Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK1154
2007-09-17 10:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
Media Reaction: the Sixth Anniversary of the September 11
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001154
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PPD AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: the Sixth Anniversary of the September 11
Attacks
BISHKEK 00001154 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001154
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PPD AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: the Sixth Anniversary of the September 11
Attacks
BISHKEK 00001154 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Summary: The sixth anniversary of the September 11th
tragedy garnered substantial coverage in the local media. Much of
the coverage repeated or supported conspiracy theories printed in
Russian media, which is widely-read in Kyrgyzstan. Most of the
coverage was critical of U.S. policy post-9/11. However, there was
positive coverage, including color photographs, of the commemoration
ceremony at Manas Air Base. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Pro-Russian "Komsomolskaya Pravda," which is printed as a
local edition in the Kyrgyz Republic, published a lengthy article
entitled, "America Itself Blew Up the Twin Towers." According to
the newspaper, 130 architects believe that the Twin Towers were
demolished by U.S. government authorities. The article clearly
supports this conspiracy theory and gives "expert" commentary by a
former Russian counter-intelligence officer about why the U.S. would
commit this act.
3. (SBU) The small and relatively neutral Russian language paper
"Litsa" reprinted an article from the Russian newspaper "Vzglyad."
The article cites a purported New York Times poll in which 3 out of
every 4 Americans believe that the government is hiding the truth
about 9/11. It again cites the 130 architects who claim 9/11 was a
US government conspiracy. To prove the point, the article concludes
with another "suspicious" fact - the collapse of the 3rd building,
which was not hit by planes. The general tone of the article is one
of suspicion about the official version of events.
4. (SBU) The largest daily paper "Vecherniy Bishkek," describes the
events commemorating the attacks. The author calls 9/11 a "turning
point" in the political life of America, which chose security over
certain freedoms. The author further comments that 9/11 "served as
a motive to start a long war to save civilization in Iraq."
According to the article, only one third of New Yorkers agree with
the decision to go to war in Iraq. In a separate article, the
newspaper also mentions Osama Bin Laden's 9/11 message, saying that
Bin Laden's shadow still hangs over New York. The article asserts
that more than half of New Yorkers polled believe an attack could
happen again.
5. (SBU) "Kyrgyz Ruhu," a Kyrgyz-language publication known for its
nostalgic for Soviet days of yore, was critical of current U.S.
foreign policy, saying that the U.S. is behind every significant
conflict in the world today. The article claims that 9/11 was
merely a justification for the U.S. to invade Iraq and Afghanistan.
The article says that the U.S. did not find weapons of mass
destruction and that Osama Bin Laden was trained by the U.S.
government. The article asserts that 9/11 did not have any impact
on the U.S. because if it did, the U.S. would not be considering
further wars in Iran and North Korea.
6. (SBU) Sister publication of "Vecherniy Bishkek," "MSN Subbota"
featured the 9/11 commemoration ceremony at Manas Air Base,
including color photos. They gave a brief description of the
ceremony, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Defense,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff and heads of the local
administration.
7. (SBU) "Argumenty i Facty," a Russian newspaper with a local
supplement, drew a parallel between the events of September 11,
2001, and the "Aksy" events in the south of Kyrgyzstan (peaceful
rallies in 2002 that were violently suppressed by the government,
resulting in six casualties). The article asserts that in both
cases, the government was negligent. The author cites twelve
warnings of terrorist attacks that were ignored by U.S. authorities
prior to 9/11.
8. (SBU) Russia's Channel 1, broadcast throughout Kyrgyzstan and
widely viewed, broadcast a summary of the events of 9/11 and briefly
described the reconstruction efforts. Although overall the tone of
the report was neutral, there were some sarcastic remarks about the
memorial monument not yet being constructed due to lack of funds.
BISHKEK 00001154 002.2 OF 002
9. (SBU) The author of the "Azamat Report," a local blog with a
neutral view of local politics, very briefly describes the events of
9/11 and says, "The world is not a safer place, with Afghanistan
ignored and left to the mercy of warlords and Iraq on the brink of
failure."
