US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3709

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UAE CONDEMNS TABA AND IRAQ TERROR; MEDIA REFLECTS ON INTERNATIONAL PERCEPTION OF ISLAM

Identifier: 04ABUDHABI3709
Wikileaks: View 04ABUDHABI3709 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2004-10-19 10:36:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PREL PTER TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  02/05/2007 04:58:52 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 03709

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   P/M ECON MEPI RSO AMB DCM

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: POL:SOSTROV
CLEARED: POL:JMAYBURY

VZCZCADI205
RR RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #3709 2931036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191036Z OCT 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6409
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4412
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, TC 
SUBJECT:  UAE CONDEMNS TABA AND IRAQ TERROR; MEDIA 
REFLECTS ON INTERNATIONAL PERCEPTION OF ISLAM 
 
1. The UAE condemned the blasts that took place in Taba on 
October 9.  In a statement carried in the press on October 
10, the MFA Undersecretary, Abdullah Rashid Al Nuaimi, 
stated, "The UAE condemns in the strongest possible terms 
the bombings which occurred in Taba."  He added that the 
bombings, which caused loss of life and property, deserve 
strong condemnation as they constitute vicious acts aimed 
at spreading unrest and instability in the region.  He 
also voiced solidarity with Egypt; saying that the 
Egyptian leadership was capable of combatting such 
unwarranted criminal acts. 
 
2. Several newspapers editorialized that the terrorist 
attacks contributed to misunderstandings of Islam due to 
the emergence of radical ideas and activities. 
For example, the Dubai-based English daily "Gulf News" on 
Oct. 10 wrote, "Yet another suicide bombing has taken 
place in the name of Islam.  This time in Egypt, at the 
resort town of Taba, where death and destruction followed 
the detonation of two car bombs.  Three groups, previously 
unknown, claimed responsibility, each professing to have 
Islamic connections.  Regrettably, when Muslims claim 
their religion is one of peace, a large proportion of 
westerners point to such events as what happened Friday in 
Taba.  That it coincided with the horrifying beheading of 
the British captive Kenneth Bigley, incarcerated by 
militants in Iraq claiming to be Muslims, merely 
exacerbates an already sensitive situation for devout 
followers of Islam." 
 
3.  The Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al Ittihad" wrote on 
Oct. 10, "We request our Arab media to be up to its 
responsibilities and to be honest with itself before being 
honest with the Arab person, and give the right names and 
phrases to the situations.  What happened in Taba is the 
similar face to what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
The Arab media should realize the dangers of what it is 
promoting even if not straightforward.  Broadcasting the 
tapes that terrorists use to promote themselves on 
satellite channels is a kind of planting of terrorism in 
humane societies." 
SISON 

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