MOROCCAN ENTHUSIASM FOR PRESIDENT'S CAIRO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 RABAT 000490

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR R (MDAVIDSON) AND NEA/PPD (ASOMERSET)
STATE ALSO FOR IIP/NEA-SCA (CHIGGINS)
DUBAI FOR MEDIA HUB
LONDON FOR MOC

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OIIP KPAO MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN ENTHUSIASM FOR PRESIDENT'S CAIRO
SPEECH REMAINS HIGH: CONTACT FEEDBACK AND EDITORIAL
REACTION


1. (U) Summary: At five separate events organized
around President Obama's speech last week, Mission
Morocco not only saw and heard the extraordinarily
positive reaction of Moroccans first hand, but also
helped shape insights that found their way directly
into the media. The Mission also amplified the
message through new media, as well as traditional
email outreach, and print, radio and TV interviews.
Respondents appreciated the early mention of
Morocco and the deft use of Quranic quotes. Many
favored the comments on Israel-Palestine, although
some felt they did not go far enough, and were
skeptical that actions could match words. Press
commentary tracked these themes closely, striking
overwhelmingly positive notes about the tone and
ambition of the speech, with a healthy dose of "the
proof is in the pudding." Several commentators used
the speech as an opportunity to criticize what they
perceive as a lack of democratic values in the Arab
World. End Summary.

--------------
Mission Hosts Five Viewing Events
--------------


2. (SBU) A group of prominent opinion leaders and
media commentators, both men and women, gathered at
the home of the Charge d'Affaires to watch the
President's June 4 speech. Casablanca Consul
General Millard hosted a viewing party and lunch at
her residence for five prominent newspaper
publishers, who among themselves account for seven
newspapers and a radio station. The Political
Counselor hosted a group to watch the speech,
including the editor of the main Islamist newspaper,
a local council candidate in upcoming elections, and
a Jewish leader of the Rabat community. USAID
hosted a group of young people to watch the speech,
mainly university students aged 21-31. About 20
journalists from across Morocco, participating in a
workshop with a visiting U.S. speaker, watched the
speech together at Dar America in Casablanca.

--------------
Opinion leaders embrace the speech
--------------


3. (SBU) Key opinion leaders were enormously
impressed, intellectually and emotionally,
emphasizing repeatedly the "humanity" and "humanist
spirit" that the President expressed in Cairo, and
the clarity and accessibility of his ideas. The
director of the Moroccan International Relations
Institute (IMRI) described the speech as historic.
The deputy head of Morocco's most influential
business council felt the President had laid a
strong foundation for tackling the Israel-Palestine
problem first, which nearly all saw as essential to
solving broader regional problems. A lawyer, the
first woman to deliver a lecture at the king's
annual Ramadan lecture series on Islam, welcomed
Obama's emphasis on women's education and women's
rights, and on human rights generally. They all
spoke in near-reverent tones of the President's
clarity, honesty, and intelligence. Several
commented that they just hoped he remained President
long enough to achieve his goals.


4. (SBU) One attendee, a medical doctor who writes
about women and Islam and who is also married to a
top MFA official, published an article on the speech
in the June 9 edition of Le Soir newspaper. She
stated that, through his speech, Obama had
"destroyed the idea of a clash of civilizations" and
called for a new Muslim "critical conscience"
capable of rising to challenges such as democratic
governance, human rights, education and reformist
approaches to questions related to Islam. Obama is
not going to resolve all the problems in the Muslim

RABAT 00000490 002 OF 005


world, she said, but noted that his speech presented
some "passageways" that could help find a way
forward.

--------------
News Media Directors Bowled Over
--------------


5. (U) In Casablanca, the reactions of the
assembled media moguls were equally positive, with
participants using expressions such as "seductive"
and "inspirational" to describe the speech; not one
attendee expressed disappointment.


6. (SBU) One prominent independent newspaper
director admittedly freely that he was unable to be
objective about President Obama, whom he adored. He
stated several times that many people in the Muslim
world were going to be "disturbed" by the speech,
challenging as it did many stereotypes and
preconceptions about the U.S. Another independent
newspaper director stated (approvingly) that the
rhetoric was typical Obama, while cautioning that
one had to get beyond the seductive words; actions,
especially on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations,
were essential, and the window of opportunity was
narrow. This news editor published an editorial in
the following day's paper that closely tracked the
(overwhelmingly positive) discussion the group had
over lunch. A third attendee felt Obama's target
audience was not Muslim governments but the Muslim
masses, and he praised the President's use of
Quranic quotes as an effective way to beat Bin Laden
at his own game.


