How The Arab Press Sees Bush Trip

If Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder, So Is News In The Expanding Universe Of Middle East Media

(CBS)  This morning's headline from President Bush's trip to the Middle East: In a speech in Abu Dhabi, the President charged that Iran is threatening world security, and the United States and its Arab allies must join together to confront the danger. That's OUR headline from the president's address. How was it covered by the media over there? Mark Phillips has been looking at the world through their eyes.

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The President of the United States arrives in the Middle East saying he's trying to make peace one more time. At home, in a week of big political news, the story fights for airtime.

But in the Middle East, on the growing galaxy of state and independent television channels, it was "all Bush, all the time." And, depending what you were watching, you could have been forgiven for wondering if what you were seeing was the same event.

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is news.

In Israel, the President's visit was portrayed as a belated effort to shore up the tentative peace-making efforts of two weak leaders - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Within the Palestinian Territories, it was reported either as a push for statehood ... or a cover-up for oppression.

And if you were watching Syrian TV as President Bush arrived in Israel, you could even have been confused as to where exactly he was.

"George Bush visits the Palestinian Occupied Territories," they announced, where they said, "He ignored the daily aggression and terrorism of the occupying forces."

Hisham Melhem works in the new growing world Arab media.

"The media landscape has changed radically in a revolutionary way," he said. "Today we have more than 250 satellite television stations, we have 19 new radio stations in the last few years.

"We have a different media reality that is taking shape in the Arab world, and the powers-that-be cannot ignore it."

In an office in Beirut, Lebanese analysts track the content of the editorial riot that media outlets in the Middle East have become. And there's little mystery, Jihad Bitar says, where those conflicting voices are coming from.

"It really depends on the channel's political backing. You know, in the Arab world, the main news channels, you have Al Jazeera, which is owned by the Qatari government. You have Al Arabiya, which is owned by Saudi interests. Big, big differences."

Differences reflected from the moment the president touched down.

"Al Jazeera, to give you an example, when George Bush arrived, they had a split-screen, divided in two," Bitar explained. "George Bush was on the right, and on the left you had protesters in Gaza, people protesting George Bush's visit. They were trying to show that people don't want this. Arabyia tried to be more, sort of ambiguous coverage, which basically reflects Saudi Arabia's official position. They were saying, 'Okay, Bush probably is serious about peace. Before he leaves office he wants a peace agreement to be signed between the Israelis and the Arabs.'"

If the politics of the Middle East have never been simple, the portrayal of them, at least, used to be predictable. TV stations, newspapers and commentators toed their government's line. But now, as the market has fragmented, so has the coverage.

Abdul Bari-Atwan edits an Arabic newspaper in London that is read throughout the Middle East.

"If you look at previous trips of American leaders to the region and compare to this trip, you will find a huge difference," Bari-Atwan said. "Before, it used to be one-sided media, the governmental media. But now you can there are independent media outlets there. You have Hamas which has its satellite channel, you have Hezbollah which has Al Manar satellite channel, you have Syrian satellite channels, you have also independent opposition channels in Egypt, you have independent voices in Lebanon. It's a jungle out there."

And the law of the jungle takes the form of conflict by TV proxy. Palestinian President Abbas' meetings with President Bush were covered like an encounter between heads of state on Abbas' Fatah faction-controlled TV.

But Abbas' blood enemies in the Hamas movement in Gaza had a very different take: There was no hopeful talk on their channel of a two-state solution with an Israeli partner. Instead, this headline at the top of their coverage:

"ON THE FIRST DAY OF BUSH'S VISIT TO THE REGION, 3 PALESTINIANS MARTYRS IN GAZA, INCLUDING A WOMAN AND A CHILD … KILLED IN ISRAELI SHELLING OF NORTHERN GAZA."

Hannan Ashrawi has long been a major player in Palestinian politics.

"The Hamas coverage, it's extremely hostile, and negative," Ashrawi said. "The official news media is trying very hard to present this as a new era in Pal-American relations, as a period of promise, so you have very selective, often quite biased coverage in this part of the world."

