MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

UNCLAS AMMAN 007940 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 TSOU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR JO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ Summary -- Lead stories in all papers today, October 5, focus on domestic issues, especially the rising price of commodities during the month of Ramadan and the King's call to provide the people with basic commodities at reasonable prices. Other major stories continue to highlight developments related to the Palestinian- Israeli conflict and the situation in Gaza, as well as continued violence in Iraq. Editorial Commentary -- "An initiative to sponsor an Iraqi reconciliation" Daily columnist Mahmoud Rimawi writes on the op-ed page of the leading, semi-official Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/05): "A ministerial committee of the Arab League agreed that the League will sponsor a conference for national reconciliation in Iraq. This reconciliation conference, if it does take place, will be the first Arab political contribution to try and put out the flaming crisis in Iraq. It is clear now that there is no security solution to the crisis, because the American power is superior and the armed groups are waging a gang war against the state and the society.. What is required is finding a status that pleases the majority of Iraqis, that lifts the political cover off the presence of the American forces . and that lifts the political cover off the armed groups.. Should this beginning take place, political and social forces . will be responsible for the future of Iraq.. The Arab League must have ready such beginnings and ideas as it moves towards organizing a general conference for dialogue and reconciliation. Time must not be wasted in the search for a good starting point. After all, it is true that, despite the tragic situation in which the Iraqis are living, they have made significant steps on the path of the political process, building a pluralistic regime and the draft constitution." -- "Solution lies in reconciliation" Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of the independent, centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (10/05): "In a few days, the Iraqis are going to vote on their draft constitution. Yet, the results of the voting are already clear. The majority of the Iraqis will vote in favor of the constitution, while the Sunni Arabs will fail to achieve a majority vote.. This means that October 15, the voting date, will be the beginning of a new stage of tension in Iraq. The Sunni Arabs' rejection of the constitution means the rejection a large and influential section of the Iraqi society of the aspects of the new political system. The result will be entrenching the feeling of injustice and helplessness for the Sunni Arabs and more ethnic and sectarian division in Iraq.. Iraq should not be ruled by the majority. History, demography, culture, security and politics dictate the need for reconciliation, the only formula capable of salvaging Iraq from its status quo." HALE