This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000019 
 
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 MCKUNE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO TC
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORTS/PALESTINE 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Arab columnists are critical of U.S. public diplomacy 
efforts.  Al-Khaleej urges Palestinian authorities to take 
stronger control of the resistance and not just make statements 
condemning resistance groups.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Under the headline "Brainwash", Jafar Mohamed Ahmed, a 
columnist wrote on Sharjah-based Pan -Arab daily "Al Khaleej," 
(circulation 85,000) 12/30: 
 
"The announcement inaugurating the Edward R. Murrow Journalism 
Fellows Program came days after the suspension of Hi Magazine 
whose objective was to enhance the image of Washington in the 
Arab and Islamic world.  The U.S. stopped publishing this 
magazine as it failed to achieve this goal and could probably 
take the same step towards Radio Sawa and Al-Hurrah TV, which are 
both financed by the American Congress for the same objective. 
Will the new Washington endeavor of the Edward R. Murrow 
Journalism Fellows Program further tarnish the U.S. image after 
its failure with Sawa, Al-Hurrah and finally Hi Magazine which 
were all nothing but attempts of unsuccessful American 
brainwashing?" 
 
¶3. Under the headline "Can diplomacy enhance US image?", a 
columnist, Dr. Mohamed Qirat, wrote on Dubai-based Arabic daily 
"Al Bayan," (circulation 90,000) 12/30: 
 
"Karen Hughes acknowledges that her mission is difficult to 
achieve and that Radio Sawa and Al-Hurrah TV both failed to 
achieve their set objectives.  The question here is:  Does 
America need to rectify its image in front of the world or does 
it need to change its foreign policies and its security, military 
and economic conduct in the world?  Most likely, America needs an 
accurate scientific performance diagnosis as to what its image 
has become now.  Enhancing the image is done through deeds not 
words." 
 
¶4. Under the headline "Hi and American naivety", a columnist, Dr. 
Saleh Abdel Atheem, wrote on Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan," 
(circulation 90,000) 12/30: 
 
"America wants, through its media, to let the Arabic reader and 
viewer know that there is another tame, pleasant and shining 
America that has nothing to do with what is currently happening 
in Iraq and Afghanistan.  So please Mr. Reader and viewer do not 
judge the U.S. through what you see in Iraq and Afghanistan and 
through what you see of continuous American pressure exerted on 
this region or through its unconditional assistance to Israel. 
You should forget all this and direct your entirety towards the 
American media and overlook these American perils in the Arab 
region..  Despite its pretentious naivety, the new American media 
presents its face of ridicule and non-understanding of 
contemporary Arabic trends through Hi Magazine..  As if the 
targeted Arab readers are expected to be more concerned with the 
latest American musical hits..  It seems that American government 
media directed towards the Arab world still reflects the U.S. 
political thought that the Arab world does not have a sound 
understanding of the current situation and circumstances in the 
Arab region..  So until the American political diplomacy changes 
its direction towards this region, and until its media naivety 
diminishes, all the American media organizations in the Arab 
region will have a similar fate." 
 
¶5. Under the headline "Suspected weapon", Sharjah-based Pan -Arab 
daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 1/2 wrote: 
 
"IT IS NOT IN THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR 
CURRENT SITUATION, THE NATIONAL LAW, AND ALL THE PALESTINIAN 
FORCES, TO HAVE SECURITY BREAKDOWN IN GAZA.  THESE BREAKDOWNS 
TAKE THE FORM OF UNCONTROLLED, ILLEGAL STREET FIGHTING, ATTACKS 
ON POLICEMEN, KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGNERS AND BOMBINGS.  THESE 
BREAKDOWNS DEBASE THE DIGNITY OF CITIZENS, MARTYRS AND THE 
DIVINITY OF JERUSALEM.  THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE PALESTINIAN 
AUTHORITY HAD EVERYTHING UNDER ITS CONTROL OR IF THERE WAS A REAL 
NATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE FACT THAT ANY WEAPON USED AGAINST NON- 
OCCUPIERS SERVES THE OCCUPATION BECAUSE SUCH PRACTICES HURT THE 
PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE AND DISTORTS BOTH ITS IMAGE AND ITS 
SACRIFICES.  THE REASON FOR KIDNAPPING FOREIGNERS OR OTHER NORMAL 
CITIZENS WHO PROVIDE SOCIAL OR HUMAN SERVICES TO THE PALESTINIANS 
IS NOT UNDERSTOOD..  THESE ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN 
THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE IS PASSING THROUGH ITS MOST DIFFICULT AND 
DANGEROUS STAGE..  STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION AND DENUNCIATION 
MADE BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES ARE NOT ENOUGH." 
 
 
QUINN