Cablegate: Media Reaction: Iraqi Government, Constitution,

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 003963

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ, INR/P

E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION,
SOVEREIGNTY, FOREIGN RELATIONS; BAGHDAD

SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution, Iraqi Sovereignty,
and Foreign Relations were the major editorial themes of the
daily newspapers on September 25, 2005. END SUMMARY.

-------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------

A. "Civil Disobedience" (As-Sabah, 9/25)
B. "Who Apologizes to Whom?" (Ad-Dustoor, 9/25)
C. "Towards More-Developed Arab Relationships" (Al-Bayyan,
9/25)
D. "Actual Attitude" (Al-Adala, 9/25)
E. "Dialogue with a Bullet" (Al-Fourat, 9/25)
F. "We Are Writing Our Constitution" (Al-Taakhi, 9/25)

SELECTED COMMENTARIES
----------------------------------------

A. "Civil Disobedience"
(As-Sabah, independent, published this second-page editorial
by Sa'eed Abdul Hadi)

"A collection of Sunni groups from Iraq met in Amman and
claimed that if military operations in Al-Anbar province do
not cease, they will issue a declaration for civil
disobedience in the province. The participants also
confirmed that they would attempt to gather five million
signatures to reject the constitution. It seems that they
have two contradictory statements: they want to collect five
million signatures to reject the constitution and, at the
same time, they demand that security forces not attack
terrorist havens in Ramadi and its suburbs. This call
suggests that they want to protect those seeking to murder
Iraqi people.

"I think if Ramadi were safe, stable, and not under the
control of terrorists, we would see this meeting held in Al-
Anbar province, rather than Amman. Participants in the Amman
meeting know that Ramadi is controlled by terrorists-the
same terrorists who prevented Al-Anbar's citizens from
voting and freely expressing their opinions.

"Those participants in Amman are encouraging Iraqis in
southern and central Iraq to establish their own federal
territories because the Shiites have become targets in Al-
Anbar and surrounding areas. Iraqis must not remain silent
while their people are being killed. We must put an end to
terror in Al-Anbar and we must kick those killers out of
Iraqi cities. Those who met in Amman did not care about Al-
Anbar; they have ulterior motives. To those who convened in
Amman, I would like to say: we know that the unity of Iraq
is in danger because you want to kill those who participate
in the political process and you want to force Iraqis to
implement your agenda."

B. "Who Apologizes to Whom?"
(Ad-Dustoor, independent, pro-coalition, no bias, secular,
published this first-page editorial by Bassim Al-Sheikh,
editor of the newspaper)

"The incident in Basra between British troops and Iraqi
police reflects the nature of the relationship between the
Iraqi government and occupation forces in Iraq. It revealed
conspiracies that occupation forces are planning against the
Iraqi nation.

"British troops freed their two soldiers from Iraqi custody
after storming a police station flying an Iraqi flag,
representing Iraqi sovereignty in Basra. Both soldiers were
wearing religious uniforms and carrying weapons, claiming
that they were on an intelligence mission when Iraqi police
officers confronted them. This is the British version of the
event, but it is clear that no one believes their claims
because an intelligence mission would not be conducted in
such a way.

"How can they explain why they attacked the police station
when the first priority of the Iraqi police is maintaining
security in the city? More than one hundred suspects, gang
leaders, and terrorists escaped from prison during the
attack. We wonder if there were other ways to solve this
crisis. Maybe the British do not want to forget that they
are occupation forces who do not respect the authority of
Iraqi law and the elected Iraqi government.
"What makes matters worse is that British troops are
demanding an official apology from the Iraqi government
because the British claim that the two soldiers were handed
over to militiamen by rogue elements of the Basra police
force. This would be an additional insult to the elected
Iraqi government; the occupiers are demanding an apology
from the Iraqi government for fighting terrorism and
securing the streets in Basra. We hope that our government
will reject the request and declare that they will not
cooperate with British troops until there is an apology from
the British government."
C. "Towards More-Developed Arab Relationships"
(Al-Bayyan, affiliated with the Islamic Dawa Party, led by
Al-Ja'afari, no bias, published this front-page unattributed
editorial)

"The Iraqi political spectrum is still reacting to Saudi
Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal's recent statements, in
which he criticized U.S. policy for selling Iraq to Iran. In
fact, we did not expect our Arab brothers in Saudi Arabia
would have this view of the Iraqi situation. This opinion
tyrannizes the Iraqi people. How can the Iraqi people accept
subjection to Iran while they refuse American guardianship?
Such statements indicate that there is a large gap between
Iraq and Saudi Arabia. They also indicate a misunderstanding
of Iraqi issues. This is because Arab diplomatic
representation is absent in Iraq--Arab states use indirect
routes to address Iraq.

"We reproach our Saudi brothers because they took an uneven
and indirect path to convey their views to us. They should
have communicated directly with their Iraqi brothers given
the close geographic proximity between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia. Why did they insist on expressing their opinion in
front of the Americans? It is distressing when our brothers
go to Washington every time they want to discuss an Iraqi
issue, as if Washington were Iraq's guardian.

