Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN6267
2003-09-30 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ SILENT, MEDIA NEGATIVE ON POTUS SPEECH AT UNGA

Tags:  PREL US IZ JO UNGA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006267 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2013
TAGS: PREL US IZ JO UNGA
SUBJECT: GOJ SILENT, MEDIA NEGATIVE ON POTUS SPEECH AT UNGA

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b)(d)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006267

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2013
TAGS: PREL US IZ JO UNGA
SUBJECT: GOJ SILENT, MEDIA NEGATIVE ON POTUS SPEECH AT UNGA

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b)(d)

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (C) Although the GOJ did not issue any official commentary
on President Bush's UNGA speech, the Jordanian media panned
the remarks as "vulgar" and an "insult" to Arabs,
particularly the section dealing with the "ideology of
terrorism." Many of our contacts admitted to have not heard
or read the speech themselves, but learned about it from
editorial commentary. End Summary.

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GOJ DOES NOT REACT TO POTUS UNGA SPEECH
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2. (C) The GOJ did not issue any official response or
statement commenting on President Bush's September 23 UNGA
speech. Ali al-Ayed, Foreign Minister Muasher's Private
Office Director, told PolCouns and PolOff September 29 that
he was unaware of any public comment on the speech by any GOJ
official.

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POTUS SPEECH SKEWED AGAINST ARABS...
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3. (U) In contrast, local media reaction to the UNGA speech
was negative. Amman's Arabic Al-Ra'y on September 26 used
words such as "insult" and "vulgar language" to describe the
President's speech. Jihad al-Mumani's commentary, titled "He
Finds it Easy to Insult the Arabs", argued that President
Bush's request to Arab states to stop supporting terrorism
implied that all Arab states support terrorism and all Arabs
are terrorists.

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...AGAINST ISLAM
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4. (U) Al-Mumani further argued that the President's call
to eradicate the "ideology of terrorism" was a veiled call to
arms against "Arab Islamic culture" which is viewed as not
agreeing with the Israeli "occupation" and "terrorism"
directed against the Palestinian people. Chief Editor Taher
Adwan, from the independent, mass appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab
Al-Yawm, stated that the "enmity of Arabs for America is
increasing, while America seems to be in a state of war with
Islam and with the Arabs, and not only with terrorism as it
claims..."

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Despite the unusually harsh denunciations of the
President's speech in the media, few of our contacts offered
(or had) any independent comment. When asked, a number
admitted that they had neither heard nor read the speech
themselves, but learned about it on al-Jazeera or through
media commentary.
GNEHM