Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT173
2008-02-27 13:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS ABANDON IRAQ; MOUSSA POSTPONEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO8630 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0173 0581349 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271349Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9317 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0524 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0415 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
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.
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
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