Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN7239
2003-11-05 13:12:00
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007239
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, MIDDLE EAST
Summary
-- A lead story in all papers today, November 5,
focuses on the continued resistance in Iraq, with
reports of five explosions in Baghdad as the
resistance bombarded Bremer's headquarters for the
second day, injuring four U.S. soldiers. Al-Dustour
quoted Bush as having admitted that Saddam is
responsible for the attacks and reported that Spain
decided to temporarily withdraw its diplomats from
Baghdad. All papers reported that Palestinian Prime
Minister Ahmad Qurei is expected to present his new
government to the Palestinian National Council next
week. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon
reportedly failed to change Russia's stand on the road
map. Al-Rai reported that Saudi authorities aborted an
attack by Al Qaeda that targeted Umrah pilgrims in
Mekkah.
On the domestic front, Prime Minister Faisal Al-Fayez
yesterday met with representatives of the Jordan Press
Association and the Higher Media Council. During the
meeting, Al-Fayez noted that the Jordanian media is
strong but needs further development. In another
report, Government Spokesperson Asma Khader announced
that 25 Jordanian detainees in Israel will soon be
released.
Editorial Commentary on Iraq
-- "The Iraqi Resistance With and Without Saddam!"
Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(11/05): "Despite their statements, which reflect a
true stupidity in dealing with Iraq, the Americans
know how scared the Iraqis are from Saddam and so,
continuing to pump the idea that Saddam is leading the
resistance means that the Iraqis will continue to stay
away from it. Moreover, a reward for the arrest or
liquidation of Saddam will only materialize when the
U.S. occupation gains full control over Iraqi
resources in the interest of U.S. companies. . . Only
then will the legend of Saddam will totally be
dispensed with just like it was created in the first
place."
Wardam adds: "Saddam's disappearance means the spread
of the Iraqi resistance within the social and
political structure in Iraq, in which everyone will
devote their time for the U.S. resistance and at last
forget about the terror and fear that dwells inside
them. Every patriotic Iraqi, i.e. every non Baathist
and non agent for the U.S. occupation, will be able to
take part in the comprehensive Iraqi resistance
against the U.S. occupation, which will actually be a
true resistance that only targets the U.S. army rather
than international organizations and Iraqi civilians."
Wardam concludes: "Saddam's disappearance means the
departure of the Arab mentality from the illusions and
the legend and its entrance into the world of truth
and knowledge of the correct details behind the lies
that are disseminated by media organs and politicians
in the United States - lies that are believed by the
Arabs who seek the illusion of heroism and the legend
of the fighting brave leader. The legend of Saddam is
like the legend of Osama Bin Laden - a mere morphine
injection in the Arab mind and is a dispersion of true
Arab efforts to resist U.S. supremacy and occupation
of the region politically and culturally. The sooner
those legends disappear the better it will be for the
future of the Arabs and Iraq, in particular."
Editorial Commentary on the Middle East
-- "The European Public Opinion and Israel: Peace and
Anti-Semitism in a Poll"
Commenting on the European public opinion poll, semi-
official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (11/05)
editorializes: "The results of the European poll are a
clear indication that the free world condemns and
denounces what the Government of Israel is committing
in terms capital punishment and killings, the
construction of dividing walls, racial segregations,
the toppling of the peace process, and closure of any
political door that leads to resolving the Palestinian-
Israeli conflict. It is time for the leaders of Israel
to review the files again instead of resorting to
broken records and exhausted accusations that describe
the world and public opinion as Anti-Semitic." GNEHM
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, MIDDLE EAST
Summary
-- A lead story in all papers today, November 5,
focuses on the continued resistance in Iraq, with
reports of five explosions in Baghdad as the
resistance bombarded Bremer's headquarters for the
second day, injuring four U.S. soldiers. Al-Dustour
quoted Bush as having admitted that Saddam is
responsible for the attacks and reported that Spain
decided to temporarily withdraw its diplomats from
Baghdad. All papers reported that Palestinian Prime
Minister Ahmad Qurei is expected to present his new
government to the Palestinian National Council next
week. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon
reportedly failed to change Russia's stand on the road
map. Al-Rai reported that Saudi authorities aborted an
attack by Al Qaeda that targeted Umrah pilgrims in
Mekkah.
On the domestic front, Prime Minister Faisal Al-Fayez
yesterday met with representatives of the Jordan Press
Association and the Higher Media Council. During the
meeting, Al-Fayez noted that the Jordanian media is
strong but needs further development. In another
report, Government Spokesperson Asma Khader announced
that 25 Jordanian detainees in Israel will soon be
released.
Editorial Commentary on Iraq
-- "The Iraqi Resistance With and Without Saddam!"
Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(11/05): "Despite their statements, which reflect a
true stupidity in dealing with Iraq, the Americans
know how scared the Iraqis are from Saddam and so,
continuing to pump the idea that Saddam is leading the
resistance means that the Iraqis will continue to stay
away from it. Moreover, a reward for the arrest or
liquidation of Saddam will only materialize when the
U.S. occupation gains full control over Iraqi
resources in the interest of U.S. companies. . . Only
then will the legend of Saddam will totally be
dispensed with just like it was created in the first
place."
Wardam adds: "Saddam's disappearance means the spread
of the Iraqi resistance within the social and
political structure in Iraq, in which everyone will
devote their time for the U.S. resistance and at last
forget about the terror and fear that dwells inside
them. Every patriotic Iraqi, i.e. every non Baathist
and non agent for the U.S. occupation, will be able to
take part in the comprehensive Iraqi resistance
against the U.S. occupation, which will actually be a
true resistance that only targets the U.S. army rather
than international organizations and Iraqi civilians."
Wardam concludes: "Saddam's disappearance means the
departure of the Arab mentality from the illusions and
the legend and its entrance into the world of truth
and knowledge of the correct details behind the lies
that are disseminated by media organs and politicians
in the United States - lies that are believed by the
Arabs who seek the illusion of heroism and the legend
of the fighting brave leader. The legend of Saddam is
like the legend of Osama Bin Laden - a mere morphine
injection in the Arab mind and is a dispersion of true
Arab efforts to resist U.S. supremacy and occupation
of the region politically and culturally. The sooner
those legends disappear the better it will be for the
future of the Arabs and Iraq, in particular."
Editorial Commentary on the Middle East
-- "The European Public Opinion and Israel: Peace and
Anti-Semitism in a Poll"
Commenting on the European public opinion poll, semi-
official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (11/05)
editorializes: "The results of the European poll are a
clear indication that the free world condemns and
denounces what the Government of Israel is committing
in terms capital punishment and killings, the
construction of dividing walls, racial segregations,
the toppling of the peace process, and closure of any
political door that leads to resolving the Palestinian-
Israeli conflict. It is time for the leaders of Israel
to review the files again instead of resorting to
broken records and exhausted accusations that describe
the world and public opinion as Anti-Semitic." GNEHM