Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN5355
2002-09-18 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

Tags:  KMDR JO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005355

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH
PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USCINCCENT//CCPA, USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL
STATE PASS TO AID

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

Summary

-- Lead stories in all papers today, September 18,
highlight the "skeptical" U.S. reaction to Iraq's
acceptance of the unconditional return of the weapons
inspectors. Stories focus on President Bush's remarks
of September 17 that the Security Council "must not be
fooled" by Iraq's "questionable promise" and calling
on the international community to "deal with" the
Iraqi President. All papers also highlight Jordan's
official reaction to Iraq's decision, which praised
the Iraqi decision as "a positive step towards the
resumption of constructive dialogue between Iraq and
the United Nations." Majority of editorial
commentaries praise Iraq's "intelligent" decision, but
warn that the U.S. remains intent on pursuing
hostilities against Iraq.

Editorial Commentary

-- "A sigh of relief"

Centrist, influential among the elite English daily
Jordan Times (09/18) editorializes: "Some in the
region are sighing with relief, although the feeling
would seem temporary. Iraq's eleventh hour decision
to allow U.N. weapons inspectors back was welcomed in
Jordan, embraced in the rest of the Arab world, and
hailed by China and Russia. But it was met with
suspicion and skepticism in London and Washington.
Jordan and most Arab countries have repeated over the
past few weeks that Iraq's unconditional acceptance of
U.N. arms inspectors would make it much more difficult
for Washington to justify a war. Much more difficult
does not mean impossible. The Iraqi leadership made a
wise and timely decision yesterday. It did its part
to avoid a war. At this stage, peace-loving nations
can only take Iraq's commitment to allow U.N.
inspectors back at face value."

-- "The possibility of a war still stands"

Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(09/18): "Baghdad's unconditional acceptance of the
return of the inspectors does change the climate of
the political confrontation with the United States and
the Security Council. Yet, it is too early to
conclude that the crisis has taken a different turn
from that of American military aggression against
Iraq. The possibility of a war is still high, because
Washington wants to oust the regime. That is its main
objective and the issue of the return of the
inspectors is nothing but a pretext."

-- "Was Baghdad successful in buying some time?"

Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(09/18): "The problem with the Iraqi decision is that
it came in the eleventh hour. This gives the
impression that it is a `maneuver' and not an
`initiative'. This is the basis for the American and
British rejection of the Iraqi decision. I assume we
are going to hear much more in the next few days about
Iraq `lacking seriousness' and the `maneuvering'
aspect of the Iraqi decision. Needless to say, Iraq
managed to buy itself some time and this is good in
itself, particularly if this time is used well to
launch a diplomatic mission that eliminates the ghost
of war altogether."

-- "The repercussions of the Iraqi decision"

Daily columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(09/18): "Changing the Iraqi regime remains the
objective of the U.S. policy. It is an objective that
cannot be attained by a Security Council resolution.
Therefore, the United States will continue to focus on
marginal issues, opening one file after another, until
the final provocation that will be the justification
for the war."

-- "Washington's utmost hallucination"

Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(09/18): "No one can understand or accept the
American justifications for striking Iraq,
particularly after Iraq agreed to the unconditional
return of the inspectors. What does Washington want?
Washington wants Iraqi oil. It wants a regime that
achieves all its interests in the region. It wants to
destroy any weapons that can threaten Israel. Iraq's
decision marks a very intelligent step. It exposed
America's lies completely. It is now up to the Arab
countries and Europe to employ the Iraqi stand in
favor of all concerned. Washington can continue its
hallucinations about war, but it is important that no
Arab or European country listen to those
hallucinations. No one wants to start a war in the
region except Israel, American oil companies, and
some of the Iraqi opposition groups."
GNEHM