US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT1967

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001967 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (TROBERTS), NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY), NEA/P 
(FFINVER), INR/R/MR 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER/ASILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: ARAFAT, IRAQ AND BUSH VICTORY 
 
 
---------------- 
A Post-Arafat PA 
---------------- 
 
1. On November 7, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" 
published an editorial entitled "Palestinian Unification": 
 
"The Palestinian Authority is going through a dangerous phase. 
The declining health of President Yasir Arafat plays into the 
hands of the Israelis, who fully expect the rise of conflict 
between rival Palestinian factions.  The Israeli side is hoping 
for armed confrontation between these factions, so that they can 
impose their will upon the Palestinians.  The only way to solve 
this sensitive issue is to have a national dialogue among all the 
Palestinians in order to reach a collective agreement on pressing 
national issues.  The Palestinian Authority needs to put forth an 
agenda with defined priorities, and then follow that agenda." 
 
--------------- 
The Way Forward 
--------------- 
 
2. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on 
November 8 under the headline "The Iraqi Scene": 
 
"The tragedy in Iraq continues, and innocents are falling every 
day.  The hope of a peaceful and unified Iraq is becoming 
fainter.  The issues are growing more complicated between the two 
sides: those who want to get rid of the invaders, and those who 
want to finish the political process by participating in the 
January elections.  Amongst the daily shedding of blood, it is 
necessary to find a way forward; basic services for the Iraqis 
must be improved in order to give a more optimistic picture for 
the future.  Another critical element is to have a revised 
American policy in Iraq.  According to an Australian expert, the 
Americans 'should forget the implementation of democracy, and 
concentrate instead on training the national forces to support 
citizens' basic needs such as food and employment.'" 
 
------------------- 
American Juggernaut 
------------------- 
 
3. Obeid al-Shaqsi penned an op-ed piece in "Oman" on November 8 
entitled "Is Bush Planning for Another War?": 
 
"President Bush's victory in the election over Senator Kerry made 
the Republicans more confident.  He and his advisors see this 
victory as a sign of strong support for the policy of using force 
against terrorism.  This means that the president will have few 
difficulties convincing the American public of the need to fight 
terrorism, or even of expanding the list of countries on whom he 
would like to wage war.  Many observers expected a different 
electoral outcome, given that there were strong American 
objections to the war in Iraq.  However, it seems that the Bush 
administration -- through its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- has 
succeeded in marketing a positive idea about the legality of war 
and its ability to bring development and success to these 
countries.  The American media also flooded the American people 
with cheerful news about the crushing of the Taliban, the 
upcoming elections in Afghanistan, and the spread of democracy in 
Iraq, while seemingly ignoring the widespread resistance to 
American occupation and the coffins resulting from this 
resistance.  This time, President Bush not only has the American 
people standing behind him, but also the Republican-dominated 
Congress." 
 
BALTIMORE