Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN3050
2003-05-22 10:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

Tags:  KMDR JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 003050

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 IRAQ

Summary

-- A lead story in all papers today, May 22,
highlights America's "strong" warning of potential
attacks in the near future. Same story reports the
arrest of three Moroccans in Saudi Arabia for planning
to hijack a plane for suicide bombing purposes against
Saudi targets. Stories also report on President
Bush's "intended" visit to the region. Reports on
preparations for the Jordanian parliamentary elections
continue, with the majority of commentaries hoping for
and expecting transparent and democratic elections.

Editorial Commentary

-- "The mass graves!"

Daily columnist Hilmi Al-Asmar, writes on the op-ed
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-
Dustour (05/22): "Finally, we `discovered' mass
graves in Iraq. Piles of skeletons and human bones
are shown on televisions, where bereaved families and
orphans stand looking, trying to identify their lost
loved ones. A heartbreaking scene. But, Saddam
Hussein was not the only dictator in the world, and
mass graves is not an Iraqi invention.. The mass
graves of Iraq are similarly found in many parts of
this wretched earth. No one remembers those others
and no one mentions `civil rights' and `human rights'
until these issues have some relationship with serving
Israel or oil. And here stands Palestine, a living
witness to the ugliness of the `world order'."
GNEHM