Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN4420
2003-07-17 12:26:00
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.

171226Z Jul 03
UNCLAS AMMAN 004420

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

-- Lead story in all papers today, July 17, focuses on
the convening of the newly-elected Jordanian
parliament in its "extraordinary session" held July

16. Reports highlight the "hotly contested" election
of Saad Hayel Srour as Speaker of the Lower House with
a majority of 65 votes, our of 110 total. Other lead
stories focus on Iraq, highlighting further attacks
against U.S. soldiers. Front-page stories also report
that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is
scheduled to meet President Bush in Washington D.C. on
July 25.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Iraq first"

Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(07/17): "There is a large gap that is hard to bridge
between the political and intellectual trends in Iraq
and the Arab world.. Representatives of the
prevailing political tendencies in Iraq are meeting
with Bremer today as part of the interim governing
council to discuss the future of the country and its
people, without fear of being labeled as agents or
servants of the American master, and even without
relevance to what the Arab media calls `Iraqi
resistance operations,' but which these Iraqis view as
sabotage. On the other hand, the trend in the Arab
world outside Iraq is to view what is going on in Iraq
as part of a long-term occupation. Thus, the council
is seen as a dirty game to decorate the ugly face of
the occupier, and the operations against the American
forces are seen as the Nation's desire to fight and
resist , even as another face of the Palestinian
Intifada and its suicide operations.. The difference
between the Iraqis and their counterparts in the Arab
world reflects the phenomenon of Iraq's separation
from the Arab nation. It also reflects the failure of
the Arab political and intellectual trends to
understand the nuances of the Iraqi scene."

-- "A victory turns into a defeat"

Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(07/17): "After completing the occupation of Iraq and
the military operations, some of the American troops
were supposed to return to their bases. In reality,
however, U.S. Governor of Iraq, Bremer, is requesting
more American troops to enable him to take control of
Iraq in view of the resistance that the occupation is
facing. General Tommy Franks needed 150,000 soldiers
to defeat the former regime, but he will need half a
million soldiers to maintain security and face up to
the popular resistance. Defeating nations is easy and
not very costly, but defeating the people is very
difficult and quite costly.. Winning wars requires not
only firepower, but also legitimacy. The war that
America launched against Iraq did not lack firepower,
but the war was not legitimate. It was immoral and
aggressive and, hence, it was defeated even before it
began."

-- "Resistance, but."

Daily columnist Hilmi Al-Asmar writes on the op-ed
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-
Dustour (07/17): "The Iraqi resistance to the
American occupation forces is legitimate resistance,
but it does not enjoy the support of all the Iraqis..
We salute the Iraqi resistance and we love to hear
news of operations [against American forces]. But at
the same time, we cannot label someone a `traitor'
that does not choose this path, but rather decides to
`go along with' the status quo."
HALE