Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN7896
2006-10-17 05:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON NORTH KOREA AND PALESTINIAN GOVERNANCE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #7896 2900550 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 170550Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4928 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0453 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1386 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 007896
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON NORTH KOREA AND PALESTINIAN GOVERNANCE
Editorial Commentary on Palestinian Governance
-- "Consequences of the Korean bomb"
Leading columnist Fahed Al-Fanek writes on the back-page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/16): "Now a
number of Third World nations will insist on their right to own
nuclear technology claiming at first that they want it for peaceful
purposes, i.e. electricity generation, and build the capacity to
make a nuclear weapon upon decision. Arab countries deserve special
thanks for their patience and restraint, to remain inactive at a
time when Israel owns more than 200 nuclear weapons with which it
can destroy all Arab capitals at will. But it is the stupid
American policy under Bush that spread terror under pretext of
fighting it, and that spread nuclear danger under pretext of
preventing its proliferation."
-- "Bush and Korea"
Columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (10/15): "Let President George
Bush dare and attack or occupy Pyongyang, if he can. Here is the
rogue country and the main element of the axis of evil declaring
that it has conducted a nuclear test, that it has broken the orders
of the man with the final word, that it has defied his anger and his
power. But he cannot do that. North Korea is not Iraq. Its
weapons do not threaten Israel's security. Tel Aviv has not set it
a primary goal. It does not speak Arabic and its religion is not
Islam. It is not an easily swallowed.... What he does, The
American President will not be able to change the reality, and this
will be a lesson for anyone who wants to learn, especially Iran.
When Iran declares the success of its own testing, George Bush will
then have to apologize to his people and to the world that he wasted
time trying to achieve impossible slogans."
Editorial Commentary on Palestinian Governance
-- "American assistance"
Columnist Hilmi Al-Asmar writes on the inside page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (10/15): "I read several
reports that talk about unprecedented American support for ousting
Hamas and supporting Fatah using various 'local' tools. These
reports talk about a campaign that could reach up to 42 million
dollars to support Hamas' opponents prior to the expected early
Palestinian elections. The talk is done by officials linked to an
American program dedicated to help Hamas' political opponents,
provide finances for the restructuring of Fatah, and providing
training and strategic advice to secular parties and politicians who
oppose Hamas' Islamists. Washington's plan was stated in an
official American memorandum ... which stated that 'the project will
support the objective of making available democratic alternatives to
the totalitarian or extremist Islamic political options'. It is as
if Hamas did not come into power through a democratic approach
acknowledged by the entire world as being transparent, neutral and
honest! The democracy that American wants must be that which
co-related to Mr. Bush's requirements, otherwise it is dubbed as 'an
extremist totalitarian regime' even if it comes through ballot
boxes."
HALE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON NORTH KOREA AND PALESTINIAN GOVERNANCE
Editorial Commentary on Palestinian Governance
-- "Consequences of the Korean bomb"
Leading columnist Fahed Al-Fanek writes on the back-page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/16): "Now a
number of Third World nations will insist on their right to own
nuclear technology claiming at first that they want it for peaceful
purposes, i.e. electricity generation, and build the capacity to
make a nuclear weapon upon decision. Arab countries deserve special
thanks for their patience and restraint, to remain inactive at a
time when Israel owns more than 200 nuclear weapons with which it
can destroy all Arab capitals at will. But it is the stupid
American policy under Bush that spread terror under pretext of
fighting it, and that spread nuclear danger under pretext of
preventing its proliferation."
-- "Bush and Korea"
Columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (10/15): "Let President George
Bush dare and attack or occupy Pyongyang, if he can. Here is the
rogue country and the main element of the axis of evil declaring
that it has conducted a nuclear test, that it has broken the orders
of the man with the final word, that it has defied his anger and his
power. But he cannot do that. North Korea is not Iraq. Its
weapons do not threaten Israel's security. Tel Aviv has not set it
a primary goal. It does not speak Arabic and its religion is not
Islam. It is not an easily swallowed.... What he does, The
American President will not be able to change the reality, and this
will be a lesson for anyone who wants to learn, especially Iran.
When Iran declares the success of its own testing, George Bush will
then have to apologize to his people and to the world that he wasted
time trying to achieve impossible slogans."
Editorial Commentary on Palestinian Governance
-- "American assistance"
Columnist Hilmi Al-Asmar writes on the inside page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (10/15): "I read several
reports that talk about unprecedented American support for ousting
Hamas and supporting Fatah using various 'local' tools. These
reports talk about a campaign that could reach up to 42 million
dollars to support Hamas' opponents prior to the expected early
Palestinian elections. The talk is done by officials linked to an
American program dedicated to help Hamas' political opponents,
provide finances for the restructuring of Fatah, and providing
training and strategic advice to secular parties and politicians who
oppose Hamas' Islamists. Washington's plan was stated in an
official American memorandum ... which stated that 'the project will
support the objective of making available democratic alternatives to
the totalitarian or extremist Islamic political options'. It is as
if Hamas did not come into power through a democratic approach
acknowledged by the entire world as being transparent, neutral and
honest! The democracy that American wants must be that which
co-related to Mr. Bush's requirements, otherwise it is dubbed as 'an
extremist totalitarian regime' even if it comes through ballot
boxes."
HALE