Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA3557
2005-07-25 05:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
Media Reaction: Bomb blast in Egypt;Dhaka
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003557
SIPDIS
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER),SA/RA, INR/R/MR,
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON)
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER),J45
(MAJ NICHOLLS)
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Bomb blast in Egypt;Dhaka
Summary:
--------------
Bomb Attacks in Sharms el Sheik and London
--------------
"Bomb Attacks in Egypt"
Anti-West Bangla language newspaper "Inqilab" editorially
comments (7/25):
We have no words to express our indignation to those who
carried out the attacks. We strongly protest and condemn
them. We think that nothing great can be achieved through
the killing of innocent people. Killing will only increase
violence. Terrorism is now a worldwide problem.
Unfortunately, fingers are pointed to Muslims for whatever
happens in the world. It is not yet known who were behind
the two attacks in London. Nevertheless, Muslims have been
held responsible and subjected to harassment. It seems that
none other than Muslims can launch this kind of attacks or
subversive activities. This idea is very dangerous and a
threat to world peace.... The so-called war against terror
is a war against Muslims. New crusaders hold Muslims
responsible blindly for any terrorist incident in the world
and increase their hostility to Muslims. The world Muslim
leadership must realize this conspiracy and deal with the
situation with prudence. Terrorism must be rejected,
condemned and resisted always. The causes of terrorism must
be identified and it must be thoroughly investigated to find
out who are engaged in terrorism. A terrorist is a
terrorist, his national identity cannot be taken in
consideration. It should be kept in mind that Islam has no
relations with terrorism. Islam does not support any kind
of terrorism. If a Muslim is engaged in terrorist
activities, Islam does condone him and his crimes.
--------------
"This Barbarism Must be ended"
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Sangbad"
editorially comments (7/25):
...The strong strategy adopted by those who are leading the
war against terror is paving the way for terrorist
activities. Bush-Blair has divided the world instead of
uniting the world against terrorism. This division has, in
fact, facilitated terrorism.
The dangerous thing is that these incidents of terrorism
have encouraged local terrorist organizations to be
connected with international terrorist networks. This
dangerous process is going on in many countries, including
Bangladesh. The government's commitment to fight terrorism,
be it local or international, is not sincere. Sometimes, it
takes some measures against terror, but they are just for
show. It is not difficult for anybody to realize that these
are not sincere efforts. There is no scope for any nation
to remain idle in the war against international terrorism.
--------------
"Egypt's tragedy"
Independent English language newspaper "New Age" editorially
comments (7/25):
Those who have gone around promoting suicide killings
through the murder of innocent people in such places as
Madrid, Bali, London and now Sharm el Sheikh have clearly
embraced the belief that their methods are the only ones
that can force the world_fs powerful nations to their knees.
For their part, the argument which men in Washington and
London have always made, that terrorists have been working
to destabilize life everywhere, is surely true. But what
cannot at the same time be ignored is that much of the
violence we observe around us today has been spawned by all
the things that have gone wrong in Iraq.
There is, in light of the darkness that one notices falling
across increasingly bigger swathes of the globe, a need
today for policy makers in the West - and we particularly
mean the United States and Britain - to rethink policy.
Sooner or later, it should be for President Bush and Prime
Minister Blair to consider the options before them, one of
which is to have their troops go back home from Iraq. While
there is no guarantee that such a move will take Iraq back
to normal (it is a devastated country today with nearly
everyone out to grab what he can out of the mess),it will
be a significant way of defusing the militancy that has been
cropping up everywhere. We condemn, as we have always
condemned, those who make targets of innocent civilians.
Terrorism, we believe fully and unequivocally, is an evil
that needs to be defeated at the earliest. At the same time,
we think that the time has come for leaders in the West to
tone down their hubris somewhat and acknowledge that a good
deal of the terror we have been through in the last couple
of years has been a direct result of the flawed policies
they have pursued in places like Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
Our prayers go out to the families of those killed in Egypt.
Our hope is that the perpetrators or planners of this dark
deed will be brought to justice soon.
