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Cablegate: "This Means War": Egyptian Media Coverage Of

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 CAIRO 005652

SIPDIS

NEA/PD FOR FRANK FINVER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV KPAO KMDR OPRC EG
SUBJECT: "THIS MEANS WAR": EGYPTIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF
SHARM EL SHEIKH TERRORIST ATTACKS


1. Summary: Egyptian TV covered the July 23 Sharm El
Sheikh bombings extensively throughout the day. TV images
immediately after the attacks showed emergency workers
removing bodies from the bomb sites and assisting the
injured, while government officials and intellectuals gave
phone interviews condemning the terrorist bombings. The
print press gave banner headline coverage and lead with
graphic images of the destruction on July 23 and 24.
Commentary on TV and in print ranged from criticism of Al-
Qaeda, to the Egyptian government, to U.S. foreign policy
in Iraq and the region as being the cause of terrorism.
Notably, many commentators used the word "war" to
characterize the attacks in Sharm. USG statements
condemning the attacks and offering condolences to the
victims received wide coverage. End summary.

2. Print coverage: The day of the July 23 Sharm terrorist
attacks, the pro-government press gave banner headline
coverage to terrorist attacks in Sharm El Sheikh with
images of the destruction. "A String of Terrorist
Explosions Shake Sharm El Sheikh" read the headline of
leading daily Al-Ahram (circulation: 750,000). Akhbar Al-
Youm (circulation: 1,000,000) reported "Terrorist
Explosions Shake Sharm El Sheikh." English-language daily
Egyptian Gazette (read largely by tourists and visitors to
Egypt) lead with the headline "Mubarak vows to pursue
'Battle on terror.'" Pro-government Al Gomhouriya's
(circulation 200,000) Editor-in-chief commented on the
terrorist bombings, writing "this means war." The day
after, on July 24, the independent and opposition press
gave banner coverage to the attacks. "Mubarak: We Won't
Surrender to the Scourge of Terrorism and We Won't Neglect
Egypt's Security" read the headline of independent Nahdet
Masr (circulation: 20,000). Opposition Al-Wafd
(circulation: 50,000) led with the headline "83 Killed and
199 Injured in Sharm El Sheikh Explosions"; while
independent Al-Masry Al-Youm (circulation: 50,000) reported
"Al-Qaeda Officially Targets Egypt; 'Saturday Massacre'
Threatens the Fairy Tale of Sharm El Sheikh."

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3. TV coverage: Egyptian TV covered the attacks
extensively on July 23. TV images immediately after the
attacks showed emergency relief workers at work moving body
bags and attending to victims. President Mubarak's
condemnation of the attacks was broadcast live on Egyptian
TV on July 23. "The ugly face of terror has reappeared,"
Mubarak said. "It is a blind terror sweeping the world
around us, intimidating innocents and targeting them
wherever they are. Now it has reached Sharm El Sheikh, the
symbol of peace. This criminal, cowardly act is aimed at
shaking Egypt's security and stability and at harming its
sons and its guests."

4. Print commentary: "While we reject the attacks, there
will always be a link between the terrorist bombings in
Madrid, London, and Sharm with the Anglo-American
occupation of Iraq and Israeli aggression," wrote the
Editor-in-chief of Al-Wafd, Abbas Al-Tarabilly, on July 24.
A columnist in Al-Ahram on July 24 hinted that the Sharm
attacks might be "retaliation" for the way the Egyptian
government investigated the October 2004 Taba bombings.
The same day, Al-Ahram's Editor-in-Chief, Osama Saraya,
made note of the date of the Sharm attacks, Egypt's
National Day, warning the government and the public to stay
alert during future holidays. And a well-known Al-Ahram
commentator sharply criticized those who "enjoy killing
innocent people."

5. TV commentary: Throughout July 23, TV hosted
government officials, intellectuals, and journalists who
offered commentary and condemnation. Commentary ranged
from criticism of Al-Qaeda and its killing of innocents, to
poverty and corruption as the cause of terrorism (a veiled
critique of the Egyptian government), to U.S. foreign
policy in Iraq and the region. Many commentators used the
word "war" to characterize the attacks in Sharm. Several
commentators remarked that Sharm El Sheikh was seen by
extremists as a target, as the city had hosted anti-
terrorism conferences and President Mubarak spends large
amounts of time there. Adel Hamuda, Editor-in-chief of
weekly independent newspaper Al-Fajr (circulation: 50,000)
claimed on Egyptian TV on July 23 that a "powerful group"
was behind the attacks, given the costs it would take to
carry them out. Dr. Refaat Al-Said, Chairman of the
Tagamou party, also spoke on Egyptian TV, claiming that
Egypt's "real crisis" is the "status quo" and called on
Arab nations to fight terrorism together. A businessman on
the popular Channel 1 program Malaff Khass ("Special File")
called on other businessmen to "speed up their projects" in
Egypt to relay the message that "terrorism will not
succeed." On Channel 2's Al-Bayt Baytak ("Make Yourself at
Home"), Muhammad Salah, Editor-in-chief of the Saudi-owned
daily Al-Hayat, claimed that "sound religious education"
was needed to prevent extremists groups from exploiting and
misleading people into committing terrorist attacks. A
journalist appearing on Dream TV's program "10 p.m."
stated, "Let's admit to ourselves that there are sleeping
terrorist cells in Egypt that are armed and well financed";
while Al-Nabawi Ismail, a former Minister of Interior,
hinted that Israel might have something to do with the
financing and organizing of the attack.

6. USG statements covered: Egyptian TV placed the White
House's July 23 condemnation of the bombing and condolences
to the victims as the top news story following reports on
President Mubarak's speech to the nation. Secretary Rice's
statement of condemnation of the terrorist bombings during
her meeting with Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurei' was covered by
Egyptian TV and news services. On July 24, the Egyptian
press pro-government, opposition, and independent
highlighted White House and Secretary Rice's statements of
support on its front pages and international news sections.
Post's condemnation of the bombings and its warden message,
published on its public website, was covered on July 24 by
several independent newspapers, receiving front page
coverage in independent daily Nahdet Masr.

JONES

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