MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, SUDAN, AND REFORM IN THE ARAB

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001243 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR ASILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, SUDAN, AND REFORM IN THE ARAB WORLD -------------- Losing Control? -------------- ¶1. Issa Al-Zedjali, editor in chief of Arabic daily "Al- Shabibah," wrote an editorial on August 7 under the headline "Americans Begin Losing Control in Iraq": "The Iraqi crisis is getting worse day by day, and there is no let up in sight. The commander of the American forces in Iraq has acknowledged the strength of the armed groups and their expansion in a number of Iraqi cities, in addition to the advanced weapons they use. American forces in Iraq are now in a critical situation. They are contemplating ways and means of achieving victory over terrorism and providing Iraqis with security. This is a difficult proposition; in fact, it is a nearly impossible task, considering the fact that they are up against an enemy that is growing in strength with each passing day." -------------- Peace in Sudan -------------- ¶2. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" featured an editorial on August 8 entitled "Sudan and the Implementation of Peace Agreement": "Despite the absence of John Garang from the Sudanese political scene and the clear loss resulting from it, all political powers in Khartoum and the south have ensured that the best way forward is to work hard to implement the terms of the peace agreement. This was made clear by Omar Al-Basher's promise to implement the terms of peace agreement signed in Nairobi at the beginning of current year. Sudan is going through a phase that calls for stability and calm to overcome the gap created by Garang's absence... -------------- Reform Vacuum -------------- ¶3. "Oman" also published on August 8 an editorial entitled "Will Current Calls for Reforms End Existing Tensions?": "The whole world has been facing one crisis or another since 9/11...America invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, and explosions took place in different places, most recently in London... The Americans came to call for reforms in the Arab world, believing that lack of democracy and internal stability cause these catastrophes. It is true that reform, development, and renovation are vital needs; however, such steps should be taken willingly. It should be an internal matter that countries should freely choose to apply. There has been a lot of talk on reforms like the Greater Middle East Initiative and other similar projects that the Arab world did not agree to. The problem is that their refusal to accept reform imposed by external powers has not been followed by any self-initiated reform movements by the Arab themselves." BALTIMORE