VZCZCXRO0623
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0104 0371119
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061119Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9237
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0520
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0411
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000104 
 
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: GAZA UNDER TWO SEIGES; OMAN JOURNALIST 
THRIVES AT AL HURRA; AMERICA'S IMAGE ABROAD 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The editorial in private Arabic daily "Al Zaman" 
commented that Fatah leader Abbas is pressuring Hamas for a truce. 
Private youth-oriented Arabic daily "Al Shabiba" praised an Omani 
journalist working for Al Hurra TV, saying that Omani journalists 
can demonstrate their true talent in free media environments. Arabic 
state daily "Oman" highlighted the recent naming of James Glassman 
as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and 
commented on his mission to improve America's image abroad. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
GAZA UNDER TWO SEIGES 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. In a January 28 editorial, "Al Zaman" (new; no circulation yet 
released; widely distributed) said that Gaza is in a bind between 
Abbas' interests to control the Rafah boarder and Israel's continued 
pressure.  "Scenario of Siege" said: 
 
"Fatah wants full control over Gaza's borders; however, it does not 
know how to deal with the Egyptian border situation and is not able 
to provide a normal life to Gaza... In the end, Israel may succeed 
in subduing Gaza, given Abbas's focus on removing Hamas from Gaza. 
This means Palestinians shedding more Palestinian blood with Gaza 
under two sieges: Abbas' and Israel's." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Omani Journalist Thrives in Free Media Environment 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. On January 29, "Al Shabiba"(circulation 20,000) praised the 
quality of an Omani reporter's work at Al Hurra TV.  "An Eye on 
Democracy and Migrant Birds" said: 
 
"When a journalist moves from a restrictive TV channel to one that 
provides freedom and encourages confidence, that journalist might 
turn into one of the best.  This is true of Muhammad Al Yahyai, an 
Omani journalist who moved to Al Hurrah and built a reputation 
through his program "Eye on Democracy".  The program openly 
addresses sensitive topics in the Arab world and discusses issues 
never dealt with before. His program sheds light on current debates 
on democratic transformation in the Arab world and on challenges of 
political reforms. Al Yahyai also tackles human rights, the rights 
of women and children, and civil society. He conducts thoughtful 
interviews with officials, professionals, activists and parliament 
members. Al Yahyai is opening up issues that many others are trying 
to ignore in the Arab region. His intellect, knowledge of the 
issues, and courage surpass the ordinary. The only problem is that 
Arab viewers do not accept Al Hurra. If he were to air his program 
from Al Jazeera, it would receive the appropriate attention." 
 
-------------------------------------- 
ONGOING CHALLENGES FOR AMERICA'S IMAGE 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. The state-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) 
commented on January 30 that the Bush administration has done all it 
can to improve America's image abroad, to little effect, in "From 
Hughes to Glassman ... and Trials to Improve America's Image": 
 
"Again Bush is looking for faces to polish his country's image. 
After the resignation of Karen Hughes, another candidate has taken 
the position of Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. 
Perhaps he might succeed where Hughes failed. If Glassman, though, 
chooses to use deception to change America's reputation, he is 
doomed to fail, for America continues to pursue the same strategies 
and polices. As long as America says one thing and does the 
opposite, its image will never be positive.  Instead, it will only 
increase the world's hatred of its policies and continue to isolate 
itself." 
 
GRAPPO