Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S. In the Mid-East, Bombings

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

050855Z Oct 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 004090

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC
BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. IN THE MID-EAST, BOMBINGS
IN BALI

1. Summary: Amid the extensive coverage October 5 of
the pan-Blue and pan-Green camps' nominations for the
year-end "three-in-one" elections and some local
scandals, all major Chinese-language Taipei dailies
reported in their inside pages that the pan-Blue
alliance blocked the U.S. arms procurement bill again
in the Legislative Yuan Tuesday.

2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, "Apple
Daily" President James Tu discussed in a commentary in
his mass-circulation newspaper the long-term
embarrassing situation Washington faces in the Middle
East - namely, Washington is at its wit's end with the
Muslim world's increasing hostility toward the United
States. To gain the support of the Muslim world, Tu
suggested that the United States be prepared to fight a
half-century war of culture, using the same spirit,
persistence, finances and talents that it once adopted
when fighting against former Soviet Union. A
commentary in the centrist "China Times," on the other
hand, commented on the recent blasts in Bali,
Indonesia. The article said the ASEAN needs to review
its policy because it has a big gap with regard to its
campaign against regional terrorism. End summary.

1. U.S. in the Mid-east

"Fifty More Years of Cultural Battles"

"Apple Daily" President James Tu wrote in the mass
circulation newspaper [circulation: 570,000] (10/5):

"The United States always brags about itself being a
kingdom of information, claiming that it not only
possesses the most advanced information technology but
its people also enjoy comprehensive freedom of
information. As long as time permits and equipped with
sufficient language abilities, Americans can access all
information worldwide via TVs and Internet and can read
and watch all kinds of adversarial viewpoints,
including slander and criticism against the United
States. But the situation differs greatly in the world
outside America, especially in the Muslim world. In
the Muslim world, American people discover that they
not only do not have a voice but are also deprived of a
chance to defend themselves whenever they are
misunderstood or [their views] distorted, let alone the
attempt to promote American values there.

"The [afore-mentioned predicament] has been an
embarrassing situation for the United States for a long
time. Washington can send their troops to the Middle
East and Afghanistan as if these places were unguarded.
But American thinking or American values can hardly
find a way to penetrate the Middle East, and Washington
is at its wit's end with the increasing hostility of
the Muslim world toward the United States. .

"The United States has been getting involved in Mid-
east affairs since the 1950s. But for a long time, the
Muslim world was simply a battlefield for the Cold War
between the United States and the former Soviet Union,
and the conservative Islamic forces were used by
Washington as a tool to fight against the former Soviet
Union's atheism. The United States has never really
paid attention to the increasingly radical trend in the
Islamic politics. In the wake of the September 11
incident, Washington ran hurriedly to declare a war
against the radicals in the Islamic world; it was at
that point, the Americans discovered that they knew
nothing at all about Islamic civilization or the whole
Muslim world, that they had only a few people who
understand Islamic languages, religion or culture. .

"To gain the support of the Muslim world, the United
States must be prepared to fight a half-a-century-long
war of culture, using the same spirit, persistence,
finances and talents that it once adopted when fighting
against the former Soviet Union. Washington should not
just send a few people to the Middle East to for
uncreative, insignificant and vague talk."

2. Bali Bombings

"Terrorist Activities Gradually Multiply in Southeast
Asia"

The "International Outlook" column of the centrist, pro-
status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000]
commented (10/5):

"The recent terrorist attacks in Bali, Indonesia, seem
to have proven the United States' prediction.
Washington views Southeast Asia as the second frontline
in its war on terrorism, and it once said that Al Qaeda
attempted to set up new bases in Southeast Asia. No
matter whether or not such a statement was made because
Washington wanted to terrify Southeast Asia into
following the United States' policy of war on
terrorism, the truth is that some Islamic radicals do
want to achieve some ends via terrorist approaches. .

"ASEAN [evidently] has a big gap with regard to its
campaign against terrorism. Since the organizing
principle for ASEAN states is that each member state is
independent in its sovereignty and will not intervene
in each other's domestic affairs, it is difficult for
the members to work together in fighting against
regional terrorism. ASEAN will have to review its
policy in the wake of the terrorist bombings in the
region."

PAAL

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