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Arabs React to U.S. Election Results
AP ^ | Tuesday, November 8, 2006 | ROBERT H. REID

Posted on 11/08/2006 10:37:50 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Angered by the Iraq war and new violence in Gaza, some Arabs reacted harshly Wednesday to the drubbing of President Bush's party, saying the Republicans paid for failed U.S. policies across the Middle East.

In Israel, on the other hand, some analysts worried that political infighting between Democrats and Republicans in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election might distract the Americans from looming crises in the Middle East, chief among them the prospect of a nuclear Iran.

"Israelis perceive the Iranian threat as imminent," said Prof. Menahem Blondheim of Hebrew University. "Without political support at home and in his party and among American public, a decisive military or diplomatic move against Iran seems less and less likely."

Most governments across the region had no official comment on the election results, but critics of the U.S. role were blunt.

"I was really thrilled when I learned that the Democrats won in Congress," said Mohammed Ali, a Cairo auto parts salesman. "They are far better than the Republicans led by Bush, who destroyed everything everywhere. Look at Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon."

"President Bush is no longer acceptable worldwide," said Suleiman Hadad, a lawmaker in Syria, whose autocratic government has been shunned by the U.S.

Even in pro-Western Jordan, newspaper editor Nabil al-Sharif said many Arabs believe U.S. policies under Bush are "dangerous to the region and to the world."

"We are delighted that the American voters have at least disassociated themselves from these dangerous policies," he said.

Iranian state television said in a commentary that the Republicans suffered losses because of "Bush's wrong strategy in the Middle East" as well as "financial corruption in the United States."

But overall, the U.S. election results were overshadowed in both Israeli and Arab media by the deaths of at least 18 people when Israeli tank shells blasted a residential neighborhood in Gaza early Wednesday.

Hamas' military wing in Gaza urged Muslims worldwide to attack U.S. targets, but the call was disavowed by the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Nevertheless, many Arabs are highly critical of the United States for its support of Israel, especially during last summer's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The latest bloodshed in Gaza seemed certain to intensify that.

"Our experience is whether it is Democrats or Republicans, we don't see much difference when it comes to dealing with Israel," said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

He was not alone in dismissing the results because of seeing little difference between Democrats and Republicans on such hot-button issues as U.S. support for Israel.

"I don't believe there will be any change at all in U.S. policy," said Yousef Abu Hijra, who runs a mobile phone shop in Amman. "There's no difference between the two parties."

For many Arabs, the war in Iraq stands out as the defining event of the Bush administration.

Kuwaiti political analyst Abdul-Ridha Aseeri described Democrats' gains as a "normal reaction" to the president's "failed" policies in Iraq. Kuwait was among the few Arab countries where support for the war was strong when the conflict began in 2003.

Aseeri predicted the resurgent Democrats may succeed in pressuring Bush into a face-saving formula for withdrawing from Iraq.

But some analysts - even some who opposed the war from the start - saw dangers for the region in a quick American departure from Iraq.

"The problem for Arabs now is, an American withdrawal could be a security disaster for the entire region," said Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi analyst for the Gulf Research Center in Dubai.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arabs; cowardamerica; foff; iraq

1 posted on 11/08/2006 10:37:51 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: All
ARTICLE SNIPPET:

"In Israel, on the other hand, some analysts worried that political infighting between Democrats and Republicans in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election might distract the Americans from looming crises in the Middle East, chief among them the prospect of a nuclear Iran. "Israelis perceive the Iranian threat as imminent," said Prof. Menahem Blondheim of Hebrew University. "Without political support at home and in his party and among American public, a decisive military or diplomatic move against Iran seems less and less likely." Most governments across the region had no official comment on the election results, but critics of the U.S. role were blunt."

2 posted on 11/08/2006 10:42:24 PM PST by Cindy
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To: MinorityRepublican
"Might distract peopel from the looming violence in middle east"? Too late, that happened a long time before the elections- either htat or people lost their nerve. AtlasShrugs.com has a letter from a military person discussing how the war in Iraq could be won easily IF the government would get fully behind the effort & give htem the people power they need. It's a good email worth reading.

Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...

