WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: Unfinished business with Iraq? Forget it
Translated From The Arabic By Shira Gutgold

The most interesting aspect of Cheney's tour was that the rulers who met him breached the norms of traditional Arab hospitality by speaking frankly and firmly stating their rejection of Bush administration proposals for military action against Iraq. While Cheney flew from capital to capital, Arab newspaper commentators spelled out the reasons for the Arab stand.

First, they argued, Iraq is no longer in illegal occupation of the territory of a neighbor. Therefore, there is no need to launch a military campaign against its government.

Second, such a campaign could precipitate the fragmentation of Iraq.

Third, an anarchic Iraq could destabilize the entire neighborhood.

Fourth, Iraq's regional trading partners would lose billions of dollars if the US assaults Baghdad once again. None of these countries - Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey - can afford such heavy losses, for which the US is offering no compensation.

Finally - and above all - Palestine. No one in the Arab world is prepared to endorse a US military offensive against Iraq at a time when Israel is waging what UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called "all-out warfare" against the Palestinian people.