US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI4086

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004086 
 
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; PARIS FOR ZEYA 
LONDON PASS MOC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: RELEASE OF BRITISH SOLDIERS/ TWO 
PUBLICATIONS IN UAE/ BREAKTHOUGH WITH NORTH KOREA 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  A UAE DAILY CLAIMED THAT THE TWO BRITISH SOLDIERS 
DETAINED IN BASRA AND LATER FREED FROM POLICE DETENTION WERE 
MOSSAD AGENTS.  ANOTHER DAILY WELCOMED THE LAUNCH OF TWO UAE 
DAILY TABLOIDS IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC URGING THEM TO REFLECT THE 
HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE STREET.  A UAE ACADEMIC LAUDED NORTH 
KOREA'S CONCESSION TO ABANDON ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, DESCRIBING IT 
AS A SUCCESS FOR U.S. DIPLOMACY AND AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW IN 
WORKING TO COUNTER IRAN'S NUCLEAR ASPIRATIONS. END SUMMARY 
 
2. Under the headline "Sistani with a vote of yes for the 
constitution and calls for Jaafari's resignation.  The Basra 
crisis: `The two British soldiers work for the Mossad'", UAE's 
largest circulation, Sharjah-Based Pan -Arab Daily "Al Khaleej," 
(circulation 85,000) 9/23 wrote.  The story claimed that the two 
soldiers who were detained by the Iraqi police were working for 
the Israeli Mossad to carry out explosions that would create 
sectarian strife between the Sunnis and the Shiites in Iraq. 
 
3. Under the headline "The New Press", Adel Sanhouri wrote in 
Dubai-Based Arabic Daily "Al Bayan," (circulation 90,000): 
 
"The launching of new dailies means a new window of hope and 
mornings of aspirations for a society that dreams of development, 
a desire in reform and a better future.. Both dailies, Emirates 
Today" and "Emarat Al-Yaoum" chose the format of a tabloid, a 
form that characterizes most popular publications in Britain and 
the rest of the world.  This choice puts those in charge of the 
publications before a real challenge.  The real court of popular 
media is the street that hopes to see its image on the 
publications pages.After all, what is important is the content of 
any publication and the margin of freedom that prevails 
represents the main challenge." 
 
 
4. Dr. Muhamamd bin Huwaiden wrote in "Al-Khaleej" 9/24: 
 
"In a sudden development that represented joy for some and shock 
for others, North Korea pledged to abandon its nuclear program.. 
This North Korean concession represents a victory for the 
philosophy of peaceful diplomacy pursued by Washington in 
tackling the North Korean file against the philosophy of military 
diplomacy Washington has been trying to execute in other areas 
and mainly the Middle East.This success means the collapse of the 
last challenge fortresses that have always confronted the U.S. 
and a victory of the U.S. which will overshadow moves and hopes 
of other nations that viewed the Korean challenge as an example 
to follow such as Iran.  This success will work as a catalyst for 
the U.S. to continue in its rejection of Iran's demands to 
possess peaceful nuclear program on one side and to pursue its 
pressure on the European nations and Russia to take similar 
position to the Asians from the North Korean file.  The Korean 
file will also create a huge problem for the Iranian political 
regime which will become totally isolated and unable to maneuver 
because what has been applied on Korea will be a model to follow 
by others." 
 
SISON