7. (SBU) Staff met separately with a top editor at
2M TV on Friday, who said it was a good speech but
in view of the obvious change in foreign policy,
i.e. a new, firmer U.S. tone towards the Israelis,
Barack Obama should be more afraid of his allies
than of traditional U.S. enemies. The U.S.
President withdrawing unconditional support was a
shock to the Israelis, he said, which could lead to
Israel making a stupid mistake (like attacking Iran)
in panicked reaction.

-------------- -
Islamist Party Newspaper Director is Impressed
-------------- -


8. (SBU) The director of an Islamist party
newspaper (a former Fulbright grantee who can be
stridently critical of U.S. foreign policy) was
impressed that Obama did not use word "terrorism"
but rather "violent extremism," which is more
acceptable and does not label Muslims. He
appreciated the president's use of verses from the
Quran, and found positive both the timetable for
withdrawal from Iraq and the discussion on Iran. He
could find nothing in the speech to criticize, only
what was not included. In this category he put lack
of a timetable for resolution of the Israeli-
Palestinian issue, or any mention of Israel taking
down the security barriers; he also felt the
speech's discussion of HAMAS was no different from
the Bush administration's stance. Furthermore, he
asserted that Obama's mention of religious freedom
meant Christian evangelicals having the right to
proselytize, and that Morocco has had problems with
that.


9. (U) One current political candidate loved the
speech and believed that 95 percent of Muslims
around the world would approve of it. He was
enthusiastic about Obama's emphasis on education,
scientific innovation and mutual exchanges. His
only complaint was Obama's failure to suggest using
sanctions against countries that did not respect
human rights.

RABAT 00000490 003 OF 005




10. (SBU) The leader of Rabat's Jewish community
was impressed with the president's emphasis on the
core values of the three religions (Islam, Judaism
and Christianity). In response to the Islamist
party newspaper editor's comments on Israel, he said
that one can't expect the U.S. to impose solutions
on any part of the world. He also liked Obama's
comment that the "use of power and aggression" will
not solve the problems and that we need more
diplomacy. Finally, he applauded the speech's
support of women's rights as well as other basic
human rights, and said that the economy is vital to
human rights because the first need is for jobs.

--------------
USAID listens to youth representatives
--------------


11. (U) University students appreciated the
President's focus on the role of youth in building
and changing the future they want. They urged more
development programs in the Muslim world as the way
for the President to "concretize" his speech. They
also stressed the importance of encouraging
scientific research and exchange programs between
the Muslim world and the United States. Some of the
students also expressed skepticism and even
cynicism, attributing U.S. motivations to a desire
to "make the world safe for McDonald's and Coca
Cola." Their views may reflect heavy student
involvement in periodic boycott efforts against
multinational companies, for example during the Gaza
conflict several months ago.

--------------
Journalists Speak Out
--------------


12. (U) Journalists appreciated the Quranic
quotations and felt that Islam (finally) had been
included as the equal of Christianity and Judaism.
They also liked the distinction between "violent
extremists" and Islamists, and they agreed that
terrorism is everyone's enemy and fighting it is
legitimate for all. They found Obama balanced,
thoughtful, well prepared, and confident (in the
"Yes, we can!" mode). They also liked the
president's call to youth to work to change the
world, and his emphasis on women's rights.
Reflecting a common concern, one journalist found
Obama's statement on U.S. policy toward Israel
unclear, especially on settlements.

--------------
The Wisdom of Teachers
--------------


13. (U) Senior teachers gathered at a regional
meeting in Rabat took a break to watch the speech,
and a PAS local employee noted the following
reactions:
-- The humanity and realism of Mr. Obama are
outstanding, worth considering and dealing with;
-- Now Muslims can listen to what U.S. says since
Obama showed a deep understanding of what Islam is,
unlike many U.S. presidents before him;
-- Now the idea of considering the U.S. as an enemy
is no longer appropriate;
-- If Obama can force Israel to give Palestinians
their legitimate rights as he implied, fighting
terrorism can be then a common goal of both the U.S.
and the Muslim world;
-- Obama's view of the necessity of progress through
education and business development is highly
appreciated; and
-- The idea of interfaith dialogue and mutual
understanding and respect by means of more cultural
and exchange programs is a crucial starting point.

