VZCZCXRO8630
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0173 0581349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271349Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9317
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0524
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0415
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000173 
 
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: DEMOCRATS ABANDON IRAQ; MOUSSA POSTPONEMENT 
HINDERS LEBANON SOLUTION; YEMENI INITIATIVE ON PALESTINE HAILED. 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Editorials in government-owned "Oman" said that America 
has failed to keep its promise to Iraq, evident by escalating 
violence and pursuit of an exit strategy. Private "Al Watan" 
described the challenges facing Amr Moussa in bringing the different 
parties closer.  It also hailed President Abdullah Saleh's 
Palestinians initiative to solve the conflict between Fatah and 
Hamas. END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Sad Images That Multiply Day by Day 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) 
commented on February 21 on the escalation of violence in Iraq and 
America's failure to restore basic needs.  According to "Iraq and 
Escalation of Violence": 
 
"Iraq has become the occupied the headlines because of continuous 
killings and random destruction.  This dilemma, created by the 
invader, is hopeless.  The situation has become very complicated and 
difficult, and it requires an honest effort in order to save 
millions of Iraqis, many of whom have fled to neighboring countries. 
Iraq is full of sad images that multiply day after day, and no one 
cares anymore about finding solutions. The invading forces in Iraq 
are also looking for ways to withdraw.  The democratic candidates 
for president, Obama and Clinton, have promised to pull out the 
troops, and the United States will leave a true crisis in Iraq: 
continued human and financial loss, and the belief that the war 
cannot be won. American strategy has failed dramatically, and there 
has not been any other talk except that of leaving the crisis 
behind." 
 
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Vandalistic Operations and Crooked Plans 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. The privately owned Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) 
said that Amr Moussa now faces even tougher challenges after the 
postponement of his visit to Lebanon.  "Don't Let Lebanon be a 
Region for a Conflict of Will" said: 
 
"The postponing of Moussa's visit to Lebanon exposes obstacles and 
challenges blocking the desires of many to find real solutions to 
Lebanon's crisis. Lebanon is condemned to stay in a state of crisis 
that only serves the interest of its enemies, enemies who want to 
make it the theater for their vandalistic operations and their 
crooked plans against people. Postponing the visit also shows that 
the gap is widening between different Lebanese parties.  Moussa, who 
is seeking to meet representatives of both sides, now has a more 
difficult job.  Lebanon is in desperate need to recover and to start 
rebuilding.  Opposition and majority representatives must focus on 
this and work towards bringing opinions closer together, not farther 
apart." 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Breaking the Ice Between Fatah and Hamas 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  On February 25, "Al Watan" hailed Abbas' response to Yemeni 
president Abdullah Saleh's initiative to end Palestine's internal 
conflict.  "An Opportunity to Seize" said: 
 
"The initiative forwarded by President Abdullah Saleh included seven 
points that are: returning Gaza back to what it used to be; holding 
early elections; resuming dialogue on the basis of the Cairo 2005 
agreement and the Mecca 2007 agreement; committing to the legitimacy 
of Palestinian authority; respecting the constitution and law as 
well as committing to it; rebuilding security institutions; and 
following the Palestinian higher authority and its policy of 
national unity. Abbas responded positively to this initiative to 
solve the Fatah and Hamas crisis, which is more than two years old. 
It is the right step in breaking the ice between the two parties who 
have forgotten about Israel's daily crimes in their own selfishness. 
Both parties are abiding by their own demands and making the 
Palestinian people suffer more. There must be trust between the two 
parties, and other Arab states should push forward the initiative 
for the sake of ending the conflict." 
 
GRAPPO