Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANAA119
2009-01-22 04:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

YEMENIS APPLAUD OBAMA, HOPE FOR 'NEW PAGE' in US-ARAB

Tags:  PGOV KPAO YM 
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R 220406Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANAA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1010
INFO NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SANAA 000119 


DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS APPLAUD OBAMA, HOPE FOR 'NEW PAGE' in US-ARAB
RELATIONS

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SANAA 000119


DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS APPLAUD OBAMA, HOPE FOR 'NEW PAGE' in US-ARAB
RELATIONS

SUMMARY
--------------


1. As expected, the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of
the United States garnered positive reaction from the Yemeni public.
Yemeni op-eds published on January 21 uniformly gave positive marks
to Obama's speech and generally had a positive outlook for his
administration. Yemeni attendees at the Embassy-sponsored
Inauguration Watch reception applauded several times through the
President's speech, with at least a couple of guests shedding tears
of joy. Yemeni expectations of changes in U.S. foreign policy
remain low, however most agree that the image of the United States
can only improve under an Obama administration. End Summary.

'ISLAM IS A PART OF AMERICA'
--------------


2. The top story for all of the Yemeni press for January 21 was the
inauguration of President Barack Obama. While the official press
delivered matter-of-fact coverage of the events, including
reprinting an Arabic translation of the inaugural address, the
independent Yemeni press provided analysis of President Obama's
remarks and speculated what his presidency could mean for the Arab
world. Munir Al-Mawri, the noted Yemeni-American columnist based in
Washington D.C., pointed out that President Obama had made a clear
distinction in his speech, differentiating between Arabs and Muslims
on one hand and "killers and terrorists" on the other. Al-Mawri saw
Obama's words of warning to would-be terrorists as "aimed directly
at the killers and criminals, not at any one people or peoples, or
even to one country." Al-Mawri lauded Obama for his reminder to the
Muslim world that "that Islam is a part of America, and the enmity
he holds is for murders and criminals, regardless of their religion,
creed, or color, and not Islam." Al-Mawri also noted that Obama
used the word "terrorism" only a single time in his speech.


3. Al-Mawri also praised Obama for introducing the term
"understanding between nations" into American political discourse,
placing it in juxtaposition to the "clash of civilizations" that he
says marked the last administration. "It appears that Barack Obama
intended this new term for the Arabs and Muslims, even if he didn't
mention them by name, because he followed it up with, 'We will begin
to leave Iraq for the Iraqi people, and to deepen the peace in
Afghanistan in cooperation with our leading allies' just as he
stressed that America would not apologize for its lifestyle and

indicated that he would defend American values and in return would
not interfere in the affairs of others."


4. Another independent journalist writing for NewsYemen.net, Yasser
Hassan Thamer, offered insight as to how Obama's impact could be
immediately felt. Thamer opined that currently, "the US is
suffering from a strategic defeat, a broken imperial plan, an
economic crisis that cannot be ignored." If the United States had
changed course abruptly under the Bush administration, Thamer
offered that "the world would say, 'This is an American admission of
its defeat and dissolution!' This is what is in store for America's
future and others will become more daring, especially the powers and
peoples rising up against it. However, if someone named Barack
Hussein Obama comes, Black with Islamic roots, carrying American
traditional values, this will make it possible to say that any
change he makes is due to moral reasons or Obama's own personal
values. In this there is no American defeat....Thus, the changes
will appear as if they occurred for moral reasons, assuaging the
feelings of the others who do not trust America or those who wish to
see America defeated and dissolved."


5. Thamer continued to offer his insight on how America's image
would be changed through the election of an African-American
president. For Thamer, "the election of a Black president for the
first time in a country with a bad reputation like America will make
it necessary for the rest of the world to deal with America in new
ways. There is a new, different form for America, vital, that can
be an example the whole world can respect - just as a president with
Islamic roots will ease American's conviction in its war on terror.
This will be reflected in the feelings of Muslims, that they are
with a president that is more able to have an understanding of a
number of issues without being arrogant or conceited, which serves
American goals in the Islamic world."

THIS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YEMENIS CRY
--------------


6. The Embassy hosted approximately 50 Yemeni VIPs from all sectors
at the Ambassador's residence the evening of January 20 to watch the
broadcast of the Inauguration. Guests enjoyed watching the visuals
of the large turnout on the National Mall and asked many questions
about the traditions associated with presidential inaugurations.
Once the oath of office was administered and President Obama began
his address, the guests fell silent and followed his words
carefully. There were several points of applause from the Yemeni
guests, most notably at Obama's mention of Islam being a part of the
American identity and when he pledged a more inclusive mode of
foreign relations. Ruling General People's Conference party (GPC) MP
Nabil Basha told emboff that "this is a great day not just for
Democrats, but for democracy." Opposition MP Shawki Shamsan added
that "Obama will be a good president for America and for the world."
Even before the conclusion of President Obama's remarks, Yemeni
guests began receiving text messages from friends and/or news
services, highlighting in particular the portions directed to the
Islamic world and to poor nations.

SECHE