RABAT 00000490 004 OF 005




14. (U) At the same time, these teachers reflected
widespread Moroccan concern that the key issue is
Israel-Palestine, and that Obama may not be prepared
to go far enough:
-- Obama should not ask Palestinians to pay for what
others did to the Jews (Shoah),and
-- Obama criticized some Muslims for not recognizing
Israel but did not say a word on Israel ignoring two
UN resolutions, which puts the latter above
international law.

--------------
"Man on the street" comments in Casablanca
--------------


15. (U) A local employee from the Public Affairs
Section in Casablanca noted the following exchanges:

a. In a cafe, where everyone was focused on Al
Jazeera news broadcasts: "The Americans are at last
back to reason." "Let's hope they put Obama's words
into practice." "I thought he was sincere and
poignant." "Thank God, the Americans are talking
about the necessity of a Palestinian state." "But
how is he going to force Israel to stop
settlements?" "Let's first hope HAMAS gets back to
reason after America's good intentions."

b. Outside the cafe, where campaigners for the
upcoming local elections were distributing candidate
posters, a bystander called out, "Did you hear Obama
saying that you advocate democracy only when you are
out of power; once in power, you become cruel in
suppressing the rights of others. You'd better do
it right."

c. At a downtown mosque frequented by Islamists,
where a group of young men were gathered for Friday
prayers, the Quran reading that preceded the sermon
was: "O mankind! We have created you male and a
female, and we have made you into nations and tribes
so that you may know one another" -- the same verse
quoted by President in his speech. "They should
recite it the way Obama used it yesterday," said one
young man. "Do you mean in English?" "No, I mean
the emotional and eloquent way Obama uttered it."
Another man declared, "I appreciate his honesty when
he said that American views about Muslims would not
change overnight."

--------------
New Media Outreach
--------------


16. (U) In addition to posting IIP's SMS Arabic
option on our websites and on the websites and blog
and Facebook pages of several contacts, the Mission
also distributed the speech to hundreds of contacts
in Arabic and French and asked for their opinion .
Following are some representative comments:
-- The speech has achieved many political gains at
the level of U.S.-Arab Muslim relationships.

-- Obama's speech seduces, but it does not conquer.

-- The gap is deep between Arabs and Muslims'
dreams and the U.S. dream. Arabs would like to
return to a specific period of history to convince
Americans of the fairness of their own cause, while
Americans would like to jump voluntarily over
certain important historical phases and convince
Arabs and Muslims to forget the past.

--------------
Press Editorial Reaction
--------------


17. (U) The Mission made a substantial effort to

RABAT 00000490 005 OF 005


shape public opinion via direct engagement with the
press, as well as by reaching out to media opinion
leaders, as outlined above. An exclusive interview
with leading Arabic daily Assabah by the Charge, a
live television interview in French by IO David Ranz
during the prime-time news bulletin on the evening
of the speech, and lengthy radio interviews (in
French and Arabic respectively) by PolCouns Craig
Karp and ConGenOff Matthew Lehrfeld enabled the
Mission to link key messages of the speech to the
U.S.-Moroccan partnership.


18. (U) Editorial response to the speech has been
voluminous and overwhelmingly positive, and
continues nearly a week after the speech took place.
In addition to sounding many of the main themes
mentioned above, some journalists are focusing
particular attention on President Obama's theme of
democracy, noting that the closest U.S. allies in
the region, such as Obama's host Egypt and Saudi
Arabia, are hardly good exemplars. As one newspaper
director wrote, "If only there were half the
democracy in the Arab world that exists in India,
the world's poorest country, there would be no Bin
Laden, no Zawahiri, no Abu Musaab, no Abu Qatada,
and no youth to bomb Madrid's trains on a beautiful
morning." Several newspaper commentators also took
critics of the speech to task, saying that President
Obama had extended his hand in friendship, and
Muslims should respond in kind.

JACKSON