MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ AND THE MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005378 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 AND THE MIDDLE EAST Summary -- Lead stories in all papers today, August 25, and over the weekend, focus on the "collapse" of the truce between the Palestinians and Israel. Front pages of all papers today highlight the Israeli "assassination" of four Palestinians in Gaza. Major reports continue to highlight developments in Iraq. Some papers today highlight the scheduled visit of members of the Iraqi governing council to Jordan. Editorial Commentary on Iraq -- "The Arab effort towards Iraq" Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (08/25): "A delegation representing the governing council of Iraq is arriving today in Jordan as part of a tour in Arab countries.. To deal with the council would be part of a more effective involvement of Arabs in the Iraqi situation, whereas reject it would be simply one more addition to the Arab performance so far, which is marked by negativity and passivity. Arabs must meet and connect with all Iraqi parties within and without the governing council. This governing council includes the major political forces known in Iraq. From now and until legitimate elections determining who represents the Iraqis take place, there is no other way but to become involved and deal with the current forces in power and not leave the arena free for the Americans. The American failure, whether it is deliberate or the outcome of shortsightedness and foolishness on the part of the right-wing gang in the U.S. administration, must force the Arabs to move and take action in order to look out for and protect the effort underway in Iraq to mend the political system and speed the process of placing power in the hands of Iraqis. -- "Unholy alliance becomes more evident" Daily columnist Raja Talab writes on the op-ed page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (08/25): "What the Americans wanted to prove before the war against the former Iraqi regime is now being proven after the demise of the Saddam Hussein era. The relationship that the Americans talked about between the former regime in Iraq and Al-Qa'eda organization is clearly beginning to take shape. The explosion of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad and the suicide bombing against the U.N. headquarters are clear indications of practical cooperation between the remnants of the former regime and the extremist Islamic organizations brought forth by Al-Qa'eda in Iraq since the beginning of the relationship between that organization and Iraqi intelligence in 1996.. It is quite evident now that the remnants of the former regime are providing money and ammunition to Al-Qa'eda and to Ansar Al-Islam, and that these two groups are undertaking the suicide operations. It also seems that the target is any party who has some form of relation to the new situation in Iraq. The Arab and foreign embassies that are opening their doors in Iraq are going to be targeted, and so will be the Arab and international political figures who are visiting Iraq, in addition, of course, to the allied forces.. These are unholy alliances, for which only innocent people and the religion of Islam, in whose name these crimes are being committed, are paying the price." -- "The Iraqi resistance: which forces and what visions?" Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (08/24): "We are driven by instinct to take the side of the resistance, any resistance to any foreign occupation. Yet, we do not take the trouble to ask about the nature of this resistance and the forces that are waging it. We do not trouble ourselves to consider the outcome of that resistance, particularly when it has to do with the fate of a homeland and people like Iraq's. We watch the news showing images of operations launched by the `Iraqi resistance' against the U.S. occupation. We feel ecstatic, because these operations target an arrogant occupation and because they target the United States, for which three quarters of the Arabs and Muslims have no affection, since they suffered from its double standards and more its arrogance and intransigence. Yet, we shiver at the thought that this resistance comes from one of two sources: the remnants of the old regime and its security and intelligence apparatus; and fundamentalist and extremists forces that are inspired by the spirit of Taliban and the methods of Al-Qa'eda.. The attacks against the Jordanian embassy and the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad presage the deeper trends of this resistance. Observers believe that, should the situation in Iraq remain as it is, alliances and forces would spring from this state of chaos and insecurity that are remindful of the alliance of the Taliban and others from the Afghani experience. We do not know, as of yet, serious and respectful forces, of political weight, intellect and social representation (worth supporting),that have adopted such a military resistance in Iraq." HALE