US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1014

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR ASILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, PREL, SCUL, MU, Public Affairs, International Relations 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: FOREIGN RELATIONS, BRUSSELS, IRAQ, AND 
THE SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL 
 
 
-------------- 
Model Behavior 
-------------- 
 
1. The government-owned Arabic-language daily "Oman" published an 
editorial on June 22 entitled "Distinguished Models Of Relations 
With Brothers And Friends": 
 
"Three recent models typify Oman's brotherly and friendly foreign 
relations.  The first model is the 14th Session of the Oman/UAE 
Supreme Joint Committee, which underscores the desire of both 
countries to deepen their relations.  The second model is the 
effort to develop economic and commercial relations with Asian 
countries, as demonstrated by the visit of the Minister of 
National Economy to South Korea and Japan.  The third model is 
Oman's participation in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 
America's capital city, in which the Sultanate was given the 
chance to showcase its culture and civilization in front of a 
friendly country: the United States.  All of these models enhance 
communication and dialogue." 
 
------------------------ 
Hope Sprouts In Brussels 
------------------------ 
 
2. "Oman" also ran an editorial on June 24 under the headline 
"The Brussels Meeting And The Future Of Iraq": 
 
"The Brussels meeting was important not only because of the need 
for a joint effort to end the suffering in Iraq, but also because 
of the growing global awareness that the situation in Iraq has 
regional and international consequences.  Stability is now the 
main concern of the Iraqi people, and stability is a joint 
responsibility of neighboring countries as well as the 
international community.  The participants in the Brussels 
meeting should ensure that any resolutions are reliable and 
credible." 
 
------------------- 
Seeing Through Iraq 
------------------- 
 
3. "Al-Watan," a privately owned Arabic-language daily, carried 
an editorial on June 25 entitled "Transparency Is Needed To 
Resolve The Iraq Issue": 
 
"The tragic results in Iraq are a natural outcome of wrong 
calculations from the very outset of the war.  American 
enthusiasm for the military adventure in Iraq is fading, and the 
people largely do not believe the administration's proclamations 
that everything is `under control.'  Even American government 
officials now occasionally contradict one another when speaking 
about the situation in Iraq.  What the United States needs now is 
to have a bit more transparency in their talk about democracy and 
reform, since it is clear that not all Iraqis have welcomed 
American troops as liberators." 
 
------------------ 
Bearing Any Burden 
------------------ 
 
4. On June 26, "Oman" published an editorial under the headline 
"Iraq, America And Decisive Changes": 
 
"We note that the United States has started to refer to the many 
hardships in Iraq.  Perhaps this is the result of two factors: 
first, many Democratic members of Congress have increased their 
criticism of the Bush administration, claiming that the U.S. is 
losing the war in Iraq.  Second, the estimated cost of the war 
effort is $3 billion per month, which is an unacceptable burden 
for the American economy and the American taxpayer." 
 
-------------------- 
A Festive Atmosphere 
-------------------- 
 
5. Also on June 26, "al-Watan" featured an editorial entitled "A 
Festival For Redrawing The Picture": 
 
"Arabs and Americans both complain that they are not understood 
by the other side, yet both claim that they have put forth a 
great effort to develop such understanding.  Oman provided a good 
lesson for both sides when it participated in the internationally 
renowned Smithsonian Folklife Festival.  By presenting the 
diversity of Oman's customs, costumes and heritage - which are 
all part of the broader Arab culture - the participants revealed 
an honest, excellent, and efficient path towards increasing the 
level of mutual understanding....  For political reasons, Arabs 
have always been portrayed negatively in the West, but Oman has 
now opened wide a door that should help Americans change their 
views about Arabs - an effort that is much appreciated." 
---------------- 
Don't Lecture Me 
---------------- 
 
6. A political cartoon appeared in "al-Watan" on June 26 that 
showed a caricature of Secretary Rice declaring, "We do not like 
your elections."  An Arab woman in an abaya stands nearby with 
her hands on her hips and an annoyed expression, saying, "Who 
asked for your opinion?!?" 
 
SNOWDEN