Cablegate: Tfus1: Media Reporting On Terrorist Attacks

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

201345Z Sep 01

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0385

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ACTION INR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9765
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 002771

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P,
INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: TFUS1: MEDIA REPORTING ON TERRORIST ATTACKS

REF: STATE 161795

1. MAINSTREAM NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO CARRY OPINION
PIECES AND OP-ED ARTICLES FOCUSING ON THE SEPTEMBER 11
BOMBINGS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE
PENTAGON. THESE ARTICLES BOTH REFLECT AND LEAD
ZIMBABWEAN POPULAR OPINION ON THE ATTACKS. IN
GENERAL, THE ZIMBABWEAN MOOD IS THAT THE ATTACKS
WERE HORRIBLE AND SENSELESS ASSAULTS ON INNOCENT
PEOPLE. EXPRESSIONS OF CONDOLENCE HAVE BEEN
POURING IN TO THE U.S. MISSION IN ZIMBABWE. AT
THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN UNDERCURRENT OF PUBLIC
OPINION ALONG THE LINES OF ".THE U.S. MUST EXPECT
TO PAY SOME PRICE FOR ITS SINS AND SELF-ASSUMED
ROLE OF GLOBAL POLICEMAN." ZIMBABWEANS ARE ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE ATTACKS
AND, TRUE TO THEIR NATURE, GENERALLY ENDORSE
PATIENCE AND PRUDENCE. ARTICLE EXCERPTS FOLLOW:

2. UNDER HEADLINE 'U. S. MUST SEARCH DEEP WITHIN ITS
CONSCIENCE," THE SEPTEMBER 20 EDITION OF THE
INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE"
CARRIED THE FOLLOWING OPINION PIECE AUTHORED BY
MAGGIE MZUMARA, A ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALIST, WRITER
AND SOCIAL COMMENTATOR CURRENTLY BASED IN NEW
YORK:

". . .(AMERICA) IS A NATION HUMBLED, A NATION
ROBBED,
AND A NATION OUTRAGED. TRUE, ALL THAT. BUT AT
SOME POINT AMERICA HAS TO STOP DWELLING ON ONLY
'WHAT' HAS HAPPENED AND 'HOW' IT HAS HAPPENED AND
UNCLASSIFIED

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LOOK AT SOME FACTS. . . TO CONCENTRATE ONLY ON
AND TO STOP AT 'SMOKING OUT BIN LADEN FROM HIS
HIDING HOLES' AND WIPING AWAY ALL THOSE WHO
'HARBOR TERRORISTS' IS AT BEST INCOMPLETE AND AT
WORST MISSING THE POINT. I AM NOT SAYING AMERICA
IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN SEEKING JUSTICE. IT IS AND
IF THE JUSTICE TO THE AMERICANS INCLUDES
RETALIATING MILITARILY, SO BE IT. BUT THAT KIND
OF JUSTICE WILL AND CAN ONLY BE MEANINGFUL IF IT
IS ACCOMPANIED BY A DEEPER LOOK AT THE ROOT
CAUSES OF THE FEELINGS BEHIND LAST WEEK'S
CATASTROPHE. . . BUT AMERICA HAS THREE
WEAKNESSES. THREE MAJOR VICES: RUTHLESSNESS,
SELFISHNESS AND ARROGANCE. AMERICA IS ARROGANT.
SO ARROGANT IN FACT THAT IT IS NOW, AS IN THE
PAST, DESPERATELY PROTECTING ITS INNOCENCE BY
REFUSING TO LOOK AT THE FACTS. AMERICA AS A
NATION IS SO BLINDED BY ARROGANCE IT FAILS TO
RESPECT THAT WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM ITSELF, BE
IT RELIGION, WAY OF LIFE, SOCIAL OR POLITICAL
SYSTEM. . .' IT HAS TO BE AMERICAN OR ELSE ITS
NOTHING' SEEMS TO BE THE SWEEPING FEELING HERE.
IN ITS SELFISH AND RUTHLESS PURSUIT AND
PROTECTION OF ITS INTERESTS, AMERICA HAS
DESTROYED CULTURES, ENSLAVED OTHERS AND COMMITTED
BIGOTRY. AS A RESULT OF ITS THREE WEAKNESSES,
THERE IS ALONG LIST OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST
AMERICANS KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED BY MANY WHO HAVE
STUDIED THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF THIS OTHERWISE
GREAT NATION. GRIEVANCES LIKE AGGRESSIVE WESTERN
EXPANSIONISM AND MANIPULATION OF COUNTRIES AND
UNCLASSIFIED

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ECONOMIES ARE AT THE ROOT OF THE MOTIVE BEHIND
THE DESTRUCTION OF ITS SYMBOL OF PROSPERITY AND
FREEDOM, THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, AND ITS SYMBOL
OF MILITARY PROWESS, THE PENTAGON. . .PERHAPS THE
U. S. NEEDS TO REVISE SOME OF ITS STANCES,
ATTITUDES AND POLICIES THAT SEEM TO MAKE MORE
ENEMIES THAN FRIENDS. THE U. S. NEEDS TO THINK
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT ITS FREEDOM IS INFRINGING
UPON AND DISRESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES,
RELIGIONS AND THEIR WORLD AS THEY KNOW AND WANT
IT. . . WAGING A WAR AGAINST TERRORISM MAY REAP A
VICTORY FOR THE U. S. AND ITS FREEDOM IDEALS.
BUT SUCH A VICTORY, HOWEVER IMPORTANT

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