The coverage may be biased and linked to broader agendas, but it does often share a common perspective. There are givens.

Marc Lynch teaches political science at George Washington University and writes a blog on the Arab media.

"President Bush is swimming upstream against a very deep reservoir of suspicion, hosility and mistrust," he said.

"The dominant narrative, the dominant frame in the Arab media, is still about the huge gap between what the president says and what's actually happening on the ground," Lynch said. "And so you get much more coverage in the Arab media of the expansion of settlements, and a lot more coverage of the Hamas/Fatah ongoing political standoff."

The Israeli media are similarly pessimistic about the President's mission, says Israeli journalist Avi Shavit.

"There is almost a tragic feeling to it, "Shavit said. "Both because of the failure of President Bush in transforming the region he wanted so much to transform, and because the result of that failed attempt is a growing feeling that America is losing its old mettle, or strong power over the region, and this is a concern shared by all."

And then - Iran. During a week that saw conflicting versions released in Washington and Tehran of the encounter between Iranian gunboats and U.S. warships in the Gulf, the Iranians were also giving a different spin to President Bush's trip.

Tehran's Arabic channel, beamed throughout the Middle East, was on the streets of Ramallah while the President was in town, focusing on dissent.

And that's what its viewers saw. Iran's view of the U.S. President, says CBS News analyst Reza Aslan, is a lot like the U.S. view of President Ahmadinejad.

"The Iranian media sees the president of the United States as an out-of-control religious fanatic, pretty much the same way that the American press sees the president of Iran," Aslan said.

Peace may be as elusive as ever in the Middle East but a new discordant chorus of voices has grown up to join the debate. That may make things more confusing … but it may offer opportunities as well.

"I think the most remarkable aspect of this renaissance taking place within the Arab press is that now the United States has a multiplicity of voices and multiplicity of views to turn to really understand not what the Arab regimes want or think but what people on the Arab street think or want," Aslan said.

[graumli]

You report the differences in Middle East media bias as if with surprise; listen to Katie''s evening news any week night and you''ll hear her bias! This report was an important lesson to everyone that you cannot trust one source for "news" because every source will put their perspective "spin" on the issue.

[graumli]

By the way, not all Americans see President Bush as an out-of-control religious fanatic. Unfortunately, THAT''S what we''re told is the case by the news MEDIA everyday!!

[antizion]

When people "became" the media through the internet, the larger number of blogs induced the fake news media to act even more reckless until they all rendered themselves as fools and tools in front of the world.

[Con Mohrat]

If Lame Duck thought he could bring peace to the Zionist-occupied Palestinian land, he must have been dreaming of a Nobel Peace Prize for his legacy.

And while he was there, "ON THE FIRST DAY OF BUSH''S VISIT TO THE REGION, 3 PALESTINIANS MARTYRS IN GAZA, INCLUDING A WOMAN AND A CHILD %u2026 KILLED IN ISRAELI SHELLING OF NORTHERN GAZA."

And later, by his planning, there was the contrived special effects video from the Straits of Hormuz, designed to start another of his losing wars.

It doesn''t work, does it, Dubya?

[jn122736]

By the way, not all Americans see President Bush as an out-of-control religious fanatic. Unfortunately, THAT''''S what we''''re told is the case by the news MEDIA everyday!!

Posted by graumli at 09:59 AM : Jan 13, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
graumli,

All of us "see" the same things. Not everyone can, or will, accept what they see.

[worldview3]

I don''t believe there is such a thing as fake news but there is a thing called point of view. I am surprised and glad to see one from the middle east. Maybe we see Europe''s opinion, although it really doesn''t matter, since our government doesn''t really care about it.

[clestes-2009]

Iran is going to have to be dealt with, but it won''t be until the next president.

Pretty much like global warming, the rest of the world is waiting for US elections so everyone can move forward.

[inventagod]

Bu$h had the Navy begin his visit with his own Iran Fastboat video. Faux News is not a new idea to Bu$hCo and the NeoCons.
The world is used to the USA promoting war and death, and held it''s breath for a few days until the Navy sham exposed itself for what it was.

