Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI3973
2003-09-01 11:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 05:34:22 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM September 01, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 3973 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: OIIP, KMDR Captions: None Subject: MEDIA REACTION: ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD BAQR AL HAKIM Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 03973 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: PAO INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM Laser1: ACTION: PAO DISSEMINATION: PAO CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER DRAFTED: PAO:AALKHATIB CLEARED: PAO:TPONCE VZCZCADI992 OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RUEHFR RHRMDAB RUCJACC RUCQSOC DE RUEHAD #3973 2441120 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011120Z SEP 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1487 RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0705 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0749 RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL//PA//
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003973
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, MHAMBLEY; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD
BAQR AL HAKIM
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003973
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, MHAMBLEY; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD
BAQR AL HAKIM
1. SUMMARY: THE ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD BAQR AL
HAKIM IN NAJAF, IRAQ, THE UAE'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE
ASSASSINATION, AND THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
DOMINATED COVERAGE IN THE UAE MEDIA. EDITORIALS IN "AL KHALEEJ,"
"AL ITTIHAD," AND "AKHBAR AL ARAB" COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION IN
IRAQ FOLLOWING AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM'S ASSASSINATION. END SUMMARY.
2. THE UAE'S OFFICIAL STATEMEMNT REGARDING THE ASSASSINATION OF
AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY 8/31, CARRIED FULL
TEXT IN ALL ARABIC AND ENGLISH DAILIES, AND READS AS FOLLOWS:
"THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAS TOTALLY CONDEMNED THE CRIMINAL
ATTACK WHICH LED TO THE KILLING OF AYATOLLAH MOHAMMED BAQIR AL
HAKIM AND A NUMBER OF INNOCENT IRAQIS IN NAJAF LAST FRIDAY, AN
OFFICIAL SOURCE FROM THE UAE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID. THIS
CRIMINAL ATTACK, WHICH OCCURRED IN ONE OF MUSLIMS' MOST SACRED
PLACES AND ON THE IMAM OF THE MOSQUE OF IMAM ALI BIN ABI TALIB,
IS AN ATTACK ON ALL MUSLIMS AND A DESECRATION OF THE HOLY SHRINE
AND VALUES OF MUSLIMS. IT IS ALSO A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO SOW THE
SEED OF DISCORD AND CONFLICT AMONG THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THE SOURCE
SAID."
"THE SOURCE ADDED THAT THE ATTACK DID NOT ONLY TARGET AYATOLLAH
BAQIR AL HAKIM BUT ALSO AIMED AT KILLING THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE
IRAQI PEOPLE FOR A BETTER FUTURE BY DESTROYING THE SINCERE
EFFORTS TOWARDS NATIONAL UNITY IN IRAQ AND THE EFFORTS OF THE
COUNTRY'S SINCERE SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO RESTORE SECURITY AND
STABILITY THROUGHOUT IRAQ."
"THE SOURCE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE IRAQI
PEOPLE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE IRAQI RULING COUNCIL, TO
OVERCOME THIS ORDEAL BY SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONAL UNITY OF IRAQ
SO AS TO DENY THE MISCHIEVOUS CRIMINALS, WHO ARE TOYING WITH
IRAQ'S SECURITY AND STABILITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR
MISCHIEVOUS OBJECTIVE. THE SOURCE PRAYS TO GOD TO GRANT THE SOUL
OF AYATOLLAH BAQIR AL HAKIM AND THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE
ATTACK PERFECT PEACE AND TO PROTECT IRAQ AND ITS PEOPLE FROM ALL
EVILS."
3. ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF THE ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH AL
HAKIM ON IRAQ AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE, SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY
"AL-KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... YESTERDAY, THE UAE CONFIRMED THAT THIS UGLY CRIME TARGETED
NOT ONLY AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM BUT ALSO ASSASSINATED THE ASPIRATIONS
OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE FOR A BETTER FUTURE, AND THAT WAS BY STRIKING
ITS (IRAQ'S) NATIONAL UNITY AND THE EFFORTS OF ITS LOYAL PEOPLE
TO RE-ESTABLISH STABILITY AND SECURITY ... THESE POSITIONS (OF
AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM) ARE WHAT THE COMMITTERS OF THE NAJAF MASSACRE
TARGETED. THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE INSTABILITY WHICH IRAQ IS
DROWNING IN BECAUSE OF THE OCCUPATION'S DELIBERATE DELAY IN
HANDING OVER THE COUNTRY TO THE IRAQIS. ABDULAZIZ AL HAKIM
DESCRIBED THIS STRATEGY YESTERDAY AS INEFFECTIVE AND IT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED IN IRAQ ..."
4. COMMENTING ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRAQ, ABU DHABI-BASED
SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... THE ONLY COLORFUL PICTURE AMONG ALL THESE NEGATIVES IS THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME AND ALL ITS MANIFESTATIONS
... THERE IS NO ARGUMENT THAT THE SOONER THE IRAQIS HANDLE THEIR
OWN ISSUES THE SOONER THE DANGERS THAT THREATEN THEIR COUNTRY
WILL MINIMIZE ... THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL, WHICH HAS
BEEN FORMED A MONTH AGO, HAS PROVEN THAT THE IRAQIS ARE ABLE TO
RULE THEMSELVES WITHOUT ANY GUARDIANSHIP ..."
5. ASSERTING THAT THE NAJAF MASSACRE MAY LEAD TO CIVIL WAR IN
IRAQ, ABU DHABI-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AKHBAR AL ARAB"
EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... THIS (THE ASSASSINATION) WILL LEAD THE COUNTRY INTO A
HURRICANE OF CRAZY VIOLENCE JUST LIKE THE CIVIL WARS IN LEBANON
AND AFGHANISTAN THAT WILL PREVENT THE COUNTRY FROM ESCAPING THIS
BLIND VIOLENCE, AND ALL THE COUNTRY'S RESOURCES WILL BE DESTROYED
IN THIS HURRICANE ..."
