Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI435
2004-02-18 14:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

NEED TO CHANGE POLICY NOT THE MEDIUM: MEDIA AND

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
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Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 03:23:08 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM February 18, 2004


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 435 - UNKNOWN) 

TAGS: OIIP, KMDR 

Captions: None 

Subject: NEED TO CHANGE POLICY NOT THE MEDIUM: MEDIA AND 
 PERSONAL REACTION TO AL-HURRA ARABIC-LANGUAGE SATELLITE
 CHANNEL 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00435

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

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: PAO:AHOSHAN
CLEARED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER

VZCZCADI609
OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RUEHFR
RHRMDAB RUCJACC RUCQSOC
DE RUEHAD #0435/01 0491415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181415Z FEB 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3253
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON//PASS TO MOC// 0771
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0807
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL//PA//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000435 

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; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: NEED TO CHANGE POLICY NOT THE MEDIUM: MEDIA AND
PERSONAL REACTION TO AL-HURRA ARABIC-LANGUAGE SATELLITE CHANNEL

REF: STATE 31981

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000435

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; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: NEED TO CHANGE POLICY NOT THE MEDIUM: MEDIA AND
PERSONAL REACTION TO AL-HURRA ARABIC-LANGUAGE SATELLITE CHANNEL

REF: STATE 31981


1. SUMMARY: REACTION IN THE UAE PRINT MEDIA TO THE NEW AL-HURRA
TELEVISION CHANNEL SO FAR IS UNANIMOUS IN ITS ASSERTION THAT,
UNLESS THE U.S. PLAYS A BALANCED ROLE IN A PEACEFUL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, NOTHING AMERICA DOES WILL
SUCCEED IN CHANGING PEOPLE'S MINDS. ONE COLUMN IN "AL-BAYAN"
NOTES THAT THE CHANNEL WILL CONTINUE TO DISTORT ARAB ISSUES IN
FAVOR OF ISRAEL, WHILE ANOTHER PRAISES "AL-JAZEERAH" AND "AL-
ARABIYAH" FOR THEIR CREDIBILITY AND OBJECTIVITY AND CALL ON THE
ARAB PEOPLE TO BOYCOTT VIEWING IT. COMMENTS TO PA STAFF FROM
MEDIA CONTACTS HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY NEGATIVE. END SUMMARY.

____________________________________________
ARROGANT AND OUT OF TOUCH: PERSONAL COMMENTS


2. CHIEF OF THE NEWS CENTER AT ABU DHABI TELEVISION COMMENTED "IF
THE RHYTHM OF BROADCASTING CONTINUES LIKE THIS IT WILL MAKE BAD
THINGS WORSE AND WORSE THING WORST. HOWEVER, IF THEY PLAN TO
IMPROVE AND BE WIDELY VIEWED THEY NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING:


A. THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR NEWS AGENDA. DESPITE PROMOTION,
THEY ARE TOO OBVIOUSLY A PROPAGANDA MACHINE. THERE ARE ALSO TOO
MANY TECHNICAL FAULTS, WHICH REFLECT LACK OF REHEARSAL.


B. THEY NEED TO BROADCAST 3-4 HOURS FROM THE REGION SIMPLY
BECAUSE THE CHANNEL SEEMS OUT OF REACH. IF YOU ARE REPORTING TO
THIS PART OF THE WORLD YOU HAVE TO OPERATE FROM HERE.


C. THE NEWS PRESENTERS ARE WEAK WITH NO CHARISMA. THEY NEED TO
HAVE PRESENTERS WITH GREATER PIZZAZZ.


3. MANAGING EDITOR OF THE NEWS CENTER, ABU DHABI TELEVISION,
SAID THAT "ANY PERSON WITH BASIC TV PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND WOULD
REALIZE THAT THE CHANNEL'S STAFF LACK PROFESSIONALISM ESPECIALLY
IN NEWS REPORTING, ORDER AND LEADS." HE ADDED THAT IT DOES NOT
TAKE A LONG TIME TO SEE THAT THE STATION WAS ESTABLISHED
ESPECIALLY TO ADDRESS ARABS AND MUSLIMS AND TO ASK THEM TO LIKE
ISRAEL AND APPROVE WHAT THE U.S. HAS BEEN DOING TO THE ARABS.
EVEN PARTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW REFLECT THIS WHEN HE
VOWED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISTS USING ALL TOOLS
POSSIBLE AND THEN LAUNCHED "AL-HURRA" TO ADDRESS ARABS AND
MUSLIMS." HE CONCLUDED, "MY INITIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHANNEL

IS THAT IT IS REPELLING, NOT APPEALING."


4. DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION, UAE MINISTRY OF
INFORMATION, NOTED, "I WAS SHOCKED TO WATCH ISRAELI YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN TALKING ABOUT CO-EXISTENCE WITH PALESTINIANS, PROVIDED THEY
ABANDON TERRORISM. THIS IS A VERY UNTRUE PICTURE OF THE STORY,
WHICH GOES TO SHOW THAT THE CHANNEL WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE FIRST
PLACE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE."

_____________________________________________ __________________
CALL FOR BOYCOTT/ATTEMPTS TO BEAUTIFY U.S. IMAGE: MEDIA REACTION


5. UNDER THE HEADLINE `"AL-HURRA" LACKS HURRIYAH' (FREEDOM),
AHMAD OMARABI WROTE IN THE DUBAI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN"
2/16:

"THE DEGREE OF CREDIBILITY, AS MEDIA EXPERTS SAY, IS THE ONLY
STANDARD THAT WILL DECIDE THE SUCCESS AND FAILURE OF THE NEW
AMERICAN CHANNEL `AL-HURRA" WHICH WAS LAUNCHED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS ARABS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.. THE AIM OF
THE CHANNEL IS TO IMPROVE THE U.S. IMAGE, THEREFORE, WE IN THE
ARAB WORLD SHOULD NOT EXPECT FROM ITS POLITICAL AND NEWS PROGRAMS
ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT SERVES U.S. FOREIGN POLICIES TOWARDS THE
REGION. IT IS WORTHWHILE FOR ALL ARABS TO BOYCOTT THIS SATELLITE
CHANNEL, FOR MILLIONS OF ARABS TO STOP WATCHING IT AND THOSE
MEDIA PERSONALITIES TO STOP WORKING FOR IT AND ARAB INTELLECTUALS
AND POLITICIANS TO CEASE ANY COOPERATION WITH IT. THE SUCCESS OF
THE SUSPICIOUS ANTI-ARAB STATION IN ATTRACTING 150 MEDIA
PERSONALITIES UNFORTUNATELY SHOWS HOW FAR WE HAVE REACHED IN THE
DETERIORATION OF OUR CIVILIZATION. NEVERTHELESS, I PERSONALLY
PREDICT THAT SUCH AN AMERICAN PROJECT IS DOOMED TO FAILURE, AND
IF THE U.S. WAS MISLED BY WHAT IT CONSIDERED THE SUCCESS OF RADIO
SAWA, THE AWARENESS OF ARAB POLITICAL VIEWERS IS TOTALLY
DIFFERENT FROM THE POP MUSIC AUDIENCE ADDRESSED BY SAWA. THE
MOUNTING POLITICAL AWARENESS IN THE ARAB WORLD EXPLAINS WHY AL-
JAZEERAH" AND `AL-ARABIYAH" HAVE BECOME VERY POPULAR AND CREDIBLE
TO THE ARABS."

6. AISHA SULTAN WROTE IN HER DAILY COLUMN IN "AL-BAYAN" 2/16:

".THE AMERICAN POLITICAL DECISION-MAKERS AND THOSE IN CHARGE OF
THE CHANNEL MUST REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM OF IRAQIS AND ARABS
WITH THE U.S. IS NOT HUMAN, AND NOT THAT OF TECHNIQUES OF SPLASHY
CLICHS. THE PROBLEM IS DEEPER AND OLDER. IT IS POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND COLONIAL, BOOSTED BY THE SUPPORT OF A GROUP OF
POLITICIANS THAT ARE BIASED TO THE BACKBONE IN FAVOR OF ISRAEL.
AL-HURRA WILL DO NOTHING BUT DISTORT MORE FACTS AND USE FURTHER
TACTICS AIMED AT INTEGRATING ISRAEL INTO ARAB SENTIMENTS
FOLLOWING THE ARABS INABILITY TO DEFEAT ISRAEL. AMERICA GOES IN
LINE AGAINST THE ARAB MAIN CAUSE, AND THE ISSUE OF IRAQ CAME TO
MAKE THINGS WORSE."

