US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT294

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000294 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (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: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, LEBANON, AND IRAQI STREET NAMES 
 
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Is Iran The New Iraq? 
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1. On February 20, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" 
carried an editorial entitled, "Distribution of Roles": 
 
"In recent statements, the American administration denied the 
accusation that they are going to use military force against Iran 
in an effort to stop what they term `military nuclear activity.' 
According to Washington, nuclear activity is a threat to the 
stability and security of the region and to international peace. 
President Bush stated that he is not excluding military options 
in dealing with Tehran but prefers seeking diplomatic solutions 
first, and qualified this policy by stating any American 
president must consider using military force as an alternative. 
This means that there will be yet another rift among Western 
powers: between those seeking a diplomatic method of convincing 
Iran to abandon its nuclear program, and those who seek to use 
force to advance the agenda of nuclear disarmament." 
 
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Supporting Lebanon 
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2. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an 
editorial on February 21 entitled, "Lebanon at the Crossroads": 
 
"Lebanon has entered into another complicated political stage as 
a result of the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. 
Because of Hariri's sudden death, tensions are heightening 
between the government and the opposition.  Syria is being 
pressured by the Americans to withdraw from Lebanon, which 
further complicates matters for the Lebanese government.  Beirut 
must unite all Lebanese society in an effort to defeat any plans 
aimed at destroying the security and the stability of Lebanon. If 
we -- the Arab world -- do not support Lebanon, the escalation of 
the current situation will only serve to worsen its condition." 
 
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Where The Streets Have No (Iraqi) Name 
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3. On the same day, "Al-Watan" also published an editorial 
entitled, "Americans Renaming Iraqi Streets": 
 
"Despite the success of the Iraqi elections, it seems that the 
Americans have forgotten the horrific attacks and assaults 
perpetrated against Iraqis, especially those held in Abu Ghraib 
prison.  How are the Iraqi people supposed to view the new 
American Mission in Baghdad if its first initiative is to 
Americanize the names of historic Iraqi parks and public spaces? 
This seems totally useless and a poor place to start in the 
reconstruction of a new Iraq.  Why not focus on rebuilding the 
destroyed infrastructure in Iraq, or work toward a new domestic 
policy that helps Iraqis who have been displaced during the war? 
Is Iraq really a sovereign nation, or just the newest American 
colony?" 
 
BALTIMORE