MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ AND IRAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 009851 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 IRAQ AND IRAN Summary -- Lead story in all papers today, December 13, focuses on the attack against an Israeli checkpoint between Gaza and Egypt. Reports on Palestinian issues highlight Marwan Barghouti's reported decision to withdraw from the Palestinian presidential elections and Mahmoud Abbas' reported "apology" to Kuwait for the Palestinian stance during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict during a visit there. All papers also highlight the situation in Iraq, including continued American bombing of Fallujah. King Abdullah's to Japan received front-page coverage. Editorial Commentary on Iraq -- "Boycott in the name of all of Iraq" Columnist Nahed Hattar writes on the op-ed page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (12/13): "The escalating Iraqi resistance is not in a defensive position, but rather in an offensive position, and this is true as long as it continues to reject compromise and insists on the departure of the occupiers. It thus confirms that it represents Iraq and the Iraqi state, whatever the religion of most of the combatants. We say `most' because the combatants of the Iraqi resistance are not limited to the Sunni Arabs, but also include noble Iraqis from all religions and ethnic backgrounds. With the Iraqi resistance in an offensive position, the issue today is not whether the elections are held or not, but rather the continuation of occupation versus sovereignty and freedom, i.e., America versus Iraq. This nullifies any other issue.Luckily for Iraq, Iraqi Sunni Arabs have remained loyal to the Iraq nation and continue to reject characterization as a sect looking for a piece of the pie.. The Sunni Arabs' boycott of the sectarian elections in occupied Iraq does not just represent a rejection that they become a political sect only, it is also a rejection of the establishment of sectarianism and a sectarian system in Iraq." -- "The price of lacking security in Fallujah" Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back-page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (12/13): "In short, the price of bringing security in Fallujah, which was endorsed in the name of elections and democracy, is a paid by the civilians.. The result is no Zarqawi and no anything, as if we are seeing another scenario like that of the weapons of mass destruction. What is going on in Iraq is a forgery of facts and events. That is why the media is being prevented from reporting events and the little that does come out is being curtailed through threats against reporters. Describing the massive resistance against the occupation summarily as terrorist actions of the Zarqawi group or the Sunni Triangle or otherwise is far from the truth and reality of the matter. What is going on is an entire people's resistance to the occupation." -- Iraqi elections: between worse and the worst" Veteran journalist and columnist Rana Sabbagh writes on the op-ed page of independent, Arabic daily Al-Ghad (12/13): "Between worse and the worst, the Iraqi elections are to be held amidst speculation of boycott by a large number of Iraqis, either due to a lack of security or to their lack of belief in the process.. While the CIA warns of growing causes for a civil war in Iraq, those in charge both inside and outside Iraq insist on holding the elections, despite the results that would shape the political beginnings of Iraq's future. It is as if these elections are designed to select those who would manage and run this war and ease the burden off the shoulders of the American forces. Yet Washington, which occupied Iraq with superficial tourist information about its religious, social and political structure, is going to be displeased with the results of the elections and is going to find out that these elections are going to entrench the conflict among the ethnic and sectarian groups under the banner of democracy and amidst absence of genuine understanding of the cultural structure of the Iraqi people, some of whom still whip themselves for failing those they thought were their legitimate leaders. The American scenario in Iraq reminds some of us of the CIA's proposition in the late seventies to chastise the Shah of Iran when he disobeyed America in the Gulf. America's leaders insisted on stirring the Iranian street against the Shah, only for Washington to find that the ceiling and not the street had collapsed, giving rise to a Shiite Islamic revolution, which disturbs the peace and quiet of Washington and its allies in the region to this day. The fear now is that the scenario will be repeated, but this time in Iraq and with an Arab dimension.. Those who have been whipping themselves for centuries for failing their leaders are going to make Washington whip itself after the elections. The Shiite who is going to vote is the same as the Sunni who is pointing his gun against the occupation. The difference is how they calculate the results, because they both view the occupation as a cow to be eaten and but differ in how to eat it.. The tables will turn against the Americans, who will be before two choices: either accept the results of the elections and the establishment of a Shiite state, as previously happened in Iran, or cancel the results and create another Algeria in Iraq." Editorial Commentary on Iran -- "Nuclear Iran: a precious Persian rug" Columnist Basem Tweisi writes on the op-ed page of independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (12/13): "The IAEA decision with regard to freezing Iran's nuclear activities represents another chapter in the long-term struggle of interests between the United States and Iran, a struggle that wreaks of oil, water, geography and ideologies. Although the latest step was a topic of conflict inside and outside Iran, particularly with regard to the amount of gain achieved by Iran as a result of its compromises, it is clear that the quiet Iranian diplomacy, which has been weaving the nuclear file since 1991, has succeeded in averting a new American escalation that could reach the point of harsh sanction on Tehran leading to military confrontations, which is something that Iran can do without.. The complexities that have marked the Iran file for more than thirty years leave room for the possibility of many future surprises, either in the area of nuclear development or in the country's relations with the United States - including surprises that could focus the attention of the entire world." HALE