MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001802

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

-- The lead story in all papers (with the exception of
Al-Arab Al-Yawm) today, March 9 focused on the signing
of the temporary Iraqi constitution. Other lead
stories focused on domestic-related issues including
the cabinet meeting that held in the port city of
Aqaba.

Editorial Commentary

-- "No constitutions for military bases!"

Daily columnist Khaled Mahadin writes on the op-ed
page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(03/09): "Since March 20, 2003, Iraq became the
target of the American war machine, and since April 9,
2003, it has become an American base, and American
bases are ruled by neither temporary nor permanent
constitutions, but by the American Pentagon. The
important thing is for the Iraqis to remain steadfast
and loyal to uncompromising pan-Arabism and non-
surrendering Iraqi nationalism. They must not allow
any opportunity for those lurking from within and from
without to harm Iraq and they must persevere until
that time when occupation is defeated and the invaders
are kicked out of the homeland."

-- "After endorsing the temporary constitution"

Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(03/09): "Whatever the opinion about the temporary
Iraqi constitution is, we breathed out with
reassurance once the members of the governing council
signed the constitution, because otherwise the gates
of hell will open wide and engulf the Iraqis.. There
are forces inside Iraq, not to mention outside forces,
that have no interest in seeing this agreement work
out. The outside forces can be dealt with if Iraqi
factions that are carrying arms now are convinced to
switch to peaceful political struggle. But this means
that the governing council, particularly the Shiites
and the Kurds, must backtrack from labeling others
with the mortal sin of collaborating with the former
regime. The former regime was there for 30 years and
it is logical that thousands of people would be
working in that regime's military and security
apparatuses. The decision to remove these people from
their positions or pursue them would be equal to
making them fuel for the military resistance.. The
next correct step after the endorsement of the
temporary constitution is to backtrack from any
discriminatory measures and give the necessary
reassurances to all citizens, including those who
served the former regime."

-- "The temporary Iraqi constitution is a step on the
way"

Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(03/09) editorializes: "Under the difficult
circumstances that Iraq is going through, the
governing council's signing of the temporary
constitution is a particularly important event. Given
domestic factors, the differences over some of
constitution's items, and the nature of representation
in the governing council, yesterday's signing signals
an important step forward, even if some consider it
incomplete or inadequate.. The task at hand will not
be easy. Iraq is a country confronted with an absence
of security and stability, and on its ground there are
forces at work that refuse to accept the new reality.
This is in addition to the challenge that everyone
will have to live up to in terms of enforcing what was
achieved in the constitution and strengthening
national agreement.. Iraq is entitled to get support
from its Arab brethren at this stage in order to back
up its march and help it build its official and
popular institutions."
HALE