Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI2874
2004-08-24 10:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: NAJAF/THE PALESTINAIN AUTHORITY

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
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Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 11:45:38 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 02874

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

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER
DRAFTED: PAO:AALKHATIB
CLEARED: PAO:TRWHATLEY

VZCZCADI813
OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RUEHFR
RHRMDAB RUCJACC RUCQSOC
DE RUEHAD #2874 2371049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241049Z AUG 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5635
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0832
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0870
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL//PA//
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002874 

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; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PASS TO MOC; PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NAJAF/THE PALESTINAIN AUTHORITY


UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002874

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; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PASS TO MOC; PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NAJAF/THE PALESTINAIN AUTHORITY



1. SUMMARY: THE DETERIORATING SITUATION IN NAJAF AND CORRUPTION
IN THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT
AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. UAE COLUMNIST ABDULLAH RASHID CRITICIZED
PRESIDENT YASER ARAFAT AND DESCRIBED HIM AS THE CORE OF ALL
CORRUPTION IN THE PA SINCE HE WILL NOT INITIATE REFORM. AN
EDITORIAL IN "AKHBAR AL ARAB" NOTED THAT MILITARY ACTION IS NOT
THE SOLUTION FOR THE IRAQI CRISIS. END SUMMARY.


2. NOTING THAT MILITARY ACTION IS NOT THE SOLUTION IN NAJAF BUT
WILL LEAD TO MORE RESISTANCE IN OTHER CITIES, ABU DHABI-BASED
ARABIC DAILY "AKHBAR AL-ARAB" EDITORIALIZED 08/24: (CIRCULATION
20,000)

". MILITARY ACTIONS WILL NOT BRING SOLUTIONS FOR IRAQ, AND THE
ONLY THING THAT WILL BE LEFT IN THE IRAQI PEOPLE'S MIND IS
MEMORIES OF A LOST COUNTRY BECAUSE OF A GOVERNMENT THAT DID NOT
SUCCEED. AND SINCE MILITARY ACTIONS ARE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM
IN IRAQ, THEY WILL JUST LEAD TO MORE RESISTANCE IN OTHER CITIES,
AND IF THIS HAPPENED THEN THERE IS NO TIME FOR SOLUTIONS. THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT SHOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE INDEPENDENCE OF IT
DECISIONS BEFORE MUKTADA, AND SHOULD DEPEND ON NATIONALS FOR
SUPPORT AND CONSULTATION."


3. UAE COLUMNIST ABDULLAH RASHID WROTE AN ARTICLE UNDER THE
HEADLINE "A CORRUPT AUTHORITY" IN ABU DHABI-BASED SEMI-GOVERNMENT
"AL ITTIHAD" ON 08/23: (CIRCULATION 85,000)

". WHEN COVERING UP FOR CORRUPTION COMES FROM THE HIGHEST PERSON
IN THE AUTHORITY WHO IS YASER ARAFAT, THEN THIS HAS ONE MEANING
WHICH IS THAT ARAFAT IS CONFIRMING ALL WHAT IS SAID IN THE WEST
AND BY THE ISRAELIS THAT HE IS THE CORE OF THE FINANCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CORRUPTION IN THE AUTHORITY. TODAY WE ASK ARAFAT:
WHAT SHOULD WE SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACCUSED THE AUTHORITY OF
CORRUPTION? SHOULD WE DENY IT?. SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOUR DENIAL
STATEMENTS?. BUT YOU ARE THE ONE NOT FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND
CORRUPTORS? HOW COULD WE BELIEVE YOU?. THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
SHOULD HAVE INITIATED THE NECESSARY REFORM IN ITS ORGANIZATIONS
BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAVE HAD POSITIVE OUTCOMES BOTH INTERNALLY AND
EXTERNALLY. BUT AUTHORITY OFFICIALS JUST IGNORED THIS ALTHOUGH
ARAFAT CONFESSED THE MISTAKES. DOES THE AUTHORITY UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF REFORM AND TO BEAUTIFY ITS PICTURE INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE PALESTINE? DOES THE AUTHORITY REALIZE THAT DISTRIBUTION
OF RESPONSIBILITY WILL MAKE IT STRONGER IN FACING THE
CONSPIRACIES THAT ARE BEING PREPARED FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE?"

SISON