US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI1295

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001295 
 
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; ALSO FOR MOC 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION 3/21-3/22:  QATAR EXPLOSION/ ARAB SUMMIT 
IN ALGERIA 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE TERRORIST EXPLOSION IN QATAR AND THE 
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ARAB SUMMIT IN ALGERIA DOMINATED COVERAGE IN 
LOCAL ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA.  AN EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD" 
NOTED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR ARAB COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION 
TO ACHIEVE REFORM.  ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" POINTED OUT 
THAT TERRORIST GROUPS SHOULD BE DRIVEN FROM THE REGION BECAUSE 
THEY ARE A THREAT TO ALL COUNTRIES.  ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL 
ITTIHAD" CONDEMNED THE EXPLOSION AND NOTED THAT TERRORISTS DID 
NOT SUCCEED IN THEIR GOALS TO DE-STABILIZE THE REGION.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  COMMENTING ON THE OPENING OF THE ARAB SUMMIT IN ALGERIA, "AL 
ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 03/22: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, 
SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 85,000) 
 
".  THE ARABS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SOLUTION FROM THE SUMMIT 
IN ALGERIA THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR REFORM THAT WILL USHER IN A 
NEW ERA FOR THE ARAB WORLD, ONE THAT IS RIGHTEOUS AND HEALTHY AND 
BASED ON COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION.  THERE IS A NEED TO 
ACHIEVE THE HOPES AND AMBITIONS OF THE ARABS, NOT JUST REPEAT 
READY MADE SLOGANS AND IMPORTED TERMS AGAIN AND AGAIN.  AS FOR 
THE POLITICAL ISSUES, STARTING WITH THE PALESTINIAN AND IRAQI 
ISSUES, THERE IS A NEED FOR ARAB COLLABORATION, STEELED BY THE 
ARAB WILL, TO ENSURE INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY AND PROTECTION OF 
ARAB RIGHTS." 
 
3.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "TERRORISM IS KNOCKING ALL DOORS," "AL 
BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 03/21: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS- 
ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 95,000) 
 
"IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO STAND BY WITH OUR HANDS FOLDED 
AND WATCH THESE BRUTAL KILLERS TRY TO PLAY WITH OUR REGION'S 
SECURITY AND STABILITY. THIS REGION THAT HAS BEEN AN OASIS OF 
SECURITY AND STABILITY.  ALL GULF COUNTRIES ARE TARGETED NOW FROM 
THOSE WHO WANT THE SPREAD OF IGNORANCE AND HATE THROUGHOUT THE 
REGION.  THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THOSE KILLERS AMONG PEACEFUL 
PEOPLE, AND THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE ON CONDEMNING STATEMENTS 
AND ACCUSATIONS THAT SERVE ONLY TO DEMONSTRATE THE BRAVADO OF THE 
SPEAKER.  THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF 
OUR REGION IS TO DRIVE TERRORISM FROM OUR LANDS.  THERE MUST BE 
UNITY IN FACING THIS DANGER BECAUSE IT IS KNOCKING ON ALL DOORS 
AND IS FLYING IN ALL SKIES." 
 
4.  CONDEMNING THE EXPLOSION IN QATAR, "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 
03/21: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 
85,000) 
 
".  THESE CORRUPTED GROUP HAVE SOLD THEMSELVES TO THE DEVIL AND 
TO THE ILLUSION OF POWER.  THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR RELIGION AND 
SEEK TO SPREAD THEIR POISON IN THE REGION.  HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT 
SUCCEED BECAUSE THE ALL PEOPLES OF THE GULF REJECT THEIR CORRUPT 
AND ABNORMAL THINKING.  THE CRIMINAL'S LIFE IS SHORT AND WILL NOT 
SUCCEED BECAUSE THIS IS A HOLY LAND THAT IS STILL A LIGHT HOUSE 
OF TOLERANCE AND MERCY AND REJECTS EXTREMISM." 
 
ALBRIGHT