MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS AMMAN 009278

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

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

Summary

-- Lead stories in all papers published today,
November 21, focus on developments in Iraq and the
Palestinian Territories. On Iraq, reports continue to
highlight ongoing battles in various parts of Iraq,
while other reports highlight U.S. Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Myers' remarks saying that he
"would not be surprised" if a civil war breaks out
following the elections in Iraq. On the Palestinian
front, reports highlight ongoing issues with the
Palestinian elections.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Iraq and the current difficult stage"

Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (11/21)
editorializes: "While attention is drawn towards the
Sharm Al-Shaikh conference in support of Iraq with the
participation of effective and influential
international and regional parties . what is happening
in Iraq now, in terms of killing, slaughter,
destruction and security chaos, are reminders of
actions that can only be described as terrorism..
What is happening in Iraq now should be a motive for
conferees to provide qualitative and actual support to
the Iraqi government. What is happening in Iraq
should be a reminder to the conferees that they need
to have the wisdom and the farsightedness to overcome
the conflicts that ruled some of them before and after
the war, for the benefit of peace and security in the
region and the world."
HALE