US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1381

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001381 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: 9/11, ISRAEL, AND UNITED NATIONS REFORM 
 
 
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Unhappy Anniversary 
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1. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an 
editorial entitled "Silence Followed By A Question" on September 
12: 
 
"The whole world mourns the victims of 9/11 in New York, 
Washington, and Pennsylvania.  However, after a respectful minute 
of silence, the world will want to raise questions about the post- 
9/11 situation, including questions about counterterrorism and 
the clash of civilizations.  Unfortunately, the Western media 
continues to connect the 9/11 anniversaries to the military 
operations in Iraq...  The world is looking for voices that speak 
about peace, tolerance and dialogue.  Let the 9/11 anniversaries 
be opportunities for communication, rather than occasions to 
increase animosity between peoples." 
 
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Temple Tricks 
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2. Also on September 12, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" 
ran an editorial under the headline "Just An Excuse": 
 
"Israel has officially ended its thirty-eight-year-long 
occupation of Gaza Strip.  But despite the end of its military 
presence, Tel Aviv decided to keep twenty-four temples in the 
destroyed settlements - in violation of a court decision 
authorizing their removal.  The Palestinian Authority requested 
that the temples be removed to prevent future clashes between 
Israelis and Palestinians.  This appears to be yet another 
procrastination by the Israeli government, which constantly looks 
for opportunities to delay the implementation of their 
obligations.  If the Israeli government is serious about peace, 
they should fulfill their promises to the Palestinian Authority." 
 
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The UN At Sixty 
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3. On September 11, "al-Watan" featured an editorial entitled "A 
Call To Reform?  Or Giving In?": 
 
"Reforming the United Nations is logical, since sixty years have 
passed since the Charter was signed.  This Charter was designed 
to protect the interests of the victorious nations after World 
War II, as demonstrated by the veto power held by the five 
permanent members of the Security Council.  It is interesting 
that some of these same powers are against reforming the UN to 
include more voices.  Indeed, these powers seek to be given the 
right to preemptively attack any country without warning under 
the excuse of `fighting terrorism' - even though nobody can 
define what terrorism actually is.  The first step towards reform 
is equalizing the relations between the have-nots and the 
superpowers who want to control the world according to their 
whims." 
 
BALTIMORE