Military

DATE=10/05/01

TYPE=WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP

TITLE=ALLIANCE BUILDING

NUMBER=6-12490

BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: The United States continues work to build a coalition of the world's nations to fight terrorism, and specifically to help it attack the network of exiled Saudi businessman Osama bin Laden.

Meanwhile, newspaper editorial writers around the world continue to assess developments. We have a sampling from V-O-A's __________ with this week's World Opinion Roundup.

TEXT: In Britain, the Guardian takes a dim view of the formal case against Mr. bin Laden.

VOICE: In the improbable event that (he) ... ever faces a formal prosecution... the case against him ... published by the British government ... would be almost worthless from a legal point of view. ...the reality is that Mr. (Prime Minister Tony) Blair's case comes down to two words: trust me.

TEXT: A different view comes from another Brisish newspaper, the Independent:

VOICE: The dossier is more than enough to justify action against al-Qaida ...(even without specific evidence).

TEXT: In France, Le Monde asks:

VOICE: Must we act militarily with the United States? The answer given by P-M (Lionel) Joshin is simple: availability in principle but free to decide... The general feeling that one gets is that France and Europe are military nonexistent, after having expressed such solidarity.

TEXT: Also in France, Le Telegram, joins in, somewhat critically of its government:

VOICE: The dogma adopted by France ... did not convince Washington, which feels ... France is decidedly an uncontrollable ally. ... Because of its independent diplomacy, France limits itself to minimal involvement...thus (weakening) its potential.

TEXT: In Germany, an editorial in the Financial Times (of) Deutschland comments:

VOICE: It is smart that (U-S Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld is once again consulting with the allies and emphasizing that the U-S campaign is not a mission against Islam. ... Instead of shooting from the hip like a cowboy and thus feeding anti-American sentiment, the Bush administration continues to act carefully.

TEXT: Also in Germany, the Berliner Zeitung is a bit more skeptical.

VOICE: The United States has underlined again that (it) is making important decisions alone despite all ... the efforts aimed at building international agreement.

TEXT: In Russia, Moscow's Tribuna comments:

VOICE: It's time to change. The practice of dividing terrorists into 'bad' and 'useful,' taken from the Cold War arsenal, hits the West itself. The fierce fight against the Taleban and (Osama) bin Laden, and the excessive apologia of Chechen militants are incompatible things...

The American leadership's call to Chechen militants (which remain unanswered) to break up their ties with terrorist Number one indicates ...the truth about Chechen terrorists' doings is beginning to settle in in the West.

TEXT: In Israel, the Jerusalem Post is livid that when the attacks occurred in New York and Washington, the United States was prepared to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a new diplomatic initiative in the Middle East.

VOICE: The Bush administration will no doubt be surprised by (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon's hurling what is the most painful arrow one ally can aim at another, the charge of Munich-style abandonment. ... The Bush team is hardly in a position to argue that (Mr.) Sharon's charge is unjustified...

TEXT: In Tel Aviv, Yediot Aharonot also quotes Mr. Sharon's speech to the nation in which he:

VOICE: ... warned the free world not to 'sacrifice Israel' to appease the Arabs, as Czechoslovakia was sacrificed on the eve of World War Two to appease Nazi Germany. This was an unfortunate statement, historically mistaken, politically damaging, factually incorrect, and it deepens the sense of threat and strangulation ...Israelis feel. It weakens Israel and insults its friends. ... George Bush ... is nothing like Neville Chamberlain.

TEXT: In East Jerusalem, the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds suggests:

VOICE: The current situation is taking place as a result of the absence of a serious American-European role to overcome the obstacles facing the peace process.

TEXT: In Tunis, Tunisia, the French-language daily Le Temps, goes back to the founding of Israel, and the displacement of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, as it tries to explain the context of the present conflict.

VOICE: Contrary to what many biased European and American media affirmed after the terrorist attacks, Arabs do not nurse a feeling of hatred for Americans...In the face of a tragedy, tears and sadness do not have a nationality.

So let there be no misunderstanding in this respect, and let's hope ...the United States understands that it is a certain American policy (U-S support for Israel) that is rejected by Arab public opinion and that it has nothing to do with our feeling of friendship toward the American people.

TEXT: In Pakistan, the Frontier Post in Peshawar sees a possible hidden agenda in the latest developments.

VOICE: Conspiracy theorists ... see the massive U-S military build-up in the region as disproportionate to the task of punishing Osama (bin Laden) and the Taleban. These critics are convinced that Washington has designs beyond the immediate conflict, which could conceivably include a strategic hold on Central Asia and even parts of South Asia.

TEXT: In Islamabad, the Pakistan Observer, while praising Washington for showing Pakistani leaders the evidence against Osama bin Laden, adds:

VOICE: It will, however be fair to provide this evidence to the Taleban also, as justice demands that the one who is to be punished know the charge(s) for which he is to stand punishment. As a matter of fact, it would be advisable that this evidence be publicized widely the world over to remove doubts.

TEXT: In Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post comments:

VOICE: In ... President George W. Bush's 'first war of the 21st century,' the opening battle is to convince doubters in the Muslim world that Osama bin Laden is behind the September ...atrocity. For people ... who see America as an oppressor, solidarity at the United Nations and assurances from world leaders about 'incontrovertible proof are not enough. Why, they ask, are they not shown it (the proof)?

TEXT: And finally, in Canada, in Toronto, the Star comments:

VOICE: Mullah Mohammad Omar, the senior Taleban leaders, accuses the United States of spearheading a "flagrant crusade" by Christian countries ... This is nonsense. But Omar wants to deflect attention from the Taleban's crime of harboring Osama bin Laden ... Omar has had three weeks to surrender these killers for trial. He has used that time to preach jihad (holy war), just as his guest does. That leaves the world no option but force.

TEXT: On that note, we conclude this editorial sampling of world newspaper comments about U-S efforts to build an international coalition against terrorism.

NEB/ANG/JWH