MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQI POLICE TRAINING IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 008050

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 IRAQI POLICE TRAINING IN
JORDAN AND ISRAEL'S SEPARATION WALL, Dec. 9 and 10


Summary

-- Lead stories in all papers, December 9 and 10,
highlight King Abdullah's visit to the U.S. and his
remarks to the New York Police Department emphasizing
that "Islam is a religion of tolerance". Other lead
stories highlight the U.N. decision to refer the
Israeli separation fence to the World Court and the
two explosions in Iraq, wounding 58-59 American
soldiers. An editorial in the mass-appeal daily Al-
Arab Al-Yawm sharply criticizes the training of Iraqi
police in Jordan. .

Editorial Commentary on Training Iraqi Police

-- "The final and comprehensive victory of the
Jordanian comprador"

Columnist Nahed Hattar writes on the op-ed page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(12/09),"We had thought that we are facing the same
old story: performing a `political' task in return for
a financial deal for the treasury, a deal that would
help the state face the difficult repercussions of the
new oil bill since the end of the related Iraqi grant.
Our opposition to this [the training of Iraqi police
in Jordan] stemmed from national concern. The Iraqi
police now is the occupier's fence and their tool in
opposing the Iraqi resistance and in establishing an
Iraqi regime, which -even if it were not an agent and
ally of Israel and a sword upon the throats of the
Arabs - would have political, social and security
specifications that prevent the re-establishment of
the strategic bilateral relationship that once existed
between Amman and Baghdad. In other words, we,
ourselves, are contributing to the fettering of our
country. We had thought that the Jordanian government
is making this strategic mistake to serve its tactical
interests.

And here's the surprise. This strategic mistake, with
all its very serious dimensions, which affect the
security of Jordan and the future of Jordanian-Iraqi
relations, is being handed on a silver platter to a
private company.. A local private company is the
middleman between the American occupation authorities
in Iraq and an American company that will manage the
training process for the occupiers, and all this on
Jordanian soil, with the approval and encouragement of
the Jordanian government. But of course, the story
has a positive angle: this process will provide
hundreds of job opportunities for the unemployed
Jordanians!"

Editorial Commentary on Israel's Separation Wall

-- "The smart move that angers America even before
Israel"

Daily columnist Mohammad Amayreh writes on the op-ed
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-
Dustour (12/10): "No doubt, referring the issue of
Israel's separation wall between Palestinian
territories occupied in 1948 and the rest of the
Palestinian territories to the international court of
justice in the Hague is a smart move to be hailed and
supported.. Israel's anger at such a move might just
be justifiable, since it is the party directly
concerned and affected, but America's remarks opposing
this move are completely out of place and needlessly
reflect complete bias in favor of Israel. The United
States gets itself involved in such issues without
considering their sensitivity and the potential for
rousing Arab enmity towards U.S. policy, despite the
fact that the U.S. administration continues to pose
the nagging question: why do they hate us? Washington
has been biased in favor of the Zionist entity ever
since its establishment on the land of Palestine and
has continued to provide all support and assistance..
The tragic thing about this is that the United States
believes that this should not prevent anything and
that the Arabs should accept it and the Palestinians
should bless it, and that if they do not, then it is
terrorism. The Arabs and the Palestinians found no
protection in the Security Council from the Israeli
arrogance and hegemony. All the Security Council
resolutions that condemn Israel came face to face with
the American veto. Their only refuge, therefore, is
the General Assembly where they enjoy an obvious
supporting majority for their issues, particularly the
Palestinian issue.. We welcome this move and we
believe it is a new opportunity for the Arabs and the
Palestinians to regain some of their rights, that is
if the higher court of justice's rulings are binding
for Israel."

HALE