Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1727
2003-04-09 12:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

TF1Z01: EMPOWERMENT, NOT CHARITY: PRESENTING

Tags:  KPAO IZ TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
null
Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:34:05 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM April 09, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1727 - PRIORITY) 

TAGS: KPAO 

Captions: None 

Subject: TF1Z01: EMPOWERMENT, NOT CHARITY: PRESENTING 
 OUR MESSAGE ON HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE IRAQI 
 PEOPLE 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01727

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: PAO 
 INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM 
Laser1:
 ACTION: PAO 

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MWAHBA
DRAFTED: PAO:KVANDEVATE
CLEARED: POL:SWILLIAMS

VZCZCADI233
PP RUEHC RUCNRAQ RHEHNSC RUEKJCS RUCJACC
DE RUEHAD #1727 0991249
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091249Z APR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9349
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/NESA//
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//POLAD//
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001727 

SIPDIS

FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE PD/PA GROUP; NEA/NGA; NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO IZ TC
SUBJECT: TF1Z01: EMPOWERMENT, NOT CHARITY: PRESENTING
OUR MESSAGE ON HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE IRAQI
PEOPLE


--------------------------------------------- ------
WE ARE REBUILDING SOCIETY, NOT SUCCOURING THE NEEDY
--------------------------------------------- ------

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001727

SIPDIS

FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE PD/PA GROUP; NEA/NGA; NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO IZ TC
SUBJECT: TF1Z01: EMPOWERMENT, NOT CHARITY: PRESENTING
OUR MESSAGE ON HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE IRAQI
PEOPLE


-------------- --------------
WE ARE REBUILDING SOCIETY, NOT SUCCOURING THE NEEDY
-------------- --------------


1. NOW THAT THE BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD IS LARGELY WON, THE
MAJOR FOCUS OF OUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE THE RESTORATION OF
ORDER AND RULE OF LAW, THE REBUILDING OF IRAQI
INSTITUTIONS, AND THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY, GRADUAL OR
OTHERWISE, TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE. AS WE MOVE TO GET FOOD,
WATER, MEDICINE, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL AID TO THE IRAQI
POPULATION, THE MESSAGE WE PUT OUT SHOULD FOCUS NOT/NOT
ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE HELPING THE NEEDY, BUT ON THE
FACT THAT WE ARE BRINGING FREEDOM AND SECURITY TO THE
IRAQI POPULATION. THIS SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY IMAGES
OF OUR DELIVERY OF FOOD, WATER AND MEDICAL AID, BUT THE
MAIN MESSAGE SHOULD BE ONE OF RECONSTRUCTION, NOT OF
SUCCOUR OR CHARITY. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID IN BELFAST,
IRAQIS ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF REBUILDING THEIR
SOCIETY. WE ARE EMPOWERING THEM AFTER DECADES OF
DISENFRANCHISEMENT, NOT MINISTERING TO THE WEAK AND
POWERLESS. OUR INTERLOCUTORS HERE, WHETHER IRAQI, ARAB
OR EMIRATI, REPEATEDLY REMIND US THAT BY HIGHLIGHTING
FOOD AID, WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT SHAMES AND HUMILIATES.


--------------
DON'T REINFORCE FEELINGS OF POWERLESSNESS
--------------


2. ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL REASONS OUR CAMPAIGN TO
LIBERATE IRAQ HAS PLAYED OUT BADLY IN THE ARAB POPULAR
MIND IS THAT IT REINFORCES THE FEELINGS, STRONGLY HELD
HERE AND ELSEWHERE, THAT ARABS ARE WEAK AND BACKWARDS
VIS-A-VIS THE WEST, THAT THEY ARE THE PAWNS OF GREAT
POWERS, AND THAT THEY ARE POWERLESS TO DIRECT THEIR
DESTINIES. AS WE SHAPE OUR MESSAGE TO THE IRAQI AND
ARAB PUBLICS DURING THE COMING REBUILDING OF IRAQI
SOCIETY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A POTENT
MESSAGE NOT ONLY THAT AMERICA HAS BROUGHT FREEDOM TO THE
IRAQIS, BUT ALSO THAT IRAQIS (AND IMPLICITLY ALL ARABS)
ARE CAPABLE OF BUILDING THEIR OWN FUTURES WHEN GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY. FOR IRAQIS, ONE OF THE OLDEST AND PROUDEST
CIVILIZATIONS, WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THIRTY YEARS UNDER
SADDAM, EMPOWERMENT, NOT CHARITY, SHOULD BE OUR MESSAGE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, UNLESS THERE IS DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS
ON THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FRONT, ANY MESSAGE WE SEND,
HOWEVER SKILLFULLY TAILORED, WILL NOT RESONATE WITH THE
BROADER ARAB PUBLIC.



WAHBA