US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2025

UNCLAS MUSCAT 002025 
 
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: IRAQ WAR AND PALESTINIAN 
ELECTIONS 
 
 
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A Conflict of Wills 
------------------- 
 
1. An editorial appeared in the government-owned Arabic daily 
"Oman" on November 21 entitled "A Conflict of Wills in Iraq... 
Whose Victory?": 
 
"After the failed U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is 
necessary to convince Iraqis and Afghans that there is hope for 
their future and that the destruction of their cities will end. 
Americans must understand that by attacking cities like Mosul 
they only create more resistance to their presence..  In Iraq, 
the conflict of wills between the Americans, the interim 
government, Shiites in the South, and Kurds in the North is one 
of wills.  All of them hope for a peaceful and stable Iraq.  The 
way to achieve this goal is through dialogue not by destroying 
Iraqi cities.  The French President was right when he said that, 
`American policies in Iraq are harmful..' The international 
community should learn a lesson from Iraq.  The lesson is that 
violence in the country is due to a conflict of wills between the 
parties, not disagreement over the need for stability in the 
country." 
 
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After Arafat 
------------ 
 
2. "Oman" also carried an editorial on the same day entitled "The 
Palestinian Elections": 
 
"Free and fair Palestinian elections will be an important step on 
the road to Palestinian statehood.  The upcoming elections will 
send a clear message to the rest of the world that Palestinians 
have decided who their leaders should be..  International law 
gives occupied people the right to resist their occupiers. 
However, there is a chance for peace if the U.S. and the European 
Union make a good faith effort to find ways to move the dialogue 
between the parties forward.  The coming days will bring 
opportunities for Palestinians to advance their interests and 
acquire greater international respect." 
 
BALTIMORE