US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI2424

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Identifier:	04ABUDHABI2424
Wikileaks:	View 04ABUDHABI2424 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created:	2004-07-20 12:12:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	OIIP KMDR TC
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002424 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; 
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR ZEYA 
LONDON PASS TO MOC 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE DETERIORATING SITUATION WITHIN THE PALESTINIAN 
AUTHORITY DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. 
AN EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" NOTED THAT THE EVENTS WITHIN THE 
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PLEASED SHARON. ANOTHER EDITORIAL 
CRITICIZES SECRETARY POWELL'S DISAPPROVAL OF COVERAGE BY SOME 
ARAB MEDIA.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  COMMENTING ON THE CONFLICT WITHIN THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, 
SHARJAH-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 
07/20:(CIRCULATION 85,000) 
 
". THE DECISION MAKERS IN THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND THE 
FIGHTING SIDES SHOULD FEAR GOD AND TRY TO BE MERCIFUL OF THIS 
PATIENT AND RESISTANT NATION. THEY SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE MEANS TO 
MAKE THIS NATION HOLD ON TO ITS LAND. WILL THESE PARTIES DIVERT 
THE ATTENTION FROM THE ENEMY WHO IS ENCIRCLING EVERYONE, OR WILL 
THEIR DESIRES DOMINATE, WHICH WILL LEAD THE ZIONIST VAMPIRES TO 
HARVEST?" 
 
3.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "THE BUTCHER IS HAPPY," DUBAI-BASED 
BUSINESS-ORIENTED "AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 07/19:(CIRCULATION 
40,000) 
 
"SHARON IS THE ONLY BENEFICIARY OF THIS SECURITY CHAOS WITHIN THE 
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. THE ZIONISTS' CURRENT HOPE IS THAT THIS 
CHAOS WILL LEAD TO A BLOODY CIVIL WAR. WE ARE SURE THAT THE 
ZIONIST DREAM WILL NOT COME TRUE BECAUSE OF THE WILL OF THE 
PEOPLE OF THE OCCUPIED LANDS TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC INTEREST BE 
VICTORIOUS OVER THE INTERNAL CONFLICTS." 
 
4.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "STABILITY FACTOR," SHARJAH-BASED ENGLISH 
DAILY "GULF TODAY" EDITORIALIZED 07/19: (CIRCULATION 15,000) 
 
". THE CHALLENGES FACING KARZAI ARE IMMENSE. HE ADMITTED THERE 
WILL BE MANY MORE MESSY YEARS TO COME. THE U.S. HAS AN IMPORTANT 
ROLE IN BRINGING STABILITY. HOWEVER, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH MAY 
BE TEMPTED TO HOLD THE AFGHAN ELECTIONS QUICKLY TO SHOWCASE IT AS 
HIS DEMOCRATIZATION SUCCESS IN TIME FOR HIS OWN RE-ELECTION BID 
IN NOVEMBER. WASHINGTON SHOULD ALLOW WORLD BODIES MORE ACTIVE 
ROLES IN PEACEKEEPING AND IN HOLDING ELECTIONS." 
 
5.  CRITICIZING SECRETARY POWELL'S DISAPPROVAL OF SOME OF THE 
ARAB MEDIA COVERAGE, ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AKHBAR AL- 
ARAB" EDITORIALIZED 07/18: (CIRCULATION 20,000) 
 
". WHAT THE U.S. IS REQUESTING IS FOR THE ARAB MEDIA TO USE 
DOUBLE STANDARDS. WHAT IS REALLY REQUESTED IN THIS CRITICAL PHASE 
IS FOR ARABS TO PRODUCE HONEST MEDIA. IF MEDIA WAS FREE FROM ALL 
DEVIATION, OPPRESSION, DECEPTION, FALSIFICATION, AND DISTORTION, 
IT WOULD BE BLESSED BECAUSE MEDIA HAS BECOME A BASIC PART OF THE 
NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS. INDEPENDENCE OF MEDIA IS PART 
OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY AND FREEDOM OF MEDIA IS PART 
OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S FREEDOM." 
 
ALBRIGHT