Full Coverages>World>Iraq Prisoners Abuse>Prisoners Abuse
   
 

Bush's backing of Rumsfeld shocks and angers Arabs
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-11 19:45

Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief on Monday over President Bush'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.

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.

"After Mr. Bush's decision to keep Rumsfeld, all their apologies seem like lip service," Dubai-based political analyst Jawad al-Anani told Reuters. "Mr. Rumsfeld would have certainly lost his job if the prisoners were American."

"The United States is spending so much money by setting up Alhurra television and Radio Sawa to improve its image in the Arab world...How can it reconcile that with keeping a man who has insulted every Arab through the abuses of Iraqi prisoners," added Anani, a former Jordanian foreign minister.

University of Algiers professor Mahmoud Belhimeur agreed.

"I cannot believe the United States reacts the way an authoritarian regimes would. Bush should have done the honorable thing and fired Rumsfeld," he said.

RUMSFELD "SYMBOL" OF IRAQ WAR

But Michael Cox, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said the repercussions of firing the defense secretary would have been very significant for Bush.

"This has been Rumsfeld's war, and I suppose the political symbolism of trying to get rid of Rumsfeld would be huge."

Cox said he could not entirely rule out that Rumsfeld could go, if U.S. public opinion turned. But he added it would seem out of character for Rumsfeld to go quietly.

"'I want to spend more time with my family' doesn't sound too credible with Mr. Rumsfeld. With Mr. Powell maybe, but not Rumsfeld," he said.

A Saudi businessman, who asked not to be named, said keeping Rusmfeld would be seen as Washington's quiet approval of the abuse.

"This just confirms that what is happening in Iraq in general, and especially what is happening in Abu Ghraib is sanctioned by the American administration and that is a hell of a position to be in.

"I see no advantage in keeping Rumsfeld. Bush should be building bridges with the outside world."
Mustapha Ramid, a prominent Moroccan opposition member of parliament said: "It's normal for Bush to back Rumsfeld. The contrary would have been a real surprise. This shows that Bush takes responsibility for what's happening in Iraq."

 
  Story Tools  
   
 
     
主站蜘蛛池模板: 波多野结衣33分钟办公室jian情| 国产激情视频在线观看首页| 成人免费的性色视频| 五月天综合网站| 欧美日韩国产专区| 人妻少妇精品视频一区二区三区 | 久久精品国产久精国产一老狼| 欧美日韩亚洲第一页| 人人鲁免费播放视频人人香蕉| 精品无码AV一区二区三区不卡| 国产麻豆欧美亚洲综合久久| 一区二区电影网| 成人精品免费视频大全app| 久久亚洲精品无码VA大香大香 | 久久天天躁狠狠躁夜夜avapp| 欧美呜巴又大粗又长| 亚洲熟妇少妇任你躁在线观看无码| 男女猛烈xx00免费视频试看| 国产精品12页| 91亚洲一区二区在线观看不卡| 天天插天天狠天天透| 久久精品一本到99热免费| 片成年免费观看网站黄| 午夜福利一区二区三区高清视频| 蜜臀AV无码精品人妻色欲| 国产大片免费观看中文字幕| 精品国产无限资源免费观看| 国产精品亚洲色婷婷99久久精品| 91欧美精品激情在线观看最新| 在线综合亚洲欧美自拍| a级黄色毛片免费播放视频| 妖神记1000多章哪里看| 一本大道高清香蕉中文大在线| 樱桃视频高清免费观看在线播放 | 亚洲欧美视频在线观看| 波多野结衣免费一区视频| 伊人久久精品无码AV一区| 第一章岳婿之战厨房沈浩| 午夜在线社区视频| 网站在线观看你懂的| 又粗又大又爽又长又紧又水 |