Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06CAIRO1409, EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4: IRAQ;

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06CAIRO1409.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06CAIRO1409 2006-03-07 14:59 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Cairo
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 001409 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/PPD AND RRU-NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KPAO KMDR OPRC EG DA XZ IS XF IZ
SUBJECT:  EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4: IRAQ; 
PRESS FREEDOMS; REACTION TO SECRETARYS VISIT TO EGYPT 
 
 
1. Summary. The past week saw strong reactions to the news 
of the violence in Iraq and to the one-year prison term 
meted out to a journalist from independent daily, Al-Masry 
Al-Yom, for publishing a story criticizing a former 
government minister (although the article was later 
subsequently retracted). At the same time, the press 
focused heavily on President Mubarak's regional tour, 
speculating as to his motives and whether or not they were 
linked to Secretary Rice's visit of the previous week. 
Commentary about Secretary Rice's visit continued, and some 
were more positive than earlier ones.  End summary. 
 
 
2.  Unity for Iraq?  News of internecine violence in Iraq 
spread throughout the Egyptian media, and spurred 
commentary on Iraq to an extent not seen previously in 
2006.  While much of the commentary focused on predictions 
of civil war, many looked inwardly at the unity of Islam. 
On February 26, all papers carried the denunciation of 
Sheikh Al-Azhar Tantawi of the Iraqi bombings and his 
demand that Muslims not differentiate between Sunni and 
Shi'a.  On the same day, a columnist in leading pro- 
government daily, Al-Ahram (circulation 750,000) challenged 
Muslims to look inwardly and question their "silence 
regarding the destruction of real holy places" given their 
eagerness for violence over the Danish cartoons.  Similar 
commentary in pro-government daily, Al-Akhbar (700,000) on 
February 26 challenged all Muslims "to defend the Prophet 
and come together to defuse the tension between the Shi'a 
and the Sunnis in Iraq."  That theme continued on March 1 
in the same paper, with the description of the violence as 
"more blasphemous than the cartoons," and a request that 
Al-Azhar demonstrate leadership and convene a special 
conference. Commentaries also focused on whether or not a 
civil war would really erupt in Iraq.  For at least one 
commentator in Al-Akhbar (February 27), the specter of 
civil war remained far off, as "Sunni and Shi'a have never 
fought each other in Iraq before and they know their real 
enemy."  Still, in Al-Akhbar, a daily columnist accused the 
terrorists led by al-Zarqawi of plotting sectarian tension 
as a means to "embarrass other Arab countries and drag them 
into a war to defend the Sunnis."  On the same day, an 
editorial in the more aggressively pro-government daily, 
Al-Gomhouriyya (circulation 500,000) suggested that Iraqis 
"unite against the (U.S.-led) occupation" in order to keep 
from sliding into civil war. 
 
2.  Government Restrictions on Freedom of the Press.  Early 
in the week, news reports announced the one year sentencing 
of an Al-Masry Al-Yom (circulation 100,000, independent 
daily) journalist for writing a news piece that included 
misinformation about the former Minister of Housing, 
Ibrahim Soliman.  Although the paper published a correction 
on the following day, Soliman  who filed 37 lawsuits 
against journalists while in office - sued the paper. 
Throughout the week, considerable news and commentary 
reaction followed.  Reactions were not limited to Al-Masry 
Al-Yom, but journalists from many papers and several 
television talk-show commentators commented on the story, 
citing it as an example of President Mubarak's failure to 
implement his two-year old promise to dilute the law that 
allows for imprisonment of journalists.  Journalists noted 
the "irony" that the court ruling was made in February on 
the same date that Mubarak made his promise back in 2004. 
Journalists also organized a meeting to demonstrate their 
ir 
support for freedom of the press.  Commentators also 
ridiculed the notion that government ministers should be a 
kind of "holy category above criticism.  After the week's 
heavy commentary and coverage, on March 4, all papers 
announced that that the former minister in question had 
responded to requests by the Supreme Council of the Press 
by agreeing to drop all libel charges against journalists, 
including the journalist from Al-Masry Al-Yom. 
 
