Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN3717
2004-05-12 13:21:00
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 AMMAN 003717
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, May 11, focuses on
the conclusion of the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting
in Cairo in preparation for the Arab summit meeting in
Tunis, reportedly scheduled for May 22. Another lead
story highlights the comments of the Jordanian
government spokesperson regarding a possible cabinet
reshuffle before the end of May. Other stories
continue to highlight developments in the Iraqi
prisoners abuse story, focusing in particular on calls
for Secretary Rumsfeld to resign.
Editorial Commentary
-- "America as it sees itself in Abu Ghraib"
Chief Editor Usama Al-Sharif writes on the back-page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/11): "What is the really strange thing about the
story of Abu Ghraib? Is it the reality that
uncovering the scandal took this long time? Or is it
the scale of the disgusting crime that was perpetrated
by regular Americans who supposedly are the product of
a society of justice, equality and freedom? Abu
Ghraib has become a representation of America's
estrangement from itself and probably constitutes a
blow to a civilization that had thought, for a second,
that it had achieved everything and had won
everything. America's war in Iraq has turned into a
psychological struggle for Americans that has revealed
to the world and to America itself that there are
limits to American superiority that even Apache
helicopters cannot surpass. Technology, money and
cultural heritage that millions of Americans take
pride in cannot nullify the reality of what happened
in the prison. America is not only fighting the
Iraqis, but also it is struggling against itself and
is yielding to all its contradictions. Today, it is
living the utmost irony: liberation did not happen,
freedom did not come about, values did not hold, and
promises were not kept.. America has come face to
face with itself in Abu Ghraib prison. Its war has
become a joke of the Don Quixote style. America's
moral bankruptcy in Iraq surpasses its military defeat
and may even be the knockout that forces some form of
humility and humbleness on this giant.. The image of
the naked Iraqi man on top of the pile of other naked
Iraqi men has come to symbolize America's civilization
and mission to the world. America's merchandise is
not fit for anyone but America. It is a commodity
that cannot be exported, because it soon goes rotten
when taken out of its geographic, political and
ideological framework."
-- "The occupation that lost all its justifications"
Columnist Yaqoub Jaber writes on the op-ed page of
center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/11): "After exposing the conduct of its men and
women soldiers in Abu Ghraib prison, the American
occupation of Iraq lost all its moral and human
foundations. It has become evident beyond the shadow
of a doubt that the `liberating' Americans have come
to Iraq to plant the seeds of crime, to promote
corruption and to set free all their eccentric
instincts that are rampant in their sick society.
When we view their leadership's blind support for the
Israeli occupation's measures in Palestine, which are
no less horrifying, we realize the depth to which
America has sunk, and our faith of the demise of this
unjust superpower is strengthened, for the downfall of
empires throughout history had always been the result
of their people's disintegration and their abandonment
of the values of justice and peace.. Let America
enjoy its sole possession of power in this world and
its persecution of the people for the time being. The
day of judgment is coming."
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, May 11, focuses on
the conclusion of the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting
in Cairo in preparation for the Arab summit meeting in
Tunis, reportedly scheduled for May 22. Another lead
story highlights the comments of the Jordanian
government spokesperson regarding a possible cabinet
reshuffle before the end of May. Other stories
continue to highlight developments in the Iraqi
prisoners abuse story, focusing in particular on calls
for Secretary Rumsfeld to resign.
Editorial Commentary
-- "America as it sees itself in Abu Ghraib"
Chief Editor Usama Al-Sharif writes on the back-page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/11): "What is the really strange thing about the
story of Abu Ghraib? Is it the reality that
uncovering the scandal took this long time? Or is it
the scale of the disgusting crime that was perpetrated
by regular Americans who supposedly are the product of
a society of justice, equality and freedom? Abu
Ghraib has become a representation of America's
estrangement from itself and probably constitutes a
blow to a civilization that had thought, for a second,
that it had achieved everything and had won
everything. America's war in Iraq has turned into a
psychological struggle for Americans that has revealed
to the world and to America itself that there are
limits to American superiority that even Apache
helicopters cannot surpass. Technology, money and
cultural heritage that millions of Americans take
pride in cannot nullify the reality of what happened
in the prison. America is not only fighting the
Iraqis, but also it is struggling against itself and
is yielding to all its contradictions. Today, it is
living the utmost irony: liberation did not happen,
freedom did not come about, values did not hold, and
promises were not kept.. America has come face to
face with itself in Abu Ghraib prison. Its war has
become a joke of the Don Quixote style. America's
moral bankruptcy in Iraq surpasses its military defeat
and may even be the knockout that forces some form of
humility and humbleness on this giant.. The image of
the naked Iraqi man on top of the pile of other naked
Iraqi men has come to symbolize America's civilization
and mission to the world. America's merchandise is
not fit for anyone but America. It is a commodity
that cannot be exported, because it soon goes rotten
when taken out of its geographic, political and
ideological framework."
-- "The occupation that lost all its justifications"
Columnist Yaqoub Jaber writes on the op-ed page of
center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/11): "After exposing the conduct of its men and
women soldiers in Abu Ghraib prison, the American
occupation of Iraq lost all its moral and human
foundations. It has become evident beyond the shadow
of a doubt that the `liberating' Americans have come
to Iraq to plant the seeds of crime, to promote
corruption and to set free all their eccentric
instincts that are rampant in their sick society.
When we view their leadership's blind support for the
Israeli occupation's measures in Palestine, which are
no less horrifying, we realize the depth to which
America has sunk, and our faith of the demise of this
unjust superpower is strengthened, for the downfall of
empires throughout history had always been the result
of their people's disintegration and their abandonment
of the values of justice and peace.. Let America
enjoy its sole possession of power in this world and
its persecution of the people for the time being. The
day of judgment is coming."
GNEHM