--------------
"Carnage at Sharm El-Sheikh"
Centrist English language newspaper "News Today" editorially
comments (7/25):
Saturday's carnage at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm
El-Sheikh adds a whole new dimension to the "war on terror"
mega serial authored jointly by Messrs Bush and Blair.
Eighty-eight dead and close to 200 injured puts it at par
with the last week's London blasts but the similarity
probably ends there. While the London blasts must be seen
as continuation of defiance by people under pressure the
attacks in the Egyptian resort clearly means taking the
fight to the doorsteps of those who actively or passively
have aided, abetted and colluded with the US-led coalition
in its so-called war on terror. The kidnapping and
subsequent killing of a very senior Egyptian diplomat in
Iraq only the other day also falls in the same pattern. The
message is loud and clear : at the end of more than two
years of relentless pursuit the so-called terrorists today
look not only more organized but even capable of striking
anywhere at will. Nothing could be more embarrassing for
the Bush and Blair administrations.
Policymakers in Washington and London should now realize
that they just cannot fight a faceless enemy. The "Islamic
extremists" coinage is a very poor attempt at putting a
face on the enemy but with world's Muslim population close
to one billion this sounds like a joke. And why talk about
the Muslims only? What about the deprived millions of Asia,
Africa and Latin America? They too have grievances.... The
problem was not Saddam Hossein or his rogue regime; the
problem lies in the global order that tilted heavily
against the majority. Days when colonial powers occupied
countries and ruled them peacefully are long over. Even the
world's lone superpower with an arsenal good enough to
destroy the earth cannot hope to rule colonies through
remote control. Iraq was the first lesson in this. If
Washington goes for escalation the only casualty would be
peace. It is a war, no doubt, but one that cannot be won by
military might alone.
Will Sharm El-Sheikh prompt Arab countries who have all
these years looked like stooges of the west to rewrite
their positions and assume a more pro-active role in their
region? Only they can act as balm and persuade the boiling
minds in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and elsewhere to give
them an opportunity to work out a deal acceptable to all.
Our sincere sympathies for the victims of the latest act of
violence.
Chammas
SIPDIS
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER),SA/RA, INR/R/MR,
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON)
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER),J45
(MAJ NICHOLLS)
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Bomb blast in Egypt;Dhaka
Summary:
--------------
Bomb Attacks in Sharms el Sheik and London
--------------
"Bomb Attacks in Egypt"
Anti-West Bangla language newspaper "Inqilab" editorially
comments (7/25):
We have no words to express our indignation to those who
carried out the attacks. We strongly protest and condemn
them. We think that nothing great can be achieved through
the killing of innocent people. Killing will only increase
violence. Terrorism is now a worldwide problem.
Unfortunately, fingers are pointed to Muslims for whatever
happens in the world. It is not yet known who were behind
the two attacks in London. Nevertheless, Muslims have been
held responsible and subjected to harassment. It seems that
none other than Muslims can launch this kind of attacks or
subversive activities. This idea is very dangerous and a
threat to world peace.... The so-called war against terror
is a war against Muslims. New crusaders hold Muslims
responsible blindly for any terrorist incident in the world
and increase their hostility to Muslims. The world Muslim
leadership must realize this conspiracy and deal with the
situation with prudence. Terrorism must be rejected,
condemned and resisted always. The causes of terrorism must
be identified and it must be thoroughly investigated to find
out who are engaged in terrorism. A terrorist is a
terrorist, his national identity cannot be taken in
consideration. It should be kept in mind that Islam has no
relations with terrorism. Islam does not support any kind
of terrorism. If a Muslim is engaged in terrorist
activities, Islam does condone him and his crimes.
--------------
"This Barbarism Must be ended"
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Sangbad"
editorially comments (7/25):
...The strong strategy adopted by those who are leading the
war against terror is paving the way for terrorist
activities. Bush-Blair has divided the world instead of
uniting the world against terrorism. This division has, in
fact, facilitated terrorism.