7. UNDER THE HEADLINE `"AL-HURRA" AND THE AMERICAN FAULT,' IBN
AL-DEIRA WROTE IN HIS DAILY COLUMN IN SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB
DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" 2/16:

".ONE DAY THE SIMPLE AMERICAN CITIZEN WILL WONDER WHETHER THE
U.S. ACTUALLY NEEDED TO CHANGE ITS MEDIA TOOLS TO ADDRESS THE
ARAB BRAIN AND SENTIMENTS INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE AMERICAN UNFAIR
AND ARROGANT POLICIES. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO SO FAR FROM
REALITY AND COME UP WITH THE DISHONEST AND UNJUST "AL-HURRA",
WHILE AMERICA DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT ARABS ARE BEING
SLAUGHTERED AND HUMILIATED. WHEN AMERICA READS THE ARAB WORLD AS
A PIECE OF FICTION, "AL-HURRA" SHOWS NO UNDERSTANDING TOWARD THE
ARABS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DICTATORSHIPS BACKED BY THOSE IN
CHARGE OF "AL-HURRA" AND VICTIMS OF THE ISRAELI AGGRESSION..BY
"THE MAN OF PEACE" THE NAZI SHARON, WHOSE ARSENAL IS EQUIPPED
WITH AMERICAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE AMERICAN VISION IS
DRASTICALLY AT FAULT. FOLLOWING THEIR SUPPORT OF THE OCCUPATION
AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO DISDAIN THE
AMERICAN BRAIN AND SENTIMENTS, DESCRIBING THE VICTIM AS TERRORIST
AND CALLING ON THE PALESTINIAN, WHOSE LAND AND SKY ARE OCCUPIED,
TO SELF-RESTRAINT AND ENJOY THE CULTURE OF PEACE AND
TOLERANCE.CALLING ON THE ARABS TO FOLLOW AND ADAPT THE
COMPREHENSION, NEWS AND IDEAS OF "AL-HURRA IS BEING IMPLEMENTED
DISGRACEFULLY WHERE CONTRADICTIONS ARE PROMOTED. THEY AIM TO
SEPARATE THE NATION FROM ITS HISTORICAL IDENTITY AND THE RIGHTS
OF ITS OWN PEOPLE."


8. COMMENTING ON THE U.S. POLICY TO BEAUTIFY ITS IMAGE IN THE
ARAB WORLD THROUGH THE NEW "AL HURRA" SATELLITE CHANNEL, "AL-
KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 02/16:

"HAD THE U.S. POLICY TOWARDS THE ARAB REGION BEEN CONVINCING, IT
WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO MAKE-UP ITS FACE TO SHOW ITS
CONCERN TOWARDS ARABS AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEM THROUGH RADIO AND
TV OFFENSIVES THAT ARE NOT VERY FAR FROM MILITARY, POLITICAL, AND
ECONOMIC OFFENSIVES THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHICH DOES NOT
CONCEAL ITS HATRED TOWARDS ARABS IN PARTICULAR AND MUSLIMS IN
GENERAL, HAS BEEN LAUNCHING. THE U.S. POLICY TOWARDS THE ARAB
REGION AND THE WORLD REQUIRES A CORRECTIVE MOVEMENT THAT WOULD
PUT IT BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND THIS SHOULD BE BASED ON
INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, TRUE FREEDOM, TRUE
DEMOCRACY AND END TO THE OCCUPATION AND LETTING PEOPLE LIVE IN
THEIR HOMELANDS IN PEACE AND DECIDING THEIR OWN DESTINY."

WAHBA