Cablegate: Media Reaction: Iraqi Government, December 15th

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 BAGHDAD 005097

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, DECEMBER 15th
ELECTION, TRANSPARENCY; BAGHDAD

SUMMARY: The major themes of today's editorials were
Thursday's parliamentary election, the crisis resulting from
increased fuel prices, and the trial of Saddam Hussein.

Analysis: In its back-page editorial, "Alliances with the
People," independent Az-Zaman took a shot at political
alliances based on narrow interests. The editorial argues
that victorious parties should support the Iraqi people
before entering political alliances.

Independent Ad-Dustoor stressed in its first-page editorial,
entitled "We Need the Force of Law," that the IECI must take
strict measures to ensure that its employees will not repeat
the same mistakes in future elections. In independent Al-
Fourat's second-page editorial, the author vehemently
criticizes the government's decision to increase fuel
prices. END SUMMARY.

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

A. "Dangerous Practices and Tampering with National
Willpower" (Dar As-Salam, 12/22)
B. "A Mechanism We Must Respect" (Al-Bayyan, 12/22)
C. "Did the Independent Commission Lose Its Independence?"
(Al-Mashriq, 12/22)
D. "This Morning" (As-Sabah Al-Jadeed, 12/22)
E. "Mistake" (As-Sabah, 12/22)
F. "Clear Conviction" (Al-Adala, 12/22)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "Dangerous Practices and Tampering with National
Willpower"
(Dar As-Salam, affiliated with the Iraqi Islamic Party,
published a front-page unattributed editorial critical of
electoral violations throughout the process. The editorial
reads in part)

"The Iraqi people turned out in large numbers to vote in the
parliamentary elections. But the government's parties'
dangerous and harmful practices, which included rigging and
tampering with votes, shocked Iraqis. For this reason,
Iraqis have started to distrust the legitimacy of the
elections. Unfortunately, some political groups seek to gain
an [unfair] advantage in the political equation by using
illegal methods. They claim false victories by filling
ballot boxes with rigged ballots. Rigging and fraud will
never result in glory or victory."

B. "A Mechanism We Must Respect"
(Al-Bayyan, affiliated with the Islamic Ad-Dawa Party,
published a third-page editorial by Zainab Al-Khafaji about
appealing the election results. The editorial reads in part)

"The IECI is the only authority that can appeal the results
of the election. Nobody can interfere with, or suspect, the
IECI's work because it is independent, meaning that it has
no affiliation with any specific political group. Those who
call for contesting the election results started to accuse
the entire electoral process of being rigged and forged.
These accusations disrupt the harmony that Iraqis wanted to
achieve by holding the election. The IECI will settle this
case based on legal procedures. It is unfortunate in this
golden period in Iraq to see some groups abandon democratic
principles and create chaos in the community. We need new
horizons to rebuild our state and we do not want to chase
our old, fruitless disagreements."

C. "Did the Independent Commission Lose Its Independence?"
(Al-Mashriq, independent, published a seventh-page column by
Shamil Abdul Qadir about election violations. The editorial
reads in part)

"There is no entirely honest election in the entire world.
[President] Bush won the last election after a temporary
halt, during which he was accused of rigging votes. The
recent Iraqi election also included large scandals of
rigging and violation. The preliminary results can be
considered a disgraceful violation. It is not right for the
IECI to announce results without studying the violations
that were submitted. The ink was very easy to rinse off
using any bleaching fluid. We can imagine thousands of
voters voting multiple times at locations that were
controlled by militias. Many voters in Al-Anbar were not
able to cast their votes because there were not enough
ballots or polling centers. Moreover, we heard that in
Nasiriya an armed group belonging to a large political party
set fire to buildings that belonged to Allawi's list. We do
not want to accuse anyone, but we had hoped that the IECI
would truly be independent. Unfortunately, the IECI has lost
its independence in Iraq."

D. "This Morning"
(As-Sabah Al-Jadeed, independent, published a front-page
editorial by editor in chief Ismael Zayyer, emphasizing the
weakness of Saddam's trial. The editorial reads in part)

"We cannot find any justifiable reason for the behavior
exhibited in Saddam's court. It seems that the five previous
sessions proved that this court is weak-especially with
regard to the suspects' violations of the court's orders.
The dignity of the court is a very important issue and the
judge must punish anyone who violates its rules. But we have
noticed the criminal Barazan clearly violating these rules.
Today, we give those who killed and displaced millions of
Iraqis a chance to enjoy freedom. But for the sake of God,
martyrs, and the honor of Iraq, I call on the court to
correct its behavior. We want professional judges who
understand the huge responsibility they hold on their
shoulders."

E. "Mistake"
(As-Sabah, independent, published a front-page editorial by
editor in chief Muhammad Abdul Jabbar about the government's
decision to increase fuel prices. The editorial reads in
part)

"The Council of Ministers has made a mistake by announcing
its decision to increase fuel prices. It should have
prepared the public before coming to this decision. In
addition, it should have taken necessary measures to reduce
the damage that this decision will do to the nation's poor.
The Council of Ministers did not take any measure, perhaps
because it was afraid of the people's reactions that could
have negatively affected the election. Such a decision
needed detailed discussion by the National Assembly. Perhaps
people's angry demonstrations against this decision will not
annul it, but we hope that this will be a positive lesson
for the next government."

F. "Clear Conviction"
(Al-Adala, affiliated with SCIRI, published a third-page
editorial by Ali Khalif about Saddam's trial. The editorial
reads in part)

"Iraqis watched the dictator's trial and they listened to
the profanities that were used by the suspects. Without a
doubt, the forthcoming sessions will allow the dictator and
his followers to convict themselves without any help.
Furthermore, this will prove to the entire world how those
suspects dealt with Iraqis. There are some who are still
deceived by the dictator and his false slogans. In any case,
the forthcoming sessions will reveal the secret of the Ad-
Dujail massacre."

KHALILZAD

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