THE ECHO CHAMBER IN YEMEN.

UNCLAS SANAA 003009 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/PD, NEA/RA, NEA/RRU, DS/OP/NEA AND S/CT CENTCOM FOR POLAD NEA/PPD FOR AFERNANDEZ THE WHITE HIUSE PLEASE PASS TO NSC SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR PHUM PTER KISL YM SUBJECT: THE ECHO CHAMBER IN YEMEN. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over the past several weeks Post has initiated a dynamic series of programs in response to U/S Hughes' Echo Chamber cables. End Summary. ¶2. (U) IRAQ REFERENDUM (Echo Chamber dated October 13): Post has translated the text of U/S Hughes' Echo Chamber cable on the October 15 referendum and has circulated it by fax and email to media contacts. Post will continue to emphasize and monitor citations and placement of the points raised in this cable to Yemeni media sources. ¶3. (U) AID TO PAKISTAN (Echo Chamber dated October 12): Post has added multiple links to the Embassy website highlighting USG efforts to assist earthquake victims in Pakistan. Ambassador continues to address USG actions in meetings with ROYG officials and other contacts. ¶5. (U) NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY SPEECH (Echo Chamber dated October 7): Official government daily Al- Thawra (circulation 35,000-40,000) published a front-page article summarizing and excerpting President Bush's speech at the National Endowment for Democracy, while offering no editorial comment on the President's remarks. A link to the speech was added to the Embassy website. ¶7. (U) HURRICANE KATRINA (Echo Chambers dated September 7, September 9): On September 15, the independent daily Al- Ayyam (circulation 35,000-40,000) published Ambassador Krajeski's op-ed on the subject of Hurricane Katrina. The Ambassador thanked the Yemeni government and the Yemeni people for their expressions of concern and condolence in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and for their financial donation and enumerated the USG response in the aftermath of the storm. ¶8. (U) UNGA AND AFGHAN ELECTIONS (Echo Chamber dated September 5) Post launched an IIP-maintained link on the subject of the UN at 60 on the Embassy website. The site offers a webcast link to President Bush's address to the UN. It also offers a link to the UN reform outcome document and another link to Ambassador John Bolton's remarks that that document is but "an important first step in what will be a long process." ¶9. (U) Post will continue to maximize outreach on forthcoming Echo Chamber cables to ensure media contacts are aware of U.S. policy and views. We will continue to post USG links on the Embassy website on salient issues raised in these cables. KRAJESKI