Middle East expecting more focused policy from Bush

CAIRO — If Bill Clinton wanted to make everybody feel good, then George W. Bush is expected to ensure that U.S. strategic interests are served.

For Arab leaders that approach is just fine, officials and analysts said. They envision a Bush administration that will stress such issues as the stability of energy supply and regional defense over comprehensive peace, development and human rights.

Israel and the Arabs expect fewer hugs as well as pledges of aid. Instead, they await a policy that is similar to the policies of Bush's father, who served as president from 1989 to 1993.

For President Hosni Mubarak and other Arab allies of the United States that appears to be the good news. He and most Middle East leaders congratulated Bush on his victory and expressed hope that the United States would increase cooperation with their countries.

Mubarak sent a message to Bush, expressing the hope that his administration would advance U.S.-Egyptian ties and Middle East peace. Similar messages were sent by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

But Arab diplomats in Washington have warned against high expectations. They said the Bush administration will make no more than slight changes to Clinton's Middle East policy.

"Clinton was very heavily involved in a personal way in the Middle East, and I don't think Bush will have the same interest," said Shukri Abed, a professor at the University of Maryland in an interview to Israel Radio's Arabic service.

Among the candidates to be Bush's secretary of state are Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice.

Turkey appears to have been buoyed by Bush's victory and officials expect a warming of ties. "I believe we will work together with your administration, as with the outgoing administration, to take forward and deepen our ties which are based on the strategic partnership between our countries," Turkish President Ahmet Sezer said.

Israel, which had placed huge hopes in the peace efforts of Clinton, expressed hope that Bush would continue plans to advance U.S. ties. "The new administration will continue on the path set by its predecessor and will be ready to help the people of the region to find peace," Prime Minister Ehud Barak said.

The Palestinian Authority said it wanted Bush to be what officials termed a more honest broker than Clinton.