VZCZCXRO2317
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHMS #0579/01 1571225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 061227Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0503
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000579 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR NEA/PPD 
NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAO MU
SUBJECT: OMAN - PRAISE, CONCERNS GREET CAIRO SPEECH 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  President Obama's June 4 speech in Cairo has 
generated significant positive response in Oman.  In the press, 
online, and in person, Omanis have been forthright in discussing the 
speech (a potential fourth avenue for expression, through the 
mosques, is unavailable, as content for worship is set well in 
advance by the Ministry of Religious Affairs).  Editorials in state 
and private papers have been uncharacteristically timely and 
thoughtful; online forums have seen lively debate; and individual 
Omanis have expressed general admiration for the President and the 
speech, despite lingering questions, especially about Iran and the 
Palestinians.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
IN THE PRESS:  BOOSTING THE CHANCE FOR PEACE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The President's Cairo speech received significant coverage in 
all media, virtually all drawn from wire service and other 
international reporting.  Coverage led TV news Thursday night 
(unusual here, as Omani news is generally pre-eminent).  Editorial 
content, starting in advance of the speech, was by local standards 
substantial, with state Arabic daily "Oman" leading off Thursday with 
a commentary, "Obama's Speech: Many Expectations and Positive Signs", 
pointing to "several encouraging signals indicating the U.S. 
President is truly starting a new chapter, one that certainly will 
not please Israel."  Private Arabic daily "Al Watan" sounded a more 
cautious note on Friday that "pressures back in Washington ... 
strongly suggest that Obama will not be in a position to turn his 
words into deeds."  "Oman" remained hopeful on Saturday, calling the 
speech "rather broad minded, with a vision capable of overcoming all 
the ordeals and calamities experienced in this vital region," adding 
that "the coming period will be decisive ... particularly in boosting 
the chance for peace in the region." 
 
¶3.  (U) Block Quotes: 
 
Thursday, June 4, state Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000), 
"Obama's Speech: Many Expectations and Positive Signs", by columnist 
Abdelhamid al-Muwafi": 
 
"There are several encouraging signals indicating that the U.S. 
President is truly starting a new chapter, one that certainly will 
not please Israel.  Many hope that President Obama succeeds in 
directing American policy toward achieving a just peace and 
establishing stability in this vital region.  Achieving such a goal 
would be, in his own words, in Arab, Israeli, American, and 
international interests.  Still, we wonder: to what extent will 
Israel respond?" 
 
Friday, June 5, private Arabic daily "al-Watan" (circulation 42,000), 
"Obama's Speech and the Scope of Hope": 
 
"Despite the extreme suffering of the Palestinians under the Israeli 
occupation and the not-better situations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, 
and all other Muslim nations Obama's speech seeks to offer hope... If 
the American President has already captivated the hearts at home with 
his sweet speeches, he is now seeking to become the messenger of 
peace and leader of justice among all humankind.  His speech was full 
of convincing tools, including verses from the Holy Quran and 
religious rhetoric.  However, the real state of facts challenges 
Muslim and Arab desires to believe the speech.  Pressures back in 
Washington, including warnings that the President should not 
apologize for acts the United States has committed and calls not to 
require halting settlements on Palestinian territories, strongly 
suggest that Obama will not be in a position to turn his words into 
deeds." 
 
Saturday, June 6, state Arabic daily "Oman", "Chance for Peace in the 
Region Boosted Following Obama's Speech": 
 
"No doubt Obama's speech was untraditional; it was rather 
broad-minded, with a vision capable of overcoming all the ordeals in 
this vital region and moving ahead, guided by clear principles 
binding all concerned parties - mainly Israel and the Palestinians - 
in preparation for getting the wheels of peace back on the rails... 
Regardless of some reactions by those whose differences with the 
former U.S. administration extend to this one, Obama's speech 
succeeded in ensuring a widespread positive response from the public 
and officially, in both the Arab and the Muslim world and even 
beyond... The coming period will be decisive, particularly in 
boosting the chance for peace in the region." 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
ONLINE:  ENTHUSIASM TEMPERED BY DISAPPOINTMENT 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
MUSCAT 00000579  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶4.  (U) On popular Omani discussion forums, enthusiasm for the speech 
and its message on the part of site moderators was at times offset by 
critical commentary from posters.  Moderators on sites such as 
Al-Sablah (www.omania2.net) Farrq (www.farrq.net), and English Sabla 
(www.englishsabla.com) created threads in which to discuss the 
speech, some amplified with transcripts.  Initial comments by 
moderators and leading commentators were positive:  "The speech is a 
positive beginning of a new era in the Muslim-U.S. relationship that 
will hopefully be supported by new U.S. foreign policy principles" 
and " I followed Obama's speech in Cairo and I agree with every word 
he said."  Dissenters soon countered that the speech "carried 
absolutely nothing new, with many words but no deeds," and accused 
the President of "overlooking the atrocities committed by the 
criminal Israeli regime, the last being the crimes committed against 
innocent men, women and children in Gaza."  One commentator summed up 
his mixed feelings:  "A decent speech. I was slightly disappointed 
though, because I expected more this time. He was very careful not to 
anger Israel or the Zionists in the U.S. Apart from that, I loved the 
way he put things in perspective." 
 
--------------------------------- 
IN PERSON: ADMIRATION AND CONCERN 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In sampling reactions from Embassy contacts at all levels, 
there is a clear admiration for the President simply for making this 
kind of speech ("He is so brave," said a teacher; "the speech was 99% 
on target," commented an Omani professional), even as there are 
quibbles ("the speech only dressed Bush policies in new clothes," 
said one government worker). 
 
¶6.  Sample quotes: 
 
Member of the Majlis al-Shura (elected national assembly):  "I was 
impressed by the reference to verses from the Holy Quran,     which 
supports Obama's calls for mutual understanding." 
 
Private-newspaper journalist:  "A great speech from a master 
President.  Yes, we have to work together." 
 
Lawyer:  "the speech repeats the lie that Arab countries view Iran as 
more dangerous than Israel, a false claim repeated by American agents 
in dictatorial regimes such as Egypt." 
 
High-school teacher:  "It is really great if people will work 
together to achieve these goals.  I've asked many people and they all 
like it." 
 
College student:  "It was a great speech about Islam and the 
relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world.  It is a new kind 
of political speech by the U.S. to the Muslim people, and it has many 
things for us." 
 
College student:  "Man, he was great, and he looked confident.  He 
wants to change.  Let us sustain him and his ideas." 
 
Homemaker:  "What really matters to us was what he was going to say 
about Palestine, and in that regards he said nothing new." 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: OPENING DOORS, SETTING EXPECTATIONS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) COMMENT:  The speech achieved a remarkable level of 
awareness in Oman, despite handicaps including locally inopportune 
timing at the start of the weekend and the Omani tendency to remain 
aloof from news outside the Sultanate.  Moving forward, press 
commentary and public conversation alike should continue well into 
the coming week.  Conversations with Omanis make it clear that 
generally upbeat initial reactions are accompanied by high 
expectations for concrete results.  "It was a great speech", said one 
young Omani, "but we've had speeches before; now it's time for 
action." END COMMENT. 
HURTADO