[hipointhw]

Kinda'' like MSNBC compared to the rest of the media, huh ?

[pnotis-2009]

Iran is not a threat to anybody, Bush is a threat to the world and the sooner he is out the better, I remember the EVIL Empire was the Russians and now with Bush as President USA is the evil empire, everyday we are expecting to hear another attack on another country, Bush should be taken to the court after his time as a WAR criminal the man is a LUNATIC

[creeper00]

The reason Bush''s trip is being ignored here is that Americans know he''s a pathetic lame duck. We''d just as soon forget he''s even president for the next year. We''re embarrassed for having him in the office and can hardly wait for him to go away.

[donbl1]

To me, the interesting comment is very early in the article....

The "growing galaxy" of media choices that has developed over the past few years.....

Is that "since" the Iraq War? Think so.

This may be another example of Law of Unexpected Consequences and a good result. Media choice makes it hard to hide the truth. Kind of like MSNBC and FOX.

[maedean]

How do you think they see the Bush trip ? Bush is a complete looser. Nothing that comes out out this mans mouth has any truth to it or meaning. If he was an Arab he would already be beheaded !!!!!!

[klifton2-2009]

A war criminal within the meaning of the term as defined is searching for peace. What a whole lot of ***. Check your pulse if you believe the man. It is not being cynical, it is reality. The man is a war-monger and an irresponsible piece of work. He had the unique opportunity to bring about peace and the support of friends all over the world after 9/11, but squandered if for personal gains and for the gains of those who put him in power. How sad and tragic. If there really is such thing as JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY and that NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW, he and the many likes of him would have been charged for crimes against humanity and war profiteering. Nothing good will come out from the lives of such men and women. What goes around comes around.

[element51]

pnotis....It is hard to believe that people like you keep going on and on that Obama is a muslim. He is not! Do you believe that if you repeat this lie often enough and long enough that people will actually start to believe it? That comes right out of the Gobbels/Rove playbook. I''m an independent voter and have not decided how I will vote yet but this kind of stuff pulls me toward the democrats. This kind of character assassination is typical of the Swift Boat style of politics. We don''t need it and we don''t want it. If you have something to say and can source your comments then they have value. Otherwise it is just political rhetoric and means nothing.

[j-whitman]

In Israel, the President''s visit was portrayed as a belated effort to shore up the tentative peace-making efforts of two weak leaders - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Within the Palestinian Territories, it was reported either as a push for statehood ... or a cover-up for oppression.

And if you were watching Syrian TV as President Bush arrived in Israel, you could even have been confused as to where exactly he was.

"George Bush visits the Palestinian Occupied Territories," they announced, where they said, "He ignored the daily aggression and terrorism of the occupying forces."

[Jimthe1st]

Interesting how CBS attracts all the President Bashers like a magnet. "In the center of the ring is the matador facing the bull. In the bleachers are all the critics - who know far more about fighting bulls than any matador. If they know so much, why don''t they fight the bulls? They are cowards who like the safety of the bleachers!" When Bush is gone the cowards will carry on with the next.

[Jimthe1st]

Interesting how CBS attracts all the President Bashers like a magnet. "In the center of the ring is the matador facing the bull. In the bleachers are all the critics - who know far more about fighting bulls than any matador. If they know so much, why don''t they fight the bulls? They are cowards who like the safety of the bleachers!" When Bush is gone the cowards will carry on with the next.

[Jimthe1st]

Interesting how CBS attracts all the President Bashers like a magnet. "In the center of the ring is the matador facing the bull. In the bleachers are all the critics - who know far more about fighting bulls than any matador. If they know so much, why don''t they fight the bulls? They are cowards who like the safety of the bleachers!" When Bush is gone the cowards will carry on with the next.

[element51]

klifton2....I agree with your post. I think one of the most tragic things,(among many) that Bush has done is to squander our opportunity to truly unite with the rest of the world after 9-11. Very few presidents are presented with an opportunity like that and to see it thrown away was a real blow. I truly believe we are at the brink of disaster. What happens in the next year will determine the fate of our great nation. When I look at the field we have to choose from, both democrat and republican, I can only hope that who ever is elected will greatly exceed my expections.