"Iraq always calls for strengthening its relationships with
Arab countries and it is eager to have an Arab presence in
Baghdad. But, unfortunately, we see that our Arab brothers
insist on creating a large gap between themselves and Iraq.
Those Arab countries refuse to listen to their Iraqi
brothers and listen only to those who have nothing to do
with Iraqi affairs.

"We hope that our brothers in Saudi Arabia and other Arab
countries will seriously support the political project in
Iraq and work harder to eliminate terror in Iraq that comes
from Arab countries. We do not want them to go to others to
discuss our issues; we want them to discuss our affairs with
us. We hope they will participate actively in developing
Iraq. Iraq works hard to establish close relationships with
Arab countries and they must work harder to reciprocate."

D. "Actual Attitude"
(Al-Adala, daily, no bias, affiliated with Abdul Aziz Al-
Hakim, published this page-three editorial by Dr. Ali
Kholaif)

"Some sides are releasing sensational statements that do not
take into account actual conditions in Iraq nor the
potential consequences of those conditions. Self-expression
is a warranted right, but it should depend on the solid
foundation of fact, rather than assumption or theoretical
reason. All sides agreed that this constitution is the best
that Iraqis can produce at this stage. That does not mean it
is insignificant. The truth that every one should proclaim
is: Iraqi people belong to different sects; each with its
own demands and each trying to insert them in the
constitution. But it is not possible to put all these
demands in the constitution because some of them are will be
rejected by others. Since the constitution depends on
compromise, each sect should be willing to make concessions
to satisfy all constituents.

"Political blocks and national forces conceded demands
because they believe that if a sect insisted on having all
its demands met, the constitution would never be drafted.
Unfortunately, there are some sides insisting that all of
their demands be met at the expense of others. While some
relinquished many of their demands, other parties introduced
new demands as soon as old ones were met. Why do they create
new restrictions on the constitution? This constitution can
be modified by the subsequent National Assembly. People say
they will have strong representation in the next Assembly
and the electoral system will enable all Iraqis to be
represented. Based on these facts, there is no problem in
voting for the constitution, as there is a law that allows
modification of some articles in the future. If we reject
the constitution, there will be no guarantee that a future
draft will satisfy all Iraqis.
"It is logical that all the political entities who play
essential roles in the political process support the
constitution-even those regarded as objectors. Instead of
silence, they need to show the positive results of voting
for the constitution, rather than leaving their people to
follow those who reject democracy in Iraq. All sides in the
political process should support the constitution because it
is a necessary step at this stage of Iraq's political
process."

E. "Dialogue with a Bullet"
(Al-Fourat, independent, anti coalition, published this last
page editorial by Amjad Tawfeek)

"The majority of coalition troops (or occupational forces)
are American and British due to their numbers, roles, and
activities. I am not discussing American or British
democracy; they are both models for western democracies
around the whole world. But we wonder how much Iraq has
gained from American and British democracy since the end of
the war.

"When the war started, American cruise missiles, fighter jet
missiles, tanks, and other heavy weaponry destroyed our
country and killed Iraqis. Then their soldiers arrived and
deployed all over Iraq-from South to North. This is war, one
might say. We have to sacrifice because democracy is coming.
Then what? More months of death for our people and new mass
graves opened for innocent Iraqis.

"We do not want to discuss American and British democracy.
But there is no such thing as a democratic fighter jet or a
dictatorial fighter jet! No democratic tank or dictatorial
tank; no oppressive bullet or merciful bullet. They are
tools for one purpose: killing.

"Military personnel in large combat vehicles should not be
distributing candy to children; fighter jets cannot
distribute vaccinations to Iraqi children. The bullet is
always used to kill. Iraqi lands and Iraqi people have the
solution. We should start to fight, using the power of the
bullet to solve our crisis. This is the truth and every one
knows it."

F. "We Are Writing Our Constitution"
(Al-Taakhi, affiliated with the KDP, pro-coalition,
published this page-four editorial by Muhammad Al-Badri)

"It is really astounding when people on Iraqi streets talk
about the constitution-even children have started to ask
their parents about this issue that dwells in everyone's
mind. Some support it, others reject it, but rejection comes
only from those who do not want security for their country.
The Iraqi people are very good at discussing these matters,
and the constitution has an essential role in securing the
rights of all constituents of this country.

"Iraq endured more than forty years with a temporary
constitution that consisted of mere ink on paper. The
government was oppressive: it would push anyone who
discussed the subject into mass graves .

"Today there is a chance for free expression. Iraqis have
the right to opine about all articles of the constitution,
to study it closely and then discuss it. It pertains to
Iraqi lives and the future of their children; furthermore,
it is the roadmap to social, economic, political, and legal
structure. This structure is necessary after living in
disorder and oppression for so long.
"In order for this constitution to be representative of the
opinions, ideas, and perspectives of Iraqis, it should be
set by them, for they know their country best and they are
the constituents. Non-Iraqis should not interfere in
constitutional drafting; as the proverb says: the people of
Mecca know their country best. Iraqis alone have the right
to write their constitution after living a hell of
successive regimes that marginalized the Kurds and others
since 1921.

"Today, Iraqis are the only ones who have the right to draft
their constitution according to their free will, provided
that it ensures the rights of all constituents. The others
should not intervene, for the Iraqis-the inventors of the
first alphabet-are capable of writing their own
constitution."

KHALILZAD

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