MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS ABANDON IRAQ; MOUSSA POSTPONEMENT

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000173 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS ABANDON IRAQ; MOUSSA POSTPONEMENT HINDERS LEBANON SOLUTION; YEMENI INITIATIVE ON PALESTINE HAILED. ¶1. SUMMARY: Editorials in government-owned "Oman" said that America has failed to keep its promise to Iraq, evident by escalating violence and pursuit of an exit strategy. Private "Al Watan" described the challenges facing Amr Moussa in bringing the different parties closer. It also hailed President Abdullah Saleh's Palestinians initiative to solve the conflict between Fatah and Hamas. END SUMMARY. -------------- Sad Images That Multiply Day by Day -------------- ¶2. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) commented on February 21 on the escalation of violence in Iraq and America's failure to restore basic needs. According to "Iraq and Escalation of Violence": "Iraq has become the occupied the headlines because of continuous killings and random destruction. This dilemma, created by the invader, is hopeless. The situation has become very complicated and difficult, and it requires an honest effort in order to save millions of Iraqis, many of whom have fled to neighboring countries. Iraq is full of sad images that multiply day after day, and no one cares anymore about finding solutions. The invading forces in Iraq are also looking for ways to withdraw. The democratic candidates for president, Obama and Clinton, have promised to pull out the troops, and the United States will leave a true crisis in Iraq: continued human and financial loss, and the belief that the war cannot be won. American strategy has failed dramatically, and there has not been any other talk except that of leaving the crisis behind." -------------- Vandalistic Operations and Crooked Plans -------------- ¶3. The privately owned Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) said that Amr Moussa now faces even tougher challenges after the postponement of his visit to Lebanon. "Don't Let Lebanon be a Region for a Conflict of Will" said: "The postponing of Moussa's visit to Lebanon exposes obstacles and challenges blocking the desires of many to find real solutions to Lebanon's crisis. Lebanon is condemned to stay in a state of crisis that only serves the interest of its enemies, enemies who want to make it the theater for their vandalistic operations and their crooked plans against people. Postponing the visit also shows that the gap is widening between different Lebanese parties. Moussa, who is seeking to meet representatives of both sides, now has a more difficult job. Lebanon is in desperate need to recover and to start rebuilding. Opposition and majority representatives must focus on this and work towards bringing opinions closer together, not farther apart." -------------- Breaking the Ice Between Fatah and Hamas -------------- ¶4. On February 25, "Al Watan" hailed Abbas' response to Yemeni president Abdullah Saleh's initiative to end Palestine's internal conflict. "An Opportunity to Seize" said: "The initiative forwarded by President Abdullah Saleh included seven points that are: returning Gaza back to what it used to be; holding early elections; resuming dialogue on the basis of the Cairo 2005 agreement and the Mecca 2007 agreement; committing to the legitimacy of Palestinian authority; respecting the constitution and law as well as committing to it; rebuilding security institutions; and following the Palestinian higher authority and its policy of national unity. Abbas responded positively to this initiative to solve the Fatah and Hamas crisis, which is more than two years old. It is the right step in breaking the ice between the two parties who have forgotten about Israel's daily crimes in their own selfishness. Both parties are abiding by their own demands and making the Palestinian people suffer more. There must be trust between the two parties, and other Arab states should push forward the initiative for the sake of ending the conflict." GRAPPO