OMAN ONLINE: TERROR AND TANCREDO

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001184

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: TERROR AND TANCREDO



1. Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and
"al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-
language fora for political and social discourse in the country,
touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the
conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly
reflective of Omani public opinion, these popular sites
nevertheless offer a worthwhile window into the hot topics and
unvarnished views of the day. This edition of Oman Online
contains the following topics:

-- The Sharm El-Sheikh Bombings
-- The Global War On Terror
-- Remarks By U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo

End summary.

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The Danger Of Sharm
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2. A discussion in al-Sablah regarding the horrific bombings in
the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh revealed that Omani
message board contributors often have complex emotions regarding
terrorism. Many respondents condemned the attack, which killed
mostly Egyptian citizens: "Those who killed dozens of innocents
in Egypt and London are devoted to the same ideology that led to
the execution of Egypt's ambassador to Iraq. This ideology is
based on hatred, and all people need to reject it," wrote one
member. Another commented, "We as Muslims have to scrutinize
these bombings carefully. We can't let these bombers drag the
world into a religious war in the name of Islam."


3. The conversation then turned to issues of democracy in the
face of terrorism. One author noted, "The real question is how
these attacks will affect government policies on security. If
bombings such as these continue, won't governments be forced to
clamp down even further on the people?" Agreed another, "These
explosions put governments in a difficult position, having to
decide between openness and security. When people feel
threatened, they will allow the government to do anything to make
them feel safe."

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GWOT Have You Done For Me Lately?
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4. This philosophical perspective carried over to a related topic
on the Global War On Terror. "All major wars like World War II
have come to an end, but the so-called `war on terror' has no end
in sight. America has not convinced anybody that this war is
capable of arriving at a decisive result," observed one
contributor. Another added, "We are coming to a point where
Western nations will not be able to distinguish Muslims from
terrorists, and all Muslims will be targets. Likewise, the
terrorists will be emboldened that they can achieve political
victories through their violent actions."

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Hardly Representative
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5. Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo's July 15 remarks about
Mecca on a talk-radio program generated a storm of responses in
al-Sablah, all of them critical. "The U.S. government spends
millions on public diplomacy in the Middle East, and then a
senior government official wipes out the accomplishments with a
single sentence," remarked one contributor. Another respondent
inquired, "I'd like to ask Mr. Tancredo: if the IRA sets off a
couple of car bombs in Manchester, does that mean the British
government should bomb Vatican City?" Still another argued,
"Tancredo's statements are turning millions of people into
America's enemies. You can't win a war by constantly creating
additional foes."

BALTIMORE