United States owed Rumsfeld a "debt of gratitude."

"After the torture and vile acts by the American army, President Bush goes out and congratulates Rumsfeld. It's just incredible. I am in total shock," said Omar Belhouchet, editor of the influential Algerian national daily El Watan.

"Bush's praise for Rumsfeld will discredit the United States...and further damage its reputation, which is already at a historic low in the Arab world," he added.

[Euro-American Scum]

Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief on Monday over President Bush (news - web sites)'s robust backing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation.

Screw their shock and disbelief.

[aculeus]

Firouz Sedarat

Pronounced "Said-a-rat"

[rogator]

Why don't I hear the Arab commentators expressing outrage at the real atrocities being committed by the Palis?

[Paul Atreides]

I've not had much of a chance to discuss this, of late. However, I have found it more than just a little coincidental that all of this has surfaced so soon after the media itching for W to admit mistakes and issue apologies.

[isthisnickcool]

I'm shocked that so many people can't think for themselves and HAVE to come to some idiotic Pavlovian cattle call five times a day.

The only mistake Rumsfield and numerous other American politicans have made is not seeing Islam for what it has been for so many years and taking steps to protect this country from it. Islam is not an overnight sensation. People like Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, etc, etc,etc who are supposed to be some damn smart were not.

Stupid me, up until 9/11 I never payed attention to Islam. That changed. But our government should have known better and done something about it years ago!

[Cold Heat]

Arab commentators reacted

LOL! This is toooooo funny!

[leadpencil1]

[Smartass]

Well tough S**t!

[marty60]

Get over it.

[Zechariah11]

Keep an eye on Zogby's polls. Dollars to doughnuts they'll manage to show Bush dropping in popularity.

[weegee]

That's not the only thing that's misleading...

Analysts have said the damage from images seen worldwide of U.S. soldiers abusing naked Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison would be indelible, incalculable and a gift to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

What people saw, they said, was the true image of the occupation: humiliation of an occupied people, contempt for Islam, sadism and racism.

U.S. calls for Arab retractions

The day after a WorldNetDaily report revealed that photos circulating in the Middle East that depict GI's raping Iraqi women were fake and had originated from pornography sites, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo issued a statement calling on Arab news outlets to publish retractions.

The embassy statement read, "We have done a thorough investigation of the origin of these photos and have conclusive evidence that they originated on a pornographic web site. They are clearly staged photos, done by actors, as the site itself states."

The Al Wafd newspaper published four photographs on the top of its front page that were alleged show American soldiers sexually abusing female prisoners in Iraq. Al Osboa and Al Mussawer published two of the same photos.

The U.S. Embassy called the publication of these pornographic photos, with headlines alleging the involvement of U.S. soldiers, a "fundamental violation of journalistic integrity," and stated that their publication needlessly inflamed an already heated atmosphere.

[just me]

Oh well...I don't like them either....

[EternalVigilance]

"Roto-Reuters...that's the name...you just flush your troubles...down the drain...Roto-Reuters..."

[kcvl]

On 5 November 1997, a court ruled renowned journalist Omar Belhouchet, editor-in-chief of the daily El Watan, would have to spend 22 months in prison for harming Algerian national security and the State. The sentence stemmed from statements he had made to the French media hinting that government officials may have been responsible for the murders of some journalists during the country’s civil war, between 1993 and 1996.

[Centurion2000]

F#$K the ARABS ..... they're always pissed off or have their panties in a wad over something.

[weegee]

Stupid me, up until 9/11 I never payed attention to Islam. That changed. But our government should have known better and done something about it years ago!

The 1993 WTC bombing could have been a wakeup call.

[kcvl]

ELECTION 2004 Zogby: Kerry will win

Pollster points to 4 reasons he sees Democrat victory


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1133014/posts

[KeyLargo]

"After the torture and vile acts by the American army, .... It's just incredible. I am in total shock,"

Even though this statement came from Omar the A-rab, it is nothing more than the same rants coming from the DemoRATS.

[sarasmom]

Commonly called the "Wellstone effect" by those outside official Democrat,socialist and media circles.

[LADY J]

"Bush's Backing of Rumsfeld Shocks and Angers Arabs"

Arabs are shocking to me also. The more I know about them - the less I care about what they think. They have perverted minds!