Some abroad view Bush inaugural speech with skepticism

AMMAN, Jordan -- President Bush's inaugural address placing the fostering of democratic freedoms around the world at the center of US foreign policy drew a skeptical reaction yesterday in the Arab world, where analysts questioned whether the rhetoric was consistent with the administration's actions in the Middle East.

Many political analysts and commentators commended the values outlined in Bush's speech. But they said the words belied the fact that the United States supports some authoritarian governments in the Middle East and would ring hollow to the many Arabs who perceive US policy in the region as motivated by financial concerns and support for Israel.

Several writers called the speech ''messianic" in tone and language and potentially harmful to fledgling reform movements across the region.

''It's scary stuff, so sweeping and overarching you don't know what to make of it," said Sadiq Azm, a Syrian writer and reform advocate. ''He's saying that what's good for America is good for everyone else. We are used to this kind of bombast from our Arab leaders. But it's been a long time since I've heard it in English."

''What he said is great, and we completely agree," said Abdulaziz Alsebail, a professor of modern literature at King Saud University in Riyadh and part of a reform movement in Saudi Arabia that is nudging the ruling family toward allowing more public participation in politics. ''But the question is: How can you impose freedom? Is military intervention the right way to do it?"

In Europe, meanwhile, political commentators also were casting doubt on whether Bush was sincere about backing freedom fighters. Some commentators said America supports dictators now in the Middle East and Asia.

South Korean political commentators voiced fears that the inaugural address would bring a setback to diplomatic efforts in Asia

Bush did not name countries in his inaugural address Thursday. But the media in South Korea were quick to connect dots between Bush's speech and earlier remarks by Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice labeling North Korea among ''outposts of tyranny" in the world.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the vow to fight tyranny does not portend a change in policy toward China and North Korea.

Material from Reuters was included in this report.