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,, You''ve never thought Bush is the worst President in American History & a totally incompetent boob ???

[klifton2-2009]

In terms of cowardice, the likes of Bush and Cheney have no peers. One was creative in dodging the draft to serve his country, the other dodged it 5 times! What is so heroic about such men who want to regain their manhood through the deaths of others?

[element51]

soc1jim...Bullsh*t!!! You call us bashers but the truth is that we are only stating the obvious. This man has had seven years to prove himself and he has provided ample evidence as to exactly what he is. You call us cowards....A real coward is someone who refuses to tell or face the truth. Do you honestly believe that we want to see our country go down? No we don''t! Nothing would make me happier than to see things come together in a positive way. As it is, I will be happy if we can survive the last year of this man''s incompetance.

[pnotis-2009]

Element51 : I pity you for your ignorance, people like you have brought a war Monger like Bush in Power, and people like you will make USA into a muslim playgroung, how quickly you forget, 9/11 and if you trace him and his name is HUSSEIN we in Europe know more than you Americans, the muslim world did say they will redicule USA and wait and see, I pity us Europeans that in USA are people too BLIND to elect the right President (they love the big words and Promises you think everything is Hollywood) and we the rest of the world have to live with another megalomaniac that will change SH.. Good Luck

[Jimthe1st]

J-Whitman,... It is you of whom I speak. You are obviously a critic and not a bullfighter. I hope you keep hating bush so that all you will experience in your life are feelings of hatred.

[element51]

jmcgilvray...Your''s was an excellent post. You bring up a point that has not been brought up as much as it should. It is unfortunate that those of us who believe in the separation of church and state are branded anti-religion God haters. Nothing could be further from the truth. Religion is the strongest influence in the world and if used as a political tool is very, very dangerous. Political decisions should be made by elected officials...Religious decisions should be made by each individual based on their personal beliefs.

[pnotis-2009]

TO: Element51 and anyone interested

HERE IS A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM THE USA there are 100s of these articles in the USA they cant all be a LIE..he went to a muslim madrasa and got indoctrinated ...anyone that is indoctrinated doesnt change easily
"""Obama can%u2019t hide his Muslim past"""

There is something in ''rock star'' Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama''s life story that is not an appropriate target in polite society, but won''t quite go away, and is absolutely certain to come trumpeting into view when the race gets rough.
The elephant in the room is the Muslim bit. Obama''s middle name is Hussein, as in Saddam Hussein. We know that; so what? Well, there are an awful lot of Americans who fervently believe the nation belongs to God, as in the fellow you find in Church. And in their ''war of civilisations'', the Muslims are the Bad Guys.
Obama, says PR man Robert Gibbs, happens to have had a dad from Kenya, so Islam and Hussein are just part of the family legacy. "Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago."

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,, The SOB is totally dishonorable & incompetent ---- You want to keep making excuses for Bush ? Go right ahead the only ones who believe you are the few of the extreme far right & that''s not many.

[pnotis-2009]

I continue here due to my previous was more than 1500:
Clear? The Los Angeles Times sent a reporter to Jakarta in Indonesia where Obama''s mum, Ann Dunham, took him with husband number two, Lolo Soetoro, when he was six. His name then was Barry Soetoro, and he stayed until he was 10 years old.
"Barry was a Muslim. He went to the mosque," revealed boyhood buddy Zulfin Adi. His primary school teacher said he was registered as a Muslim and so he attended Koranic religious class.
Americans have nightmares about fervent young men who grew up in Muslim religious schools. At the very least, and however unfairly, this is dynamite material for Republicans as new national opinion polls show Obama cutting Hillary Clinton''s lead to single digits.
Obama is hurriedly shifting ground. Now he was a Muslim; but never a "practising Muslim".

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,, Bush couldn''t run a Dairy Queen, You need to stop making excuses for incompetence America & our Troops deserve better.

[Jimthe1st]

j mcgilvary - have you ever fought a bull? Do you even know what a bull is?

