VZCZCXRO3789
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #1614/01 3241301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201301Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7432
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0456
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0348
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001614 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR 
STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN 
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: NATIONAL DAY IN OMAN, AL JAZEERA 
INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN "WWIII", OMANI MODEL FOR PEACE 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Omani media focus this week was squarely - and nearly 
exclusively - on coverage revolving around the celebration of the 
country's national day (the Sultan's birthday).  The very little 
press attention to other matters displayed mingled pride and concern 
over the startup of Al Jazeera international and drew on the 
Sultan's recent remarks to reflect on the path to peace in the 
region.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------- 
COVERAGE 
-------- 
 
¶2.  All papers, along with broadcast news on radio and television, 
carried blanket coverage relating to the observation of Oman's 
national day.  The Sultan's November 15 speech to the Majlis Oman 
(the joint session of the Majlis al Shura and Majlis al Dowla) 
received laudatory headlines ("His Majesty to grace Council of 
Oman's annual meeting today", "His Majesty declares big drive to 
develop human resources").  Features in all papers highlighted new 
and ongoing development projects across the Sultanate ("Muscat 
Municipality takes up many ambitious projects"), while coverage of 
the holiday itself is summed up by the "Times of Oman" banner 
headline, "Tryst with the Glorious Day".  The signing of the 
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement received prominent placement in most 
of the many year-in-review features present in all media.  Several 
papers published special holiday feature sections, while state-owned 
Arabic and English papers included a special souvenir portrait of 
Sultan Qaboos. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Al Jazeera Int'l: A "Positive Voice" - Co-opted? 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶3.  On November 20, state-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 
38,000) carried a column by academic commentator Muhammad Awadh 
al-Mashaikhi in which he gave voice to mixed feelings about 
"Al-Jazeera International News Channel: the Positive Voice Coming 
from the South": 
 
Although Al Jazeera has surpassed any other news channel in the Arab 
world (not least as a result of the enormous funds invested in it 
and the political will that facilitated its freedom of expression), 
it is difficult to judge the new channel in its own context. [Al 
Jazeera International] is operating in a very competitive 
environment in which other international English news channels, such 
as CNN and the BBC, dominate.  Now its competition is not regional 
Arabic channels, but those with a track record of attracting 
billions of viewers worldwide.   Already it has been noticed it 
started with excessive focus on Israeli news; on the first day it 
had a lengthy interview with Shimon Peres, and the first sports item 
was about the Israel vs. Croatia football match.  In addition, its 
political programs received participation from Israelis from 
occupied Jerusalem through telephone calls. The world is expecting 
from "Al Jazeera International" to provide an informative media 
message that is based on honesty, creditability, authenticity, 
balance, and objectivity.  This will be expressed through showing 
the bitter realities that the Arabic and Islamic nations are living 
in." 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
"Americanized Model" to blame for World War III? 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4.   Private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) reflected 
November 20 on CENTCOM Commander Abizaid's comments on the need to 
confront Islamic extremism, asking "Who is Provoking World War 
III?": 
 
"General John Abizaid turned the cameras on himself when he spoke 
about the possibility of "World War III" erupting in the region. 
When American military leaders use statements like this, usually 
they are looking for higher political positions. [Abizaid] did not 
provide any reasons why the situation is going in the wrong 
direction that he talked about. However, the wrong actions that his 
leaders are committing, their handling the nations of this region 
with an iron hand - these are the reasons for such a war. He is 
forgetting that the Iraqi wound is only of American making, 
Palestinian suffering results from an American model of tyranny, the 
game in Lebanon is a mere draft of what America wants to create, and 
the pressure against Afghanis to discard the Taliban is an excuse 
for the American invasion. The reason for this "World War III" is 
not because these nations need freedom, something they completely 
 
MUSCAT 00001614  002 OF 002 
 
 
comprehend and fight for, rather, it is the Americanized model of 
freedom." 
 
------------------------ 
A ROYAL VISION FOR PEACE 
------------------------ 
 
¶5. "Al Watan" drew from Sultan Qaboos's November 15 speech to 
recommend his thinking  as the way to create peace and stability in 
its November 20 column, "Understanding Peace...A Vision in the 
Sultan's Message": 
 
"The national approach to foreign policy was very clear in the 
Sultan's message:  it is based on integrity, justice, peace, 
security, and tolerance.  His political vision shows what is needed 
internationally in the future to consolidate peace and stability in 
the world, and to do so on proper, solid political and diplomatic 
bases.  Everyone knows that the Sultanate has been the first to 
support peace in the world, and that this is the main criterion in 
its foreign policy.  The Sultan's method of foreign policy has 
always originated from his support of rights, regardless of 
geographic and demographic dimensions or any religious or 
ideological differences. Only on these bases will the world know 
peace and stability, allowing it to develop and flourish." 
 
GRAPPO