OMAN ONLINE: BIN LADEN TAPE, FTA, DANISH CARTOONS

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000104 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND IIP/G/NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: BIN LADEN TAPE, FTA, DANISH CARTOONS ¶1. Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum 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, this popular site nevertheless offers a worthwhile window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of the day. This edition of Oman Online contains the following topics: -- Bin Laden's Most Recent Tape -- Free Trade Agreement -- Danish Cartoons End summary. -------------- Reaction to Bin Laden's Most Recent Tape -------------- ¶2. Out of 57 participants who commented on Bin Laden's most recent taped message, 40% hailed him with prayers for "strength to fight the enemy." Others expressed their opposition to him, saying that while he seemed like a hero at the beginning, the truth revealed itself with "many innocent lives wasted." A third, smaller group saw Bin Laden as part of an American ploy, with one response stating that there is "no difference between America and Bin Laden. They are two sides of the same coin." Some noted a change in Bin Laden's tactics: "Now he is trying to win American public opinion by calling for a truce. He knows in advance that his proposal will be rejected by the Administration." -------------- -------------- Al-Jazeera Program on the U.S. - Oman Free Trade Agreement -------------- -------------- ¶3. Al-Sablah members expressed skepticism about statements by the Omani Minister of Commerce, which he made during a discussion of the U.S.-Omani Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the Al Jazeera television program "From Washington" that aired earlier this week. Al-Sablah participants were especially dissatisfied with the Omani Minister of Commerce's contention that most Omanis support the FTA; they believe that the process should have been more transparent and involved more consultations with the public. Many respondents saw the FTA as disadvantaging Oman, believing that its products are too weak to compete in American markets. Some also saw the necessity of trading with Israel as a distinct disadvantage. The topic generated 3,312 hits and 87 responses, most of them skeptical about the FTA. -------------- Response to Danish Cartoons Insulting Islam -------------- ¶4. A Danish magazine's publication of derogatory cartoons about Islam and the Prophet Mohammed spurred angry postings on al- Sablah, including links to sites calling for a boycott of all Danish products, as well as letters of protest to the cartoonist, the magazine's editor, and the Danish Prime Minister. Al-Sablah respondents called for an apology from the Danish Prime Minister for his refusal to intervene, apparently on the grounds of free speech. There were at least 1053 hits and 25 responses. BALTIMORE