Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN2770
2004-04-13 11:52:00
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 002770
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
-- Lead story in all papers today, April 13, focuses
on developments in Iraq and particularly the situation
in Falloujah and the truce reached between Iraqi
guerrillas and US marines. Front-page reports
highlight remarks made by the Coalition Forces
Commander Ricardo Sanchez that the "Mission" of
coalition forces is to "kill or capture" Muqtada Al-
Sadr. Other stories highlight President Bush's
remarks that an Israelis withdrawal from Gaza is not
an alternative to the Roadmap during a press
conference with the Egyptian President.
Editorial Commentary
-- "America looking for excuses"
Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(04/13): "The excuse used to justify the Anglo-
American invasion of Iraq was the disarmament of the
weapons of mass destruction. When it was proven that
there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,
American leaders began looking for other excuses, and
hence the search began of Iraqi `programs' to
manufacture weapons of mass destruction. When these
programs were proven not to exist, they started
talking about Iraq's `intentions' to manufacture
weapons of mass destruction. These excuses convince
no one. America's aggression was already planned,
because the neo-conservatives who dominate Washington
policy-making believed that occupying Iraq would
guarantee their control over not only Iraqi oil, but
also Arab oil, and that establishing pro-American rule
in Iraq would give them the chance to dominate the
whole of the Middle East. So the talk about reshaping
the political map of the Middle East started, talk we
no longer hear these days because it became evident
that Iraq left a bitter taste in the mouth, that its
occupation is no picnic, and that the occupier is
paying the price everyday with money and blood. The
Americans need a new excuse to justify the viscous
resistance they are facing in Iraq . and this excuse
says that the terrorists are afraid of democracy and
that they want to abort the American project of making
Iraq a free and democratic country. This is an
attempt to belittle the minds of people who know that
Iraq today is as far from democracy as it will ever be
and that what awaits Iraq under the occupation is more
bloodshed, destruction and sectarianism. The only way
for the American people to get out of the Iraqi
quagmire is to oust the current administration or to
bring about what is called a `regime change' in
Washington. The world will be a much safer and more
stable place and America's position would be better
off if it returned to respecting legitimacy and
international law."
-- "The country of people rejecting the occupation"
Columnist Mohammad Kawash writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(04/13): "The security situation in Iraq collapsed
faster than the Americans expected. The situation is
so out of control that it worries the leaders of the
occupation. Meanwhile, resistance actions have
reached their highest level, placing the occupation
forces and collaborators in a situation that is
similar to the last days of America's occupation of
South Vietnam.. The occupation forces and the U.S.
administration have committed a number of mistakes,
slip-ups and human rights violations, so much so that
the Iraqi people, of all sects, have become inflamed
with anger and revolution. What is going on in Iraq
today confirms that those who painted a rosy picture
for the occupiers' journey to the land of fire and
anger are a group of orientalists who are so distant
from the Iraqi people's concerns and who know nothing
about the traditions, the values, the morals and the
faith of this hard and stubborn Arab community. These
orientalists, who have taken up the seats at the
governing council, do not have the support and respect
of the Iraqis, and when the time of reckoning comes
and when the occupation forces get ready to leave,
these governing council members will be the first to
take refuge in foreign embassies or to flee to
American ships, exactly like the Vietnamese
collaborators did when the occupation collapsed in
Saigon." 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
Summary
-- Lead story in all papers today, April 13, focuses
on developments in Iraq and particularly the situation
in Falloujah and the truce reached between Iraqi
guerrillas and US marines. Front-page reports
highlight remarks made by the Coalition Forces
Commander Ricardo Sanchez that the "Mission" of
coalition forces is to "kill or capture" Muqtada Al-
Sadr. Other stories highlight President Bush's
remarks that an Israelis withdrawal from Gaza is not
an alternative to the Roadmap during a press
conference with the Egyptian President.
Editorial Commentary
-- "America looking for excuses"
Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(04/13): "The excuse used to justify the Anglo-
American invasion of Iraq was the disarmament of the
weapons of mass destruction. When it was proven that
there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,
American leaders began looking for other excuses, and
hence the search began of Iraqi `programs' to
manufacture weapons of mass destruction. When these
programs were proven not to exist, they started
talking about Iraq's `intentions' to manufacture
weapons of mass destruction. These excuses convince
no one. America's aggression was already planned,
because the neo-conservatives who dominate Washington
policy-making believed that occupying Iraq would
guarantee their control over not only Iraqi oil, but
also Arab oil, and that establishing pro-American rule
in Iraq would give them the chance to dominate the
whole of the Middle East. So the talk about reshaping
the political map of the Middle East started, talk we
no longer hear these days because it became evident
that Iraq left a bitter taste in the mouth, that its
occupation is no picnic, and that the occupier is
paying the price everyday with money and blood. The
Americans need a new excuse to justify the viscous
resistance they are facing in Iraq . and this excuse
says that the terrorists are afraid of democracy and
that they want to abort the American project of making
Iraq a free and democratic country. This is an
attempt to belittle the minds of people who know that
Iraq today is as far from democracy as it will ever be
and that what awaits Iraq under the occupation is more
bloodshed, destruction and sectarianism. The only way
for the American people to get out of the Iraqi
quagmire is to oust the current administration or to
bring about what is called a `regime change' in
Washington. The world will be a much safer and more
stable place and America's position would be better
off if it returned to respecting legitimacy and
international law."
-- "The country of people rejecting the occupation"
Columnist Mohammad Kawash writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(04/13): "The security situation in Iraq collapsed
faster than the Americans expected. The situation is
so out of control that it worries the leaders of the
occupation. Meanwhile, resistance actions have
reached their highest level, placing the occupation
forces and collaborators in a situation that is
similar to the last days of America's occupation of
South Vietnam.. The occupation forces and the U.S.
administration have committed a number of mistakes,
slip-ups and human rights violations, so much so that
the Iraqi people, of all sects, have become inflamed
with anger and revolution. What is going on in Iraq
today confirms that those who painted a rosy picture
for the occupiers' journey to the land of fire and
anger are a group of orientalists who are so distant
from the Iraqi people's concerns and who know nothing
about the traditions, the values, the morals and the
faith of this hard and stubborn Arab community. These
orientalists, who have taken up the seats at the
governing council, do not have the support and respect
of the Iraqis, and when the time of reckoning comes
and when the occupation forces get ready to leave,
these governing council members will be the first to
take refuge in foreign embassies or to flee to
American ships, exactly like the Vietnamese
collaborators did when the occupation collapsed in
Saigon." gnehm