3 posted on 11/08/2006 10:43:26 PM PST by CottShop (http://sacredscoop.com)
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To: MinorityRepublican
"There's no difference between the two parties."

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
"And that is why you fail."

4 posted on 11/08/2006 10:47:59 PM PST by Majic (The first rule of a political election is: GET ELECTED.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Here's the reaction:


5 posted on 11/08/2006 10:48:17 PM PST by Defiant (The shame of Spain has stained the fruited plain.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Angered by the Iraq war... -Robert H. Reid

The MSM monster is in overdrive, breathlessly reifying moonbat visions. They feel ever so spunky with this modest mid-term shift, and with relief after enduring so many spankings by Tony Snow, explaining reality to them as if they were the two-year-olds that they are.

Oh sure, Arabs are angry. I'm about to drop dead from surprise (/irony). If it wasn't the Iraq war, it would be something else, anything, about the USA foreign policy. But this association fits nicely into their moonbat narrative.

6 posted on 11/08/2006 10:58:57 PM PST by NutCrackerBoy
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To: MinorityRepublican
"I don't believe there will be any change at all in U.S. policy," said Yousef Abu Hijra, who runs a mobile phone shop in Amman. "There's no difference between the two parties." Ali bin Will Rogers
7 posted on 11/08/2006 11:12:44 PM PST by WOSG (Broken-glass time, Republicans! Save the Congress!)
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To: NutCrackerBoy

Oh sure, Arabs are angry. "

WELL SAID.

Btw, my thoughts ...
http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com/

Rush's thoughts:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_110806/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

"They stopped leading a movement and began what they began. It happened here again. The assumption that: "Okay, conservatism is in power now. The people know who we are. They like who we are. Stop teaching."

You can never stop teaching."


8 posted on 11/08/2006 11:25:52 PM PST by WOSG (Broken-glass time, Republicans! Save the Congress!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I wish Bush would use this opportunity to fire the incompetant shill for Hamas, Condi Rice, as well.


9 posted on 11/09/2006 3:12:28 AM PST by montag813
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To: montag813
"I wish Bush would use this opportunity to fire the incompetent shill for Hamas, Condi Rice, as well."

I agree 100% but one correction...she also shilled for hizzbola.....

since she has gone to state...she has been indoctrinated with the lib/dem antisemitic views of the mideast....

her views on the mideast "peace in our time" will eventually lead to a further war...the muzzies are animals...there will be no peace by them...they are dead set on the destruction of Israel and death to all Jews...turning the land into the cesspool just the same as what they live in....after almost 60 years and billions pissed away in aid to the muzzies...they still blame the Israelis and everyone else and play the victims and also terrorist at the same time...yet state agrees with them and so does condi...she has become one of the them!!!!!
10 posted on 11/09/2006 3:26:03 AM PST by hnj_00
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To: hnj_00

Replace her with... Rick Santorum!


11 posted on 11/09/2006 4:00:46 AM PST by westmichman (The minds of the media and Dems are one-dementional..."HATE Bush")
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To: MinorityRepublican

"I was really thrilled when I learned that the Democrats won in Congress," said Mohammed Ali, a Cairo auto parts salesman. "They are far better than the Republicans led by Bush, who destroyed everything everywhere. Look at Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon."
__________________________________________________________

We don't have troops in Palestine and Lebanon dipsh!t.


12 posted on 11/09/2006 7:17:29 AM PST by swampmonster
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To: hnj_00
since she has gone to state...she has been indoctrinated with the lib/dem antisemitic views of the mideast....

That's where you are wrong. Condi's mentor was Brent Scowcroft, who has been on the Saudi payroll for years. Bush needs to sack the incompetent boob and send her back to Stanford. I hope future Presidential candidates finally realize that academics are the worst choices for Secretary of State. Albright and Rice prove that maxim to the max.

13 posted on 11/09/2006 9:50:09 AM PST by montag813
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To: montag813

If Rummy has to walk the plank, why not Condi?


14 posted on 11/09/2006 10:03:09 AM PST by maro
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To: maro
If Rummy has to walk the plank, why not Condi?

I have been calling for that incompetent Arab-mouthpiece Condi to be fired for 2 years now.

15 posted on 11/09/2006 11:33:36 AM PST by montag813
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