US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1588

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001588 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, 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: MEHLIS REPORT, ARAB LEAGUE, AND SYRIA 
 
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Malice Towards Mehlis 
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1. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" ran an editorial 
on October 23 entitled "About The Mehlis Report": 
 
"The Mehlis report was well-received in Lebanon, but it would 
have been better for Mr. Mehlis to provide us with a 
comprehensive report, supported by substantial evidence and 
buttressed by real names.  Instead, the report is incomplete, 
confused, dubious, and can be interpreted in many ways.  Fingers 
have long been pointed at the involvement of the Syrian and 
Lebanese security services in the assassination of Rafik al- 
Hariri, and this report also appears to implicate President 
Lahoud.  However, it will take more than this vague, obscure 
document to prove any culpability." 
 
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Fair And Balanced 
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2. "Oman," the government-owned Arabic daily, featured an 
editorial on October 22 entitled "Iraq, Past And Present": 
 
"The efforts of the Arab League and its Secretary General Amre 
Moussa to improve the situation in Iraq are balanced and 
moderate.  These efforts have taken the interests of all parties 
- without exception - into consideration.  At the same time, the 
Arabs are trying to stop the bloodshed of innocent Iraqis as well 
as of the American soldiers, who on a daily basis are paying the 
price of the bad policies designed in the corridors of European 
capitals.  Such efforts should receive the continuous support of 
fellow Arab states, in a clear and obvious manner, so that the 
entire world is reassured that the Arab League is working for 
peace." 
 
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You Can't Be Syrious 
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3. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Shabiba" published an 
editorial on October 23 entitled "Syria Is The Key": 
 
"In a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
last Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
announced that the Bush administration would be taking new 
diplomatic steps to isolate Syria.  Rice renewed the 
administration's accusations towards Syria, alleging that 
Damascus allows foreign militants to cross its borders on their 
way to Iraq . . . There is an American project, better known as 
UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which is being exploited by 
the U.S. in order to please Israel.  This American project 
started with the evacuation of Syrian troops from Lebanon, moved 
on to accusing the Syrians of allowing terrorists to cross into 
Iraq, and now aims to implicate Syria in the Rafik al-Hariri 
assassination." 
 
BALTIMORE