Arabic press scorns Bush address

'Mere idle talk' said al-Thawrah

Newspapers in Iraq and the Arab world have poured scorn on US President George Bush's State of the Union address in which he accused Iraq of deceiving the world over weapons of mass destruction.

But some dailies in Iran argue that the Iraq crisis could provide Tehran with opportunities to improve its international standing.

Bush persisted in levelling false accusations against Iraq, without presenting any tangible evidence

Al-Thawrah

"Bush's address was mere idle talk," says the Iraqi daily Al-Thawrah. "The address was full of vociferation and Hollywood-style buffoonery."

"Bush persisted in levelling false accusations against Iraq, without presenting any tangible evidence, or convincing, logical proof. Let Bush and Blair present the alleged information they claim they have, and let this information be tested on the ground, so that the world may know, with more details, who is lying and who is telling the truth."

Al-Thawrah accuses Washington of instigating "a new imperialist drive based on despotism and aggression, of interest only to the Zionists and the capitalists".

'Godfather Bush'

Baghdad's Al-Jumhuriyah rages against "the evil American administration" which it warns is "unable to diminish the steadfastness of the Iraqi leadership and people of Iraq who are cohesive, attached to their principles and ready for sacrifice, until evil is defeated."

Bush has a very aggressive, sick, narcissistic and megalomaniac personality. He is a danger to the world

Al-Iraq

A commentator in Al-Iraq attacks "little Bush, the godfather of the American administration".

The American president is also dubbed "robber and war criminal Bush" who "has a very aggressive, sick, narcissistic and megalomaniac personality. He is a danger to the world".

For the United Arab Emirate's left-leaning Al-Khalij, Mr Bush's State of the Union address "and Ariel Sharon's Likud victory in the Israeli elections came at the same time, one complementing the other. To summarize in one sentence: War against the Arabs."

London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi questions the link made between Baghdad and Al-Qaeda.

"The most dangerous thing is that President Bush talked about an alleged relationship between the Iraqi Government and the al-Qaeda organisation, a relationship which all the US security bodies have failed to prove.

Blix gave Bush the ammunition he needed when he said that the Iraqis are cooperating in form not in content

Al-Sharq al-Awsat

"It is ironic that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who denied before parliament a few weeks ago any relationship between the Iraqi president and the 11 September events, came back yesterday to repeat what President Bush had said about such links."

Ammunition

Another London-based Arabic daily, Al-Sharq al-Awsat, points the finger at UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

"Blix gave Bush the ammunition he needed when he said that the Iraqis are co-operating in form nor in content."

Al-Sharq's advice is: "Look forward to the best and expect the worse. Maybe this will be the best advice amid the increasing possibilities of a new war in the region."

The pro-Libyan, London-based Al-Arab al-Alamiyah laments what it sees as the failure of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to avert the possibility of war.

This is an historic opportunity for Iran to find a suitable place for itself in the new game of the main players in the region

Etemaad

"We thought (or hoped) that Egypt and the Gulf states would employ their good relations with America to convince President Bush to change his mind about attacking Iraq. Our hopes evaporated and Mubarak's tour was totally negative."

Opportunity

Two reformist dailies in Iran are convinced the situation could benefit Tehran.

"The best strategy for us is to realize that neutrality does not always serve our country's interests. On many occasions, by remaining neutral, we may lose golden opportunities," argues Aftab-e Yazd.

For Etemaad, "this is an historic opportunity for Iran to find a suitable place for itself in the new game of the main players in the region".

But the hardline Jomhuri-ye Eslami warns Washington that "its threats will only mobilize world public opinion against it.

"In view of the public hatred of America, this year's haj rituals would be a good opportunity to force the White House gang-leaders to retreat."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.