ALBRIGHT
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, MHAMBLEY; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD
BAQR AL HAKIM
1. SUMMARY: THE ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH MUHAMAD BAQR AL
HAKIM IN NAJAF, IRAQ, THE UAE'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE
ASSASSINATION, AND THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
DOMINATED COVERAGE IN THE UAE MEDIA. EDITORIALS IN "AL KHALEEJ,"
"AL ITTIHAD," AND "AKHBAR AL ARAB" COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION IN
IRAQ FOLLOWING AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM'S ASSASSINATION. END SUMMARY.
2. THE UAE'S OFFICIAL STATEMEMNT REGARDING THE ASSASSINATION OF
AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY 8/31, CARRIED FULL
TEXT IN ALL ARABIC AND ENGLISH DAILIES, AND READS AS FOLLOWS:
"THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAS TOTALLY CONDEMNED THE CRIMINAL
ATTACK WHICH LED TO THE KILLING OF AYATOLLAH MOHAMMED BAQIR AL
HAKIM AND A NUMBER OF INNOCENT IRAQIS IN NAJAF LAST FRIDAY, AN
OFFICIAL SOURCE FROM THE UAE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID. THIS
CRIMINAL ATTACK, WHICH OCCURRED IN ONE OF MUSLIMS' MOST SACRED
PLACES AND ON THE IMAM OF THE MOSQUE OF IMAM ALI BIN ABI TALIB,
IS AN ATTACK ON ALL MUSLIMS AND A DESECRATION OF THE HOLY SHRINE
AND VALUES OF MUSLIMS. IT IS ALSO A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO SOW THE
SEED OF DISCORD AND CONFLICT AMONG THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THE SOURCE
SAID."
"THE SOURCE ADDED THAT THE ATTACK DID NOT ONLY TARGET AYATOLLAH
BAQIR AL HAKIM BUT ALSO AIMED AT KILLING THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE
IRAQI PEOPLE FOR A BETTER FUTURE BY DESTROYING THE SINCERE
EFFORTS TOWARDS NATIONAL UNITY IN IRAQ AND THE EFFORTS OF THE
COUNTRY'S SINCERE SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO RESTORE SECURITY AND
STABILITY THROUGHOUT IRAQ."
"THE SOURCE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE IRAQI
PEOPLE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE IRAQI RULING COUNCIL, TO
OVERCOME THIS ORDEAL BY SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONAL UNITY OF IRAQ
SO AS TO DENY THE MISCHIEVOUS CRIMINALS, WHO ARE TOYING WITH
IRAQ'S SECURITY AND STABILITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR
MISCHIEVOUS OBJECTIVE. THE SOURCE PRAYS TO GOD TO GRANT THE SOUL
OF AYATOLLAH BAQIR AL HAKIM AND THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE
ATTACK PERFECT PEACE AND TO PROTECT IRAQ AND ITS PEOPLE FROM ALL
EVILS."
3. ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF THE ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH AL
HAKIM ON IRAQ AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE, SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY
"AL-KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... YESTERDAY, THE UAE CONFIRMED THAT THIS UGLY CRIME TARGETED
NOT ONLY AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM BUT ALSO ASSASSINATED THE ASPIRATIONS
OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE FOR A BETTER FUTURE, AND THAT WAS BY STRIKING
ITS (IRAQ'S) NATIONAL UNITY AND THE EFFORTS OF ITS LOYAL PEOPLE
TO RE-ESTABLISH STABILITY AND SECURITY ... THESE POSITIONS (OF
AYATOLLAH AL HAKIM) ARE WHAT THE COMMITTERS OF THE NAJAF MASSACRE
TARGETED. THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE INSTABILITY WHICH IRAQ IS
DROWNING IN BECAUSE OF THE OCCUPATION'S DELIBERATE DELAY IN
HANDING OVER THE COUNTRY TO THE IRAQIS. ABDULAZIZ AL HAKIM
DESCRIBED THIS STRATEGY YESTERDAY AS INEFFECTIVE AND IT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED IN IRAQ ..."
4. COMMENTING ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRAQ, ABU DHABI-BASED
SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... THE ONLY COLORFUL PICTURE AMONG ALL THESE NEGATIVES IS THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME AND ALL ITS MANIFESTATIONS
... THERE IS NO ARGUMENT THAT THE SOONER THE IRAQIS HANDLE THEIR
OWN ISSUES THE SOONER THE DANGERS THAT THREATEN THEIR COUNTRY
WILL MINIMIZE ... THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL, WHICH HAS
BEEN FORMED A MONTH AGO, HAS PROVEN THAT THE IRAQIS ARE ABLE TO
RULE THEMSELVES WITHOUT ANY GUARDIANSHIP ..."
5. ASSERTING THAT THE NAJAF MASSACRE MAY LEAD TO CIVIL WAR IN
IRAQ, ABU DHABI-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AKHBAR AL ARAB"
EDITORIALIZED 9/01:
"... THIS (THE ASSASSINATION) WILL LEAD THE COUNTRY INTO A
HURRICANE OF CRAZY VIOLENCE JUST LIKE THE CIVIL WARS IN LEBANON
AND AFGHANISTAN THAT WILL PREVENT THE COUNTRY FROM ESCAPING THIS
BLIND VIOLENCE, AND ALL THE COUNTRY'S RESOURCES WILL BE DESTROYED
IN THIS HURRICANE ..."
ALBRIGHT