MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002471

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ,
INR/P
E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,
GOVERNMENT; BAGHDAD


1. SUMMARY: The major themes in the daily newspapers on
June. 12 were the preparations for drafting the
constitution and the developments of the security
situation. END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "National rights are red lines that should not be
crossed" (Al-Ittihad, 6/12)

B. "In order to root out terrorism" (Al-Bayyan, 6/12)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "National rights are red lines that should not be
crossed" (Al-Ittihad, 6/12)

Al-Ittihad (affiliated with the PUK led by Jalal Talabani)
published a third-page editorial by Abdul Hadi Mahdi about
Kurdish rights:

"All parties should work to remove the anxiety that
currently exists in the Iraqi political field. There are
many factors that have contributed to this rise of anxiety
that should be contained by simply instituting logical
practices. One way to move forward is to hold meetings that
are characterized by transparency. Iraq has many wise
politicians and religious figures that are prepared to
offer their assistance and advice. Today, unfortunately, a
new trend has emerged in our society that is attempting to
pass over the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) -- the
document that all parties agreed to use as the foundation
for the permanent constitution. Through the issuance of
statements, this attempt is aimed at depriving the Kurds of
their national and political rights.

It is strange that the majority of these statements have
come from members of the Unified Iraqi Alliance (UIA).
Perhaps the figures making such statements are unaware of
the agreement that was reached between the UIA and the
Kurdish list concerning the transitional government. These
statements have taken many different forms, including the
deletion of the three main words from the government
swearing in ceremony and the Prime Minister not mentioning
the Kurdish demands to the National Assembly with regard to
the political program. In addition, statements on Kirkuk
have appeared which contradict the previous agreement on
this issue between the UIA and the Kurds and also oppose
what is stated in the TAL. The Kurdish leadership has been
clear on the Kirkuk issue and has demanded the necessity of
implementing Article 58 from the TAL.

These statements indicate either a lack of understanding
for the Kurdish political position or an ignorance of the
history and facts of the Iraqi situation. Such
unintelligent statements are only the fault of those who
made them in the first place. However, there could also be
an intentional campaign to prevent the Kurds from achieving
their political and national demands, which will only lead
to a national disaster. We hope that such statements are
not being made intentionally and that they will not be
repeated in the future, especially in an environment where
everyone refuses to get caught up in sectarianism."



B. "In order to root out terrorism" (Al-Bayyan, 6/12)

Al-Bayyan (affiliated with the Islamic Dawa Party led by
Al-Jafari) published a front-page editorial about the
developments of the "Lightning" military operation in Iraq:

"The terrible crime that occurred last Friday night in As-
Shua'la was not the first of its kind. There have been many
other similar crimes not only in this area but also in
other areas throughout Iraq. The goal of these criminals -
to create sectarian sedition that will ultimately spark a
civil war -- has become clear to the Iraqi people. However,
these criminals have begun to realize that their crimes
will not achieve their objective and that it will be
impossible for them to create a civil war that will fulfill
the wishes of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi.

It is clear that the Lighting operation has had a
successful impact, despite the continuance of attacks like
that which recently occurred in As-Shua'la. Attacks such as
this serve to indicate that the terrorists have reached
their end in Iraq. Nonetheless, it is important for all
Iraqi citizens to support the ongoing operations that are
cleansing Iraq from the terrorists. Expressing condemnation
is not enough. Everyone must make an active contribution in
this important operation.
The crime that occurred in As-Shua'la did not differentiate
between any particular nationality or denomination.
Instead, this crime was inflicted against all Iraqis and
therefore demonstrates that no one is safe from being
targeted by the terrorists as they continue the road of
their demise. All Iraqis must contribute to this final
stage of eradicating terrorism from our society. Serious
and determined efforts are required by everyone so that we
can end this terrible phenomenon in our society and return
stability and security to Iraq."

JEFFREY