EXPLOSIONS IN AFRICA: ARE THERE ANY AMERICAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002888 STATE FOR NEA/ARN, SMEC, INR/NESA, INR/TNA, HA, IO, S/P, PA, P/M, NEA/P, AND AID FOR ENE USIA FOR NEA, R, P/F, P/G, P/P, P/FW, P/FN, P/M, TV/P, P/R, TV/W; VOA/BRN, VOA NEWS/CA, USIA FOR NEA - GOOD, OWEN, BELL, DATTA WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/COUNTRYMAN PARIS ALSO FOR LEAF LONDON ALSO FOR TUELLER NICOSIA FOR ILMG ANO BSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PTER PREL KILS PGOV MOPS LE IS SY SUBJECT: EXPLOSIONS IN AFRICA: ARE THERE ANY AMERICAN INTENTIONS TO ACCUSE LIBYA, IRAN, OR ISLAMIC RADICALS? -------------- ¶1. SUMMARY -------------- THE TWO EXPLOSIONS WERE REPORTED ON THE FRONT-PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN LEBANON. MOST REPORTED THE EVENT WITH NO EDITORIALIST REACTION. THE ONLY TWO EDITORIALS THAT WERE WRITTEN WERE CONTRADICTORY. JOSEPH SAMAHA OF ARAB NATIONALIST DAILY AS-SAFIR WARNED THAT "BEING AN ENEMY TO THE US IS ONE THING AND PLANNING TERRORIST ATTACKS IS ANOTHER." HE ADDED, "WHOEVER PLANNED THESE ATTACKS MADE A BIG MISTAKE". SYRIA'S MOUTHPIECE IN LEBANON 'ASH-SHARQ', HOWEVER, RIDICULED THE AMERICAN STATEMENT ON HAVING SOME IDEAS ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPLOSIONS. ASH-SHARQ ACCUSED THE US OF INTENDING TO IMPLICATE AN ARAB COUNTRY OR ARAB ISLAMISTS. IT CONCLUDED THAT THE REAL ATTACKER IS THE CIA AND THE JEWISH LOBBY. END SUMMARY. -------------- ¶2. HEADLINES: -------------- "TERRORISM TERRORIZES AMERICA IN THE HEART OF AFRICA" (ARAB AFFAIRS ASH-SHARQ AL-AWSAT HEADLINE) "WASHINGTON HAS SOME IDEAS ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF THE TERRORISTS AND KENYA ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN ARAB CLOTHES" (PRO-SUNNI AL-LIWA' HEADLINE) "UNKNOWN ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXPLOSIONS" (ARAB AFFAIRS AL-HAYAT HEADLINE) "WHO HIT AMERICAN TARGETS?" (SENSATIONALIST AD-DIYAR HEADLINE) -------------- ¶3. EXCERPTS FROM EDITORIALS: -------------- "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLOSIONS IN AFRICA" A FRONT- PAGE EDITORIAL BY AWNI AL-KA'KI IN SYRIA'S MOUTHPIECE PRO-BA'TH DAILY 'ASH-SHARQ' (08/8):"IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPLOSIONS IN AFRICA. HOWEVER, A FEW HOURS FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSIONS, THE US ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS SOME IDEA ABOUT WHO DID IT. HOW DID THE US GET ITS IDEAS SO FAST? THIS AMERICAN STATEMENT CARRIES DANGEROUS INDICATIONS. IT MEANS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE INTENDS TO ACCUSE SOMEBODY, MOST PROBABLY AN ARAB STATE. WHAT IS THE US PLANNING TO DO? PERHAPS IT INTENDS TO ACCUSE LIBYA FOLLOWING THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES' DECISION TO LIFT EMBARGO AGAINST LIBYA. PERHAPS THE US INTENDS TO ACCUSE IRAN BECAUSE IRAN'S NEW OPENNESS TOWARDS THE US BOTHERS ISRAEL. FINALLY, THE US MAY ACCUSE ALL ISLAMISTS! WE BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLOSIONS ARE THE JEWISH LOBBY AND THE CIA." "WHO DARES" A FRONT-PAGE EDITORIAL BY JOSEPH SAMAHA IN ARAB NATIONALIST AS-SAFIR (O8/8)"THE MESSAGE SENT BY THE EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC "JIHAD" CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXPLOSIONS IN AFRICA, (WHETHER THEY ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE OR NOT),ENFEEBLES THE ARABS' ABILITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM BEING AUTOMATICALLY ACCUSED OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST US INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD... WHOEVER PLANS TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE US IS COMMITTING A GRAVE MISTAKE. TERRORIST ATTACKS OF THIS TYPE WILL NEVER OUST CLINTON OR CHANGE AMERICAN POLICY. ON THE CONTRARY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NEITHER FORSAKE THEIR PRESIDENT IN TIMES OF CRISIS, NOR RELENT TO TERRORISTS' DEMANDS. THE RESULT? MOST OF THE DEAD AND INJURED ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHOSE DEATHS WON'T FULFILL THE TERRORISTS' DESIRES AND DREAMS." ¶4. POC FOR THIS REPORT IS PETER VROOMAN, POL OFFICER. BERRY