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PPD AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: the Sixth Anniversary of the September 11
Attacks
BISHKEK 00001154 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Summary: The sixth anniversary of the September 11th
tragedy garnered substantial coverage in the local media. Much of
the coverage repeated or supported conspiracy theories printed in
Russian media, which is widely-read in Kyrgyzstan. Most of the
coverage was critical of U.S. policy post-9/11. However, there was
positive coverage, including color photographs, of the commemoration
ceremony at Manas Air Base. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Pro-Russian "Komsomolskaya Pravda," which is printed as a
local edition in the Kyrgyz Republic, published a lengthy article
entitled, "America Itself Blew Up the Twin Towers." According to
the newspaper, 130 architects believe that the Twin Towers were
demolished by U.S. government authorities. The article clearly
supports this conspiracy theory and gives "expert" commentary by a
former Russian counter-intelligence officer about why the U.S. would
commit this act.
3. (SBU) The small and relatively neutral Russian language paper
"Litsa" reprinted an article from the Russian newspaper "Vzglyad."
The article cites a purported New York Times poll in which 3 out of
every 4 Americans believe that the government is hiding the truth
about 9/11. It again cites the 130 architects who claim 9/11 was a
US government conspiracy. To prove the point, the article concludes
with another "suspicious" fact - the collapse of the 3rd building,
which was not hit by planes. The general tone of the article is one
of suspicion about the official version of events.
4. (SBU) The largest daily paper "Vecherniy Bishkek," describes the
events commemorating the attacks. The author calls 9/11 a "turning
point" in the political life of America, which chose security over
certain freedoms. The author further comments that 9/11 "served as
a motive to start a long war to save civilization in Iraq."
According to the article, only one third of New Yorkers agree with
the decision to go to war in Iraq. In a separate article, the
newspaper also mentions Osama Bin Laden's 9/11 message, saying that
Bin Laden's shadow still hangs over New York. The article asserts
that more than half of New Yorkers polled believe an attack could
happen again.
5. (SBU) "Kyrgyz Ruhu," a Kyrgyz-language publication known for its
nostalgic for Soviet days of yore, was critical of current U.S.
foreign policy, saying that the U.S. is behind every significant
conflict in the world today. The article claims that 9/11 was
merely a justification for the U.S. to invade Iraq and Afghanistan.
The article says that the U.S. did not find weapons of mass
destruction and that Osama Bin Laden was trained by the U.S.
government. The article asserts that 9/11 did not have any impact
on the U.S. because if it did, the U.S. would not be considering
further wars in Iran and North Korea.
6. (SBU) Sister publication of "Vecherniy Bishkek," "MSN Subbota"
featured the 9/11 commemoration ceremony at Manas Air Base,
including color photos. They gave a brief description of the
ceremony, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Defense,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff and heads of the local
administration.
7. (SBU) "Argumenty i Facty," a Russian newspaper with a local
supplement, drew a parallel between the events of September 11,
2001, and the "Aksy" events in the south of Kyrgyzstan (peaceful
rallies in 2002 that were violently suppressed by the government,
resulting in six casualties). The article asserts that in both
cases, the government was negligent. The author cites twelve
warnings of terrorist attacks that were ignored by U.S. authorities
prior to 9/11.
8. (SBU) Russia's Channel 1, broadcast throughout Kyrgyzstan and
widely viewed, broadcast a summary of the events of 9/11 and briefly
described the reconstruction efforts. Although overall the tone of
the report was neutral, there were some sarcastic remarks about the
memorial monument not yet being constructed due to lack of funds.
BISHKEK 00001154 002.2 OF 002
9. (SBU) The author of the "Azamat Report," a local blog with a
neutral view of local politics, very briefly describes the events of
9/11 and says, "The world is not a safer place, with Afghanistan
ignored and left to the mercy of warlords and Iraq on the brink of
failure."
YOVANOVITCH