Arabs disappointed with Bush, but few backed Kerry

CAIRO - Middle Eastern peoples, with the exception of Israelis and some Iranians, reacted with resigned disappointment to the expected re-election of President George W. Bush.

One consolation for them was that few had high hopes from Democratic challenger John Kerry, who attacked the way Bush has handled the occupation of Iraq but did not promise action that Arabs wanted to see on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Many said they feared another four years of Bush would bring more conflict and bloodshed to the Middle East.

A few said Bush was preferable because he now knew the region and would have time to adjust his policies, or because of his campaign for political reform in the Arab world.

Jasim Ali, a Bahraini analyst, said: "This is not good news for the Middle East. Bush could take this as a sign that his foreign policy in the region is a success and he may harden his positions.

"There will be more killing and bloodshed."

Khaled Maeena, editor in chief of the Saudi newspaper Arab News, said: "All the Saudis I've seen so far are disappointed."

The only immediate official comment came from Yemen, which has co-operated with Washington against militant Islamists despite its reservations about overall US policy.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said his country would continue to co-operate "no matter who wins".

But he added: "After September 11 there was unfortunately a violation of human rights of Arabs and Muslims in America, and Washington did not act on the bloody situation in the Palestinian territories, which led to anger towards the Bush Administration, in addition to the war in Iraq, which turned out to be completely unjustified."

He said it made no difference whether Republicans or Democrats were in power because "each will try to strengthen the United States' hegemony militarily and economically".

The Bush Administration has brought America's standing to record lows among Arabs, mainly because of its invasion of Iraq and perceived neglect of the Palestinian problem.

Even Bush's campaign for reform and democracy in the Middle East has not been well-received because of suspicions that it is an attempt to impose US interests in the region.

There are pockets of pro-Bush sentiment in Israel and paradoxically in Iran, despite a quarter-century of frigid relations.

Bush has worked closely with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and appeared to agree with him that cracking down on Palestinian militants was part of a joint "war on terrorism".

Israel Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said: "There is no doubt that this was a serious chemistry [between Bush and Sharon], and President Bush's friendliness was very great."

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an adviser to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, said a Bush victory was preferable despite his "wrong policies".

"By the mistakes he made in the Middle East he has more knowledge about the region than Kerry, who needs time and money to reach Bush's conclusions."

- REUTERS