MEDIA REACTION ON WAR ON IRAQ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001769

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

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON WAR ON IRAQ

Summary

-- The war on Iraq continues to dominate the Jordanian
press today, March 24. Lead stories include wire
service reports under huge banner headlines depicting
"fierce battles and ferocious resistance" between the
Iraqis and the Coalition forces. All papers highlight
the capture of American POWs on their front pages, and
include photos taken from television footage. One
paper's banner headline reads "A day packed with
losses for the American and British forces". Another
lead story highlights remarks made by Jordanian Prime
Minister, Ali Abul Ragheb, during a press conference
held yesterday. The Prime Minister spoke about the
expulsion of three Iraqi diplomats from Jordan and
stressed that there are no military activities against
Iraq from Jordan. The Prime Minister also declared
that the government of Jordan would launch "extensive
efforts" to stop the war.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Brutal American raids"

Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(03/24): "They [Americans] say that they are not
targeting the Iraqi people but Saddam Hussein. If
this true, then why are they dropping thousands of
bombs on Iraq? If they knew where Saddam Hussein was,
they would only need a single bomb, but the dropping
thousands of bombs is meant against the Iraqi people.
The point is that they [the Iraqi people] become
shocked and awed by the brutality of the American
bombing, a brutality never before witnessed by the
world. This war is not a secret one. The world is
following it live on their television screens.. This
public coverage has exposed the level of brutality and
blood-thirsty nature for shedding Arab blood and has
produced great anger in not only Arabs and Muslims but
also in every honorable human being with a sense for
what is going on in the world. America is not
standing in the face of only the Iraqi people, but
also in the face of all the people of this world.
America has come to isolate Iraq, but instead has
isolated itself. It has come to disarm the weapons of
mass destruction, but instead became the biggest user
of those weapons. It has come to implement Security
Council resolutions, but instead ended up bypassing
the Council, ignoring its will and acted unilaterally.
This is not the third Gulf war. It is rather the
second American-Arab war. Does Bush now know that his
actions make up the answer to his question: "Why do
they hate us?"

-- "Is there not a joint Arab action?"

Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(03/24) editorializes: "The fourth day of the
American war on Iraq was not one of the `happy days'
for Washington and London. The media confusion and
the conflicting stories exposing much false
information and lies about the battles and the size of
losses showed without a shadow of a doubt that what is
happening on the ground is completely different from
what the American and British spokespeople are saying
and promoting.. The images of children and innocent
victims in Basra shook the minds and hearts and
thwarted the `fairy tale of a clean war' that
Washington had promoted. Yet, if the United States
resorts to excessive use of power in the coming days,
it would likely make this war, which already lacks
legitimacy, the ugliest war. Such developments and
fears strengthen the need to launch diplomatic and
political initiatives that would put an end to this
crazy war and would restore respect to diplomacy and
international legitimacy, which were destroyed as a
result of America's arrogance and Washington's
determination to beat the drums of war without any
consideration to the Security Council, the U.N.
Charter and calls of millions of human beings to stop
the war."

-- "Where is international legitimacy?"

Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(03/24): "The dust of battles, bombings and military
confrontations must not suggest that the war is matter-
of-fact or that it enjoys legitimacy. The reality is
that three countries, the United States, Britain and
Australia, have acted militarily, and without Security
Council authorization, to invade another country that
is a member of the United Nations.. If the United
Nations fails to stand up to the big aggressor, then
its role and moral credibility are as good as
finished. The responsibility now lies on the
shoulders of the Secretary General, the Security
Council and member states. If they choose to live in
a jungle led by the United States, then they can avoid
their duties now; but if they want to restore respect
to the United Nations, then they must perform their
role of condemning and rejecting the American invasion
and stress the illegality and illegitimacy of this
invasion."

-- "Iraq steadfastness and American confusion"

Daily columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-
Dustour (03/24): "It is a sure thing that the
American and British forces are trying hard to avoid
striking against civilians and are striving to be
accurate in selecting their military targets, despite
the fact that a large number of civilians have fallen
victims. This concern does not stem from any
compassion for the Iraqi people, rather from fear of
the repercussions of the Arab and international public
opinion.. It is also safe to say that the Iraqi
resistance was a surprise, not only for the Americans
but also for all observers. The silliness of remarks
about the Iraqi desire to embrace and receive the
invaders with open arms is proven. This is in
addition to the presence of rejection that is enough
to stir a confrontation that, in turn, would not give
the Americans an easy victory.. The invaders are
confused, and their confusion is making them make more
mistakes. It might not stop the course of occupation,
but it will make it difficult. History will write
that Iraq did not surrender, but resisted with all its
might at a time when regimes were watching with folded
arms or opening their lands for the invaders."
GNEHM