3.  Television Commentary on Freedom of the Press.  Early 
in the week, both state and satellite television channels 
carried lively discussion programs on the issue, focusing 
on journalism as a profession and its role in a democracy. 
On February 26, Egyptian Television's Channel 2 program, 
"El-Beit Beitak" (Make Yourself at Home), and Dream TV's 
"10 PM" hosted guests critical of the verdict, one of whom 
characterized it as a "flagrant violation of democracy and 
freedom of the press."   Dream TV's guest, a well-known 
writer, called for protection of journalists whom he 
described as "only doing their part to expose corruption 
that is powerful and protected by all means."  On February 
27, Egyptian Television's Channel One program, "Wughat 
Nazar" (Point of View) hosted the chairman of the Press 
Syndicate who averred that "journalists are demanding the 
right to serve society as a whole by revealing corruption." 
On February 28, Channel One's program, "Etkallem" (Speak) 
hosted (al-Manar TV affiliated) Mustafa Bakry, (brother of 
Mahmoud Bakry, editor of the anti-American weekly, Al- 
Osbou' and a Member of Parliament) who discussed his 25-day 
detention under similar charges.  He described himself as 
subject to potential future detention, as the trial is 
still ongoing, and opined that "President Mubarak is the 
only official in Egypt who accepts criticism." 
 
4.  Reactions to the Verdict from Print Journalists.  Print 
journalists from several papers discussed the issue at 
length, focusing especially on its ramifications for their 
profession.  Independent dailies, Al-Masry Al-Yom and 
Nahdet Misr (circulation: 50,000 each) analyzed the 
sentencing in the context of failed government, failed 
presidential promises, and failed democracy.   On February 
26, a senior Al-Masry Al-Yom columnist, Magdy Mehanna, 
criticized President Mubarak for "failing to defend his 
initiative on canceling this law and allowing the enemies 
of press freedom to win."  A Nahdet Misr columnist 
commented sarcastically on the GOE's "own kind of 
democracy," contrasting the freedom given to the Danish 
cartoonist while Egyptian journalists "who never touch upon 
religious issues" are imprisoned.  On March 2, another Al- 
Masry Al-Yom columnist declared that "the GOE is the sole 
beneficiary of the national press which serves the 
presidency alone," while Nahdet Misr's editor-in-chief 
argued that press freedom "strengthens the regime, rather 
than weakens it, as the GOE thinks, and brings it closer to 
the people."  Pro-government dailies, Al-Ahram and Al- 
Akhbar, focused on Mubarak's failure to implement his 
promise, but also searched for compromise solutions.  Many 
commentators argued that internal professional standards 
and "court-imposed fines should be sufficient punishments 
for journalists," (Al-Akhbar, March 1).  Al-Ahram 
columnist, Salah Montasser, summarized the situation as 
"bringing journalists together to protest on the second 
anniversary of the President's promise to abolish the 
imprisonment of journalists for the stories they write." 
 
5.  Secretary Rice and U.S. Pressure on Egypt; continued 
reactions.  While President Mubarak embarked on a regional 
trip of his own, the past week saw continued commentary on 
the previous week's visit by Secretary Rice.  Headlines 
shifted from Secretary Rice's remarks in Egypt the previous 
week to Mubarak's comments last week that his Middle East 
trip had "nothing to do with Dr. Rice's visit," and Egypt 
is "not being pressured by the U.S.; relations with the 
U.S. are good" (all papers, February 26-March 1).  Some 
commentaries in pro-government dailies Al-Akhbar and Al- 
Ahram were surprisingly positive, noting a "change in 
Rices tactics, as there was no pressure this time and less 
criticism about democracy" (Al-Ahram, March 1), and there 
had been a "keenness to use a subtler tone this time" (Al- 
Akhbar, February 26). However, other columnists in those 
papers and the independents remained critical of Rices 
ulterior goals.  On March 2, a columnist in Al-Ahram 
criticized the U.S. for "not learning from its mistakes and 
trying to force its ways and its will on other countries" 
and on March 1, a columnist in Al-Masry Al-Yom - whose 
editor-in-chief, Hisham Kassem, was one of the participants 
in the Secretary's civil society meeting - predicted that 
"with the decrease in economic assistance, the U.S. has 
lost most of its powerful cards in Egypt, except for 
for 
military assistance."  A February 26 editorial in the 
sometimes anti-U.S. pro-government daily, Al-Gomhouriyya, 
called upon the U.S. to "drop its policies of interfering 
in the internal affairs of the region and adopt a new 
policy that seeks fair solutions to put out fires rather 
than igniting them." 
 
Ricciardone