Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN5100
2003-08-12 12:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 005100
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, ROAD MAP
Summary
-- Lead stories in all papers today (08/12) focus on
the continued debate in the Jordanian Parliament
regarding the government's performance in advance of a
"vote of confidence" measure on Thursday, August 13.
In these reports, correspondents note the criticism of
the government from Islamist deputies, and the
declaration of several Islamists to vote "no" on the
measure. Another lead story today focuses on the work
of an FBI investigation team looking into the bombing
of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad.
Editorial Commentary
-- "The Iraqi Governing Council .Becomes `Iraqi' Only
After the End of the Occupation!"
Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(08/12): "The Arab League is correct in refusing to
recognize the Iraqi Governing Council for one simple
reason - that it was formed under the U.S. occupation.
If this Council was formed without the presence of
U.S. tanks, it would indeed have been the best
political arrangement for Iraq. But one cannot
discuss procedures and details and forget the main
principle -- that this is a political arrangement
based on an occupation, and hence, it should be
rejected. . . We wish the Iraqi Governing Council
success in liberating Iraq from occupation and
regaining stability in the country and establishing a
new Iraqi state that all Iraqis deserve. We welcome
the Iraqi Governing Council amongst the Arabs once
U.S. tanks leave Iraq. But in the presence of those
tanks, this Council will remain a political
arrangement under occupation and will remain
unacceptable to Arabs."
-- "Bush and the Road Map"
Commenting on President Bush's description of the
security wall that Israel is building as a "problem,"
daily columnist Musa Hawamdeh writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(08/12): "We want to wait and see if Bush will succeed
in convincing Sharon that the wall is a problem and
that it is better to build a peace wall rather than a
war and racism wall. However, he will not dare to
make any statement or exert any pressure on Sharon,
neither behind nor in front of the scenes, as some
Arab analysts are deluded to think. The truce may not
last long, although we would have hoped that it last
long enough for Bush to understand that the problem is
not just with the wall, but with the Zionist mentality
and the United States' absolute bias to Israel that
will not help establish peace or justice, and that
leniency towards Israel which translate to strong
support for it. We are aware of the gentle language
used by U.S. officials to criticize Israel while the
Arabs and Palestinians are bombarded with missiles,
statements, and orders."
HALE
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, ROAD MAP
Summary
-- Lead stories in all papers today (08/12) focus on
the continued debate in the Jordanian Parliament
regarding the government's performance in advance of a
"vote of confidence" measure on Thursday, August 13.
In these reports, correspondents note the criticism of
the government from Islamist deputies, and the
declaration of several Islamists to vote "no" on the
measure. Another lead story today focuses on the work
of an FBI investigation team looking into the bombing
of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad.
Editorial Commentary
-- "The Iraqi Governing Council .Becomes `Iraqi' Only
After the End of the Occupation!"
Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(08/12): "The Arab League is correct in refusing to
recognize the Iraqi Governing Council for one simple
reason - that it was formed under the U.S. occupation.
If this Council was formed without the presence of
U.S. tanks, it would indeed have been the best
political arrangement for Iraq. But one cannot
discuss procedures and details and forget the main
principle -- that this is a political arrangement
based on an occupation, and hence, it should be
rejected. . . We wish the Iraqi Governing Council
success in liberating Iraq from occupation and
regaining stability in the country and establishing a
new Iraqi state that all Iraqis deserve. We welcome
the Iraqi Governing Council amongst the Arabs once
U.S. tanks leave Iraq. But in the presence of those
tanks, this Council will remain a political
arrangement under occupation and will remain
unacceptable to Arabs."
-- "Bush and the Road Map"
Commenting on President Bush's description of the
security wall that Israel is building as a "problem,"
daily columnist Musa Hawamdeh writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(08/12): "We want to wait and see if Bush will succeed
in convincing Sharon that the wall is a problem and
that it is better to build a peace wall rather than a
war and racism wall. However, he will not dare to
make any statement or exert any pressure on Sharon,
neither behind nor in front of the scenes, as some
Arab analysts are deluded to think. The truce may not
last long, although we would have hoped that it last
long enough for Bush to understand that the problem is
not just with the wall, but with the Zionist mentality
and the United States' absolute bias to Israel that
will not help establish peace or justice, and that
leniency towards Israel which translate to strong
support for it. We are aware of the gentle language
used by U.S. officials to criticize Israel while the
Arabs and Palestinians are bombarded with missiles,
statements, and orders."
HALE