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 MUSCAT 000955 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS, 
PALESTINIAN "SELF DEFENSE," U.S. HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND 
DEMOCRACY, GUANTANAMO SUICIDES 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Daily newspaper "Oman" condemns Israel's targeted 
assassinations and questions U.S. motives for humanitarian 
intervention, "Al-Watan" supports Palestinian "self defense." 
Gadfly columnist Essa al-Zedjali of "The Times" calls democracy a 
guise for U.S. interests.  Limited coverage of Iran and Zarqawi's 
death continues.  Al-Sablah Internet discussion blames U.S. for 
Guantanamo suicides.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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COVERAGE 
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¶1.  Coverage of Iran abated this week, migrating off the front 
page in Omani dailies.  The "Times of Oman" ran two articles 
about Iran on its opinion page, the first an AFP analysis by 
Michael Adler and the second an editorial from Pakistan's "Dawn" 
newspaper blaming U.S. "unilateralism" for the standoff with 
Iran.  Limited continuing coverage of the death of Abu Musab Al 
Zarqawi mentioned allegations that beating by U.S. troops 
hastened his end. 
 
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BLOCK QUOTES: ISRAEL ASSASSINATES... 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. In June 11, government-owned daily "Oman" (circ. 38,000) 
published an editorial entitled "The Israeli Escalation to 
Confuse the Palestinians": 
 
"Palestinians are seeking consensus about how best to deal with 
worsening problems and how to reconcile Fatah and Hamas.  It is 
no coincidence that Israel is trying to escalate the situation by 
assassinating leaders and randomly bombing areas populated mostly 
by women and children.  Israel is trying to stack the cards to 
create the greatest chaos possible in the Palestinian 
territories, hoping to sow serious discord between Palestinians. 
The pressing question is whether the Palestinians will overcome 
these trials." 
 
------------------------- 
...PALESTINIANS RETALIATE 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" (circ. 42,000), 
assailed American "support" for Israel's policy of assassination 
in Palestine in a June 11 editorial, "New Chapters in an Old 
Play": 
 
"Every time Israel kills Palestinian women and children as in the 
massacre on Friday, Washington announces in the U.N. Security 
Council that Israel's actions are "self defense."  Only murderers 
and war criminals consider slaughtering civilians to be "self 
defense."  Palestinian retaliation should not be considered 
terrorism.  It is a legitimate right of self defense." 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
SKEPTICISM OVER U.S. HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. On June 10, "Oman" carried an editorial by Suhail Bin Salim al- 
Khathiri entitled "The International Community and Humanitarian 
Intervention": 
 
"Terms like humanitarian intervention and international community 
pervade the media and international circles whenever America 
takes part in an international conflict.  These terms are 
exaggerated and fabricated to give the impression that a 
dangerous threat to humanity and the international community 
exists, and that something should be done.  Americans then rise 
to defend the rights and democracy principles of others, claiming 
that these are universal, and that they are justified in crossing 
all international laws, resolutions, and bodies to wage war 
against the 'aggressor.'  This happened with NATO's attack 
against Yugoslavia under the guise of ending genocide, which 
resulted in that country's disintegration.  This process 
culminated in the war on Afghanistan and Iraq.  The United States 
invaded Iraq, and its armed forces violated Iraqis' most basic 
human rights.  Thus, using the terms [mentioned above] to control 
other peoples or promote a nation's self interest means that 
these terms are no longer legitimate." 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
...AND CYNICISM ABOUT U.S. CALLS FOR DEMOCRACY 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5.  On June 11, the English-language daily "Times of Oman" (circ. 
25,000) acerbic editor-in-chief/columnist Essa bin Mohammed Al 
Zedjali bylined a front-page editorial, "US Democracy Protects 
Only US Interests": 
 
"Democracy is of paramount importance as long as it fosters 
American interests. But the moment it happens to go against the 
US interests, democracy and all principles stemming from it are 
thrown to the winds and naked power dominates the scene. True 
democracy entails respect for the opinion of others and 
commitment to international laws... The US principle runs like 
this: the world has to commit to the kind of democracy which the 
US administration desires, a democracy which would see with 
American eyes and think with American minds to receive the 
blessings of the U.S. administration. But when the US interests 
are at risk, the administration bares its fangs, unveils its real 
face, and of course, doesn't care a fig about democracy." 
 
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ONLINE:  GUANTANAMO - "THE AMERICANS KILLED THEM" 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5.  Reports of suicides at Guantanamo generated strong reaction 
but limited interaction on "Al-Sablah," Oman's most popular 
Internet discussion forum, with 1,586 hits and 61 responses. A 
strong majority of posters (56) blamed the U.S. for the 
detainees' demise:  "these people sold their lives in this world 
for heaven, so it was impossible that they would have committed 
suicide.  The Americans killed them."  The few dissenters 
insisted that Guantanamo detainees are in fact terrorists.  They 
blamed Osama bin Laden for detainees' imprisonment, calling him 
the "Rat of Tora Bora." 
 
STEWART