OMAN MEDIA REACTION: DIPLOMACY, DEMOCRACY, AND EXTREMISM

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000916

SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
NEA/PPD
NEA/PI
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LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
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FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: DIPLOMACY, DEMOCRACY, AND EXTREMISM


1. SUMMARY: Omani papers focused on diplomacy, democracy, and the
futility of dealing with terrorist organizations this week. Private
daily "Al Watan" praised U.S. diplomacy with Sudan while also calling
for the lifting of sanctions. Youth-oriented daily "Al Shabiba"
extolled the caring and responsible nature of democratic governments,
and state daily "Oman" commented on the impact of the rejectionist
ideologies of violent extremists. END SUMMARY.

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The "Diplomatic Option" Works
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2. On August 26, Private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000)
hailed American diplomatic policies that reduce tension among
nations, especially in regard to U.S. -Sudanese relations, saying
"Achieving Interests Cannot Take Place Through Increasing Tensions":

"President Obama's choice of the diplomatic option as a means of
addressing international issues is good for the nation. The
administration's approach is achieving progress in American-Sudanese
relations. Now a complete lifting of sanctions on Sudan is needed so
it can meet the needs of its people, especially those in conflict
areas. In order to bring about comprehensive peace in Sudan,
Washington and its allies should stop supporting the rebels."

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Democracies Don't Let Their People Starve
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3. Private, youth-oriented Arabic daily "Al Shabiba" (circulation
20,000) carried a column on August 30 from prominent local voice
Sa'id al Hashmi declaring that, "Democracy is the Fuel for
Development":

"Many here believe that advanced civil and political rights are not
necessary for economic progress, citing the development of Singapore
and China. This notion is absolutely false. Closed systems are
always vulnerable to collapse no matter how powerful and dominant
they might seem. The Soviet Union is an example of this. True
democratic systems, regardless of their level of wealth have never
witnessed internal famine. The elected governments of these countries
consider feeding their people to be a minimum duty. Dictatorship
makes the government less responsive to the needs of the public."

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A "Stalemate" in Fighting Terror
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4. On August 31, the state Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
commented that terrorist groups do not respond to dialogue because
they reject it in principle, "The War Against Terrorism is a
Stalemate!"

"Despite the prominent change in the focus of its foreign policy and
efforts to show the world that the United States seeks to build
relations through civil dialogue, terrorist groups are unmoved. The
fundamental problem lies in the fact that these groups reject
dialogue and are threatened by positive change. Groups throughout the
world are adopting the ideologies of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. In
Nigeria, a group calling itself the "Taliban" are involved in bloody
battles with the government, and in Indonesia, the self-styled group
called "Al-Qaeda- Indonesia" was involved in bombings in Jakarta.
Their war against the U.S., and the U.S. response to terrorism seem
to have stalemated."
HURTADO