MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003113

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ



1. SUMMARY: AN EDITORIAL IN "AL-BAYAN" STRONGLY CRITICIZED AN
ALLEGED STATEMENT BY SENATOR GAY GLODIS (SIC) IN WHICH HE
ALLEGEDLY CALLED FOR BURYING MUSLIMS WITH THE INTESTINES OF PIGS.
THE EDITORIAL URGED ARAB AND MUSLIM GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE
RETALIATORY MEASURES AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS TO FORCE WASHINGTON
TO CHANGE ITS POSITION AND FULLY RESPECT ARABS AND MUSLIMS. END
SUMMARY.


2. COMMENTING ON SENATOR GAY GLODIS'S (SIC) ALLEGED REMARKS ON
THE NEED TO BURY MUSLIMS WITH PIG'S INTESTINES, AN EDITORIAL IN
THE DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN" 6/30
EDITORIALIZED:

"THE IMAGE OF ARABS AND MUSLIMS IN THE U.S. IS WORSENING. THE
ZIONIST-AMERICAN MEDIA HAVE SUCCEEDED IN MAKING THE WORD 'ISLAM'
EQUIVALENT TO 'TERRORISM,' WHERE EVERY ARAB AND MUSLIM HAS BECOME
SUSPECT UNLESS HIS BEHAVIOR PROVES HIM INNOCENT...YESTERDAY A
SHAMELESS SENATOR OPENED FIRE AGAINST MUSLIMS AND RUDELY DEMANDED
THAT THEY BE BURIED WITH PIGS' INTESTINES. THE FANATIC
SENATOR...DISTRIBUTED A MEMORANDUM TO HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE U.S.
CONGRESS REVEALING THE EXECUTION OF THE SO-CALLED MUSLIM
EXTREMISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES BY GENERAL JOSEPH PERSHING IN 1913.
THE EXECUTIONS WERE DONE WITH BULLETS THAT HAD BEEN DIPPED IN
PIG'S BLOOD, AND THE DEAD WERE LATER BURIED WITH PIGS'
INTESTINES. THE SENATOR DEMANDED THAT HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF WITH
WHAT HE CALLED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACKS IN IRAQ, MEANING
THE MEN OF THE IRAQI RESISTANCE. THIS IS THE VISION THAT
REFLECTS THE MENTALITY OF THOSE WHO INFLUENCE AMERICAN DECISION-
MAKING..."


3. "DECISION-MAKERS IN THE U.S. ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH PAMPERING
ISRAELI TERRORISM BUT ALSO REFUSE TO DEAL OBJECTIVELY AND
NEUTRALLY WITH THE ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLDS. IT IS DISGRACEFUL TO
JUST BLAME THE ZIONIST LOBBY ALLIED WITH THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN
RIGHT REPRESENTED BY BUSH AND HIS AIDES, AND NOT DO ANYTHING THAT
WOULD FORCE THE AMERICANS TO RESPECT ARABS AND MUSLIMS. THE U.S.
IS USED TO INSULTING ARABS AND MUSLIMS, SO WE MUST INSULT IT
STRONGLY IN ORDER TO RESTORE ITS SANITY AND MAKE IT UNDERSTAND
THAT OUR NATION IS NOBLE AND WILL NOT ACCEPT INSULT AND DISDAIN.
THEN WE MUST STOP THE CALLS FOR CORRECTING OUR IMAGE AND REPLACE
THIS SHALLOW TALK WITH POLICIES THAT HARM U.S. INTERESTS IN THE
ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLDS, SO WASHINGTON WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE
SERIOUS IN FORCING IT TO RESPECT US, OUR RELIGION AND RIGHTS.
THIS IS THE DUTY OF EACH AND EVERY ARAB AND MUSLIM, BUT FIRST AND
FOREMOST IT IS THE DUTY OF GOVERNMENTS."

WAHBA