Newspapers in the Arab world doubt any good can come from any possible rethink of US policy in Iraq, following President Bush's speech expressing dissatisfaction with the situation in the country.
Syrian and Qatari commentators believe that Mr Bush's refusal to set a timetable for troop withdrawal means there can be no end to the bloodshed.
One Lebanese paper predicts America is close to admitting defeat, while there is also speculation that US troops may be withdrawn, leaving a destroyed Iraq "to an uncertain fate".
UMAR JAFTLI IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN
It is a feast soaked with Arab blood. In Iraq dozens die every day because of the US occupation and its policy of divide and rule. There is no hope of achieving an end to these tragic incidents or an end to the occupation, because President Bush insists on saying that the presence of US forces in Iraq is necessary to spread democracy, for the future of Iraq and to protect the US from terrorists.
HASAN THABIT IN QATAR'S AL-WATAN
President Bush has caused the death of large numbers of Iraqis, more than those killed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Nevertheless, the US president is still defending the invasion of Iraq claiming that this is driving Iraq towards a democratic regime, which will be a centre for enlightenment for the entire Arab region. This is completely untrue, if we take into consideration the sectarian and ethnic fighting we see in this Arab country.
PAN-ARAB AL-QUDS AL-ARABI
It seems that President Bush's patience is wearing thin. [Prime Minister] Nouri Maliki's days in Iraq are numbered... What is clear is that the US Administration is now convinced that there is no point in continuing to support Maliki's government because it has failed to commit to the pledges it made to ensure security, disband the sectarian militia and achieve national reconciliation between the different sects and groups in Iraq... The honeymoon for the ruling coalition in Iraq and the US administration is nearly over.
EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH
The US administration has ignored the sincere successive warnings against undertaking the invasion of Iraq and opening a battle zone in the Middle East... Anyone watching what is happening in Iraq now will realise that the warnings from Egypt and others were right, as Baghdad and all Iraq's cities have turned into a swamp, which the US administration has admitted is similar to Vietnam.
LEBANON'S AL-SAFIR
When President Bush admits that the situation in Iraq has become similar to that of Vietnam, you should believe him and believe that he is very near to admitting defeat.
PAN-ARAB AL-ARAB AL-ALAMIYAH
A change in US policy is possible. Its logical aim would be to save the US... and leave the Iraqis to an uncertain fate now the US and British occupation has destroyed Iraq and divided it into factions.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.
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