The dangerous thing is that these incidents of terrorism
have encouraged local terrorist organizations to be
connected with international terrorist networks. This
dangerous process is going on in many countries, including
Bangladesh. The government's commitment to fight terrorism,
be it local or international, is not sincere. Sometimes, it
takes some measures against terror, but they are just for
show. It is not difficult for anybody to realize that these
are not sincere efforts. There is no scope for any nation
to remain idle in the war against international terrorism.
--------------
"Egypt's tragedy"
Independent English language newspaper "New Age" editorially
comments (7/25):
Those who have gone around promoting suicide killings
through the murder of innocent people in such places as
Madrid, Bali, London and now Sharm el Sheikh have clearly
embraced the belief that their methods are the only ones
that can force the world_fs powerful nations to their knees.
For their part, the argument which men in Washington and
London have always made, that terrorists have been working
to destabilize life everywhere, is surely true. But what
cannot at the same time be ignored is that much of the
violence we observe around us today has been spawned by all
the things that have gone wrong in Iraq.
There is, in light of the darkness that one notices falling
across increasingly bigger swathes of the globe, a need
today for policy makers in the West - and we particularly
mean the United States and Britain - to rethink policy.
Sooner or later, it should be for President Bush and Prime
Minister Blair to consider the options before them, one of
which is to have their troops go back home from Iraq. While
there is no guarantee that such a move will take Iraq back
to normal (it is a devastated country today with nearly
everyone out to grab what he can out of the mess),it will
be a significant way of defusing the militancy that has been
cropping up everywhere. We condemn, as we have always
condemned, those who make targets of innocent civilians.
Terrorism, we believe fully and unequivocally, is an evil
that needs to be defeated at the earliest. At the same time,
we think that the time has come for leaders in the West to
tone down their hubris somewhat and acknowledge that a good
deal of the terror we have been through in the last couple
of years has been a direct result of the flawed policies
they have pursued in places like Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
Our prayers go out to the families of those killed in Egypt.
Our hope is that the perpetrators or planners of this dark
deed will be brought to justice soon.
--------------
"Carnage at Sharm El-Sheikh"
Centrist English language newspaper "News Today" editorially
comments (7/25):
Saturday's carnage at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm
El-Sheikh adds a whole new dimension to the "war on terror"
mega serial authored jointly by Messrs Bush and Blair.
Eighty-eight dead and close to 200 injured puts it at par
with the last week's London blasts but the similarity
probably ends there. While the London blasts must be seen
as continuation of defiance by people under pressure the
attacks in the Egyptian resort clearly means taking the
fight to the doorsteps of those who actively or passively
have aided, abetted and colluded with the US-led coalition
in its so-called war on terror. The kidnapping and
subsequent killing of a very senior Egyptian diplomat in
Iraq only the other day also falls in the same pattern. The
message is loud and clear : at the end of more than two
years of relentless pursuit the so-called terrorists today
look not only more organized but even capable of striking
anywhere at will. Nothing could be more embarrassing for
the Bush and Blair administrations.
Policymakers in Washington and London should now realize
that they just cannot fight a faceless enemy. The "Islamic
extremists" coinage is a very poor attempt at putting a
face on the enemy but with world's Muslim population close
to one billion this sounds like a joke. And why talk about
the Muslims only? What about the deprived millions of Asia,
Africa and Latin America? They too have grievances.... The
problem was not Saddam Hossein or his rogue regime; the
problem lies in the global order that tilted heavily
against the majority. Days when colonial powers occupied
countries and ruled them peacefully are long over. Even the
world's lone superpower with an arsenal good enough to
destroy the earth cannot hope to rule colonies through
remote control. Iraq was the first lesson in this. If
Washington goes for escalation the only casualty would be
peace. It is a war, no doubt, but one that cannot be won by
military might alone.
Will Sharm El-Sheikh prompt Arab countries who have all
these years looked like stooges of the west to rewrite
their positions and assume a more pro-active role in their
region? Only they can act as balm and persuade the boiling
minds in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and elsewhere to give
them an opportunity to work out a deal acceptable to all.
Our sincere sympathies for the victims of the latest act of
violence.
Chammas