US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1089

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001089 
 
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, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SUDAN, WAR, FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL 
 
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Sudan's Shining Path 
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1. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an 
editorial on July 11 entitled "Sudan on the Right Path": 
 
"After an interminable period of conflict, Sudan finally took a 
step forward when it decided to push ahead with a national 
compromise.  This compromise serves as a lesson on how to 
overcome problems, and how to promote national interests instead 
of personal ones....  Sudan is now in need of political 
stability, in order to develop its resources for the benefit of 
its long-suffering people." 
 
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You Can't Handle The Truth 
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2. "Al-Watan," a privately owned Arabic daily, carried an 
editorial on July 10 by Saud bin Ali al-Harthy under the headline 
"Truth Is The First Victim In War": 
 
"If we can characterize peace as a time when culture and art 
flourish, then surely we can characterize war as an evil time 
where human cruelty reigns supreme.  Can any war truly be called 
`sacred,' when innocent people are killed and cities are 
destroyed?  Can a war really create democratic systems or 
principles of freedom?  The war that the United States continues 
to wage against Iraq purportedly aimed to bring freedom to the 
Iraqis and rid the country of weapons of mass destruction - but 
everybody knows that it is America that possesses the weapons to 
destroy humanity and freedom." 
 
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James Smithson Triumphs Again 
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3. "Al-Watan" featured an editorial on July 7 entitled "Oman: 
Desert, Oasis And The Sea In Washington": 
 
"A society's traditional culture provides outsiders with a pure 
image of that society, untouched by political controversies or 
technology.  The core of any civilization is reflected in its 
original traditions.  At the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 
Washington, DC, we noticed the many American visitors who were 
attracted by Oman's traditions, and who admired the diversity of 
Oman's geography and people.  One of the visitors stated that she 
learned a lot about Arab culture, and she hoped that political 
influences will not block further understanding and communication 
between the two societies." 
 
BALTIMORE