Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief this evening over the US President Mr George W Bush's robust backing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation.
Critics had called for him to quit after the furore over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners but analysts, editors and ordinary Arabs were united in their condemnation of Bush who said the United States owed Rumsfeld a "debt of gratitude".
"After the torture and vile acts by the American army, President Bush goes out and congratulates Rumsfeld. It's just incredible. I am in total shock," said Mr Omar Belhouchet, editor of the influential Algerian national daily El Watan.
"Bush's praise for Rumsfeld will discredit the United States...and further damage its reputation, which is already at a historic low in the Arab world," he added.
"After Mr Bush's decision to keep Rumsfeld, all their apologies seem like lip service," Dubai-based political analyst Mr Jawad al-Anani said.
"Mr Rumsfeld would have certainly lost his job if the prisoners were American."
"The United States is spending so much money by setting up
Alhurra television and Radio Sawa to improve its image in the Arab world...How can it reconcile that with keeping a man who has insulted every Arab through the abuses of Iraqi prisoners," added Mr Anani, a former Jordanian foreign minister.
University of Algiers professor Mr Mahmoud Belhimeur agreed. "I cannot believe the United States reacts the way an
authoritarian regimes would. Bush should have done the honourable thing and fired Rumsfeld," he said.
But Mr Michael Cox, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said the repercussions of firing the defense secretary would have been very significant for Bush.
"This has been Rumsfeld's war, and I suppose the political symbolism of trying to get rid of Rumsfeld would be huge."
Mr Cox said he could not entirely rule out that Rumsfeld could go, if US public opinion turned. But he added it would seem out of character for Mr Rumsfeld to go quietly.
"'I want to spend more time with my family' doesn't sound
too credible with Mr Rumsfeld. With Mr Powell maybe, but not
Rumsfeld," he said.