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

261231Z Apr 06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000667 
 
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: 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SUPPORTING PALESTINE; DEMOCRACY AND 
HAMAS; THE AMERICAN EMPIRE; BIN LADEN AND DAHAB 
 
 
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"Eternal" Support for the Palestinian Cause 
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¶1. Privately owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) 
published an editorial April 21 under the headline "The Sultanate 
and the Commitment to Supporting the Palestinian Issue": 
 
"The Sultanate tirelessly dedicates itself to reaffirming its 
support for Arab and Islamic issues, chief among them the 
Palestinian issue... The remarks of Palestinian information 
minister Jamal Al Khadari were to the point when, at the end of 
his visit to the Sultanate yesterday, he confirmed his 
appreciation for the position of Sultan Qaboos.  Most Omanis, 
government and people, support an eternal commitment for the 
fraternal Palestinian people... In order to please extremist 
Israeli elements, the Europeans and Americans have backtracked on 
their involvement with Palestinian humanitarian concerns.  As a 
result, there is a greater need than ever before to support all 
Palestinian movements, whether from the Palestinian Authority or 
the democratically elected government." 
 
--------------------------------- 
"Refusing Democracy in Palestine" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. In the government-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) 
columnist Abdullah al-Ulian wrote an editorial on April 24 
discussing "American Attitudes toward the Palestinian Issue and 
the Example of Hamas's Victory": 
 
"For decades, American policy was characterized by political, 
military, economic, and strategic support for Israel at all 
levels.  However, after the second Gulf War and the entry of Arab 
countries in the 1990 international coalition to eject Iraq from 
Kuwait, America offered a different view.  It was understood that 
the U.S. had taken a step toward a more neutral stance in the 
Middle East...but unfortunately America did not change any of its 
traditional policies or its blind support for Israel... This has 
been the American position for decades, and it is unable to 
establish a stable peace... The U.S. should change its present 
position and, at the very least, stand behind what it announces 
to the world.  The policy of starving the Palestinians because 
they elected Hamas is incomprehensible and illogical.  It 
contradicts what the U.S. says about anchoring democracy in the 
Arab world... Refusing democracy in Palestine, and the attempt to 
use economic and political pressure to change attitudes, is 
dangerous for the issue of peace and stability... This will lead 
to instability and tension in the region." 
 
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The American Empire: Decline and Fall? 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. "Oman" published an editorial on April 22 averring that "The 
American Empire is in Decay." 
 
"The British Empire, on which the sun never set, deteriorated 
because of its military adventures, and the strain of financial 
expenditures to its colonies in the East led to its collapse... 
U.S. military adventures have increased since the 1950s, most 
prominently in Southeast Asia...which were crowned with military, 
political, and psychological defeats that still manifest 
themselves inside America... In the case of a struggle between 
America and any other country, the closest example being Iraq, 
American invasion spurs tragic events... Iraq has turned into a 
bloody swamp, and Iraqi politicians are unable to push the 
political process forward... Continuing pre-emptive wars such as 
those supported by the military leadership and men in the Defense 
Department -- especially Rumsfeld -- will hasten this decay and 
lead America into the same mistakes that the British and French 
empires made." 
 
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Online:  Dahab Bombings and Bin Laden's Most Recent Message 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
¶4.  Internet message board "al-Sablah" is Oman's highest-profile 
online forum for political and social discourse, touching on 
issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional 
media.  An April 26 thread has to date attracted over a thousand 
hits in the course of discussing Osama bin Laden's most recent 
message and the bombings in Dahab, Egypt.  One poster criticized 
President Bush for "stealing and killing."  In response, another 
participant asked, "What is the relationship of the innocent 
victims in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan with 
Bush?  Must innocents pay the price for Bush's crimes?"  One 
member took a conspiratorial line on the Dahab bombings: "Isn't 
it strange that the number of Egyptians killed was 20, while only 
three foreigners died?  Why were Egyptians targeted when 
foreigners could have been as well?  I think that the real goal 
behind these attacks is to continue to provide a pretext for the 
war against what is called terrorism."  Another worried about 
similar attacks close to home:  "It's not impossible that bin 
Laden would wage attacks in Muscat, for example at a shisha cafe 
or in one of the movie theaters, because governments of the Gulf 
countries are corrupt in his view." 
 
GRAPPO