[Jimthe1st]

Element51... You have obviously never fought a bull. But you certainly know something about bullsh*t.

[j-whitman]

soc1jim ---- Fight a bull ?? We''ve been fighting Bush & the GOP''s Bullshiit for 7 years, what more to it is there ????

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,,, Bush certainly can''t fight a bull --- He''s afraid of Horses & Cow''s

[worldview3]

We actually have christian schools right here in our country that teach the children to die for their religion.

[digital192]

This visit to the Middle East had little to do with peace. This is why Debka, an Israeli news service ran the headline: "Green light for limited Israeli military operation in Gaza - only practical outcome of Bush visit"

The fact that CBS would even portray him as a peacemaker in the Middle East reeks of uninformed journalism.

[worldview3]

Obama is Christian and goes to United Church of Christ with his family

[Jimthe1st]

j Whitman,... From your comments, I can tell you speak of facing the truth - but you cannot admit that you have never fought a bull...

[j-whitman]

worldview3,,,, Time to finish the job the Romans couldn''t do ---- Release the lions, Christians are fatter & juicer than they were in the olden days.

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,, Now why in the world would I want to fight a bull ?? I had an ex-wife --
-- As far as that goes why would anyone be dumb enough to fight a bull ??

[element51]

soc1jim...You are right. I''ve never fought a bull. I have never had an issue with a bull. But I have an issue with people like you. You are quick to make assumptions but you don''t seem to do so based on the facts. Bushes record speaks for itself. If you want to continue to believe he is so wonderful be my guest. But you are in the minority. And what''s this obsession with bulls? Sounds Freudian to me.

[j-whitman]

soc1jim,,,,, I don''t think your cow tipping can be classified as bull fighting.

[worldview3]

All this doesn''t have anything to do with democracy. Why are we part of NATO when we don''t listen when they voted against the war in Iraq. NATO and we little people don''t have any say, if we start one with Iran.

[element51]

pnotis...It is odd that you would call me ignorant. How could you know that if you live in Europe? I did not vote for Bush either time he ran. In fact I worked for the opposite side to try to defeat him. You didn''t know that did you? At this time I do not support Obama but I will probably vote for him if he gets the nomination. You still have not provided a verifiable source as to your claim that he is a muslim. If it is true that he went to a muslim school till the was 10 years old that certainly is not proof that he is a practicing muslim. I don''t know what country you are from but you really should concern yourself with your own country''s affairs and not stick your nose in ours when you don''t know what you are talking about.

[element51]

worldview3...I hope that we do not try to invade Iran. The thought is absolutely frightening. The unfortunate thing is that you are right. We the people won''t have any say in it. What we need to do is pull things together as best we can in Iraq then get the hell out and stop trying to convert the world to what we think is best. If Iran attacks us then we should retaliate but till then let us hope that cooler heads will prevail. Truth is that if we can overcome our dependence on foreign oil there will be no need to attack anyone.

[element51]

I''d like to add that I also believe that we should do everything possible to make anyone think twice before they attack us in any way. The war on terrorism will continue as there will always be fanatics who think we should be destroyed. We need to be strong and stand together to show the world that we will not be bullied by anyone.

[worldview3]

Element, I believe you hit the nail on the head!

[underdogus]

Posted by j-whitman An enemy combatant put him in an orange jumpsuit....

[watcher269-2009]

It is Shameful when you have to watch Al Jazeera to get any REAL News in America!

It is also Shameful that the United States is Run by Barney Fife and Goober the VP.

Does it not make you PROUD that our country is run by a D+ student?

Does it not make you Proud that Cheney and Bushit were Draft Dogers and AWOL''ers?

Does it Make you Proud that Bush is pushing America into a recession and devaluing the Dollar soo much that America is being sold to the middle east - the Terrorists we are supposed to be FIGHTING?

It is time to boycott Oil - don''t buy gas for one day - What if America did not buy any gas for 1 day? What would that say to Corporate America?

Get Ready to be ENRON''d real soon. Mark my words.

Bend over for your ENRON - its coming - just remember to smile and say - Thank You.

[worldview3]

ontheleft...are you muslim?