Chinese whispers
Yesterday, the Khaleej Times carried a story that HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said had awarded $50million to "help Lebanon recover from the devastation inflicted by the Israeli offensive on the country."
The grant was reported to be additional to funds which had been pledged by His Majesty before the war, to build an Omani-Lebanese cultural centre in Beirut.
However, by the time this item reached The Raw Story in the USA, apparently from a report by the dpa German Press Agency but which echoes the Khaleej Times, the story had changed. "Oman has granted Lebanon 50 million dollars to build a Lebanese-Omani arts centre in Beirut's central district.." it ran.
This throws a completely different light on the gift, making it seem that Oman is overlooking the more urgent day-to-day needs of the Lebanese in favour of promoting its own ends by using the money to build an arts centre, even if it is in central Beirut, which is still being reconstructed after the 1975-1990 civil war
Added to which, the item reported that the total damage to the Lebanese economy was 3.5 billion dollars, making the 50 million dollar donation seem relatively small, particularly compared to gifts from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Which it isn't.
The amount of money awarded for building the arts centre has not been disclosed, according to the Khaleej Times.
The Raw Story, which says it offers 'alternative news', states that its 'goal is to unearth and spotlight stories underplayed by the popular press, in particular those which highlight betterment and open people’s eyes to injustice throughout the world.'
Which makes you wonder now. Which version of the story is accurate?
The grant was reported to be additional to funds which had been pledged by His Majesty before the war, to build an Omani-Lebanese cultural centre in Beirut.
However, by the time this item reached The Raw Story in the USA, apparently from a report by the dpa German Press Agency but which echoes the Khaleej Times, the story had changed. "Oman has granted Lebanon 50 million dollars to build a Lebanese-Omani arts centre in Beirut's central district.." it ran.
This throws a completely different light on the gift, making it seem that Oman is overlooking the more urgent day-to-day needs of the Lebanese in favour of promoting its own ends by using the money to build an arts centre, even if it is in central Beirut, which is still being reconstructed after the 1975-1990 civil war
Added to which, the item reported that the total damage to the Lebanese economy was 3.5 billion dollars, making the 50 million dollar donation seem relatively small, particularly compared to gifts from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Which it isn't.
The amount of money awarded for building the arts centre has not been disclosed, according to the Khaleej Times.
The Raw Story, which says it offers 'alternative news', states that its 'goal is to unearth and spotlight stories underplayed by the popular press, in particular those which highlight betterment and open people’s eyes to injustice throughout the world.'
Which makes you wonder now. Which version of the story is accurate?
Comments
Hari wrote:
11/03/06 21:24:22
Thanks for pointing this out! It does make you wonder...