MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002521

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 GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, AND
TERRORISM; BAGHDAD



1. SUMMARY: The major themes in the daily newspapers on
June 15 were the process of drafting the constitution, the
political situation and security. END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "The government's program" (Al-Ittihad, 6/15)

B. "Our weapon and their weapon" (Al-Adala, 6/15)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "The government's program" (6/15)

Al-Ittihad (affiliated with PUK led by Jalal Talabani)
published a page four editorial by Abdul Munim Al-Assam
about Al-Jafari's political program:

"All politicians know that a government's program must call
for unity and represent the diverse voices of all people it
represents. A successful program doesn't only speak in the
name of the majority, nor does it represent the authority
of a specific leadership. A successful program must
encourage all political parties, parliamentary blocs and
civil society organizations to participate in the political
process without restraint. A successful program must strive
to end all conflicts and disagreements amongst all
political parties and sects. It must also call for the
reconciliation of all its members.

Unless there is unity, trust, and cooperation in the
government, its promises will not be trusted, it will not
be able to achieve its goals and the hopes and dreams of
its people will not be realized.

A successful program avoids mismanagement and its programs
are creatively drafted. It must include all of the joint
visions and opinions of its people and it must represent
the ambitions of all sects, ethnicities, and societal
components.

Writing the government's program is a difficult process.
Politicians must be able to use the science of tactics, the
art of reconnaissance, and the skill of an economics
professor. The program must avoid using confusing idioms
and never include deceit.

I recall these points when reading Al-Jafari's political
program. It reads more like a testament of his own
personal viewpoint than like a political program. In fact
Al-Jafari's program is so far from being a true political
program that it is like the difference between a star and a
moon."



B. "Our weapon and their weapon" (6/15)

Al-Adala (affiliated with SCIRI) published a third-page
editorial by Dr. Ali Khalif about the developments of the
security situations in Iraq:

"Day by day we see that the security situation is getting
better. We have noticed that the efforts of Operation
Lightning have started to yield tangible results. The
number of terrorist attacks has started to decrease. This
gives us hope that terrorism will end within the next few
days. The cooperation between the Ministries of Defense
and the Interior has brought us this improvement in the
security situation.

However, there has been a wave of statements in the media
that have attempted to characterize Operation Lightning as
a negative undertaking. No matter what they have said, we
are certain that the brave men of Operation Lightning will
terminate terrorism. We are also certain that our security
forces are able to provide security and stability in Iraq
and will continue to do so once the terrorists are gone.

As we have always said and will continue to say, the future
will be for honest Iraqis. Iraq has no place for
terrorists. The government is putting an end to the
terrorists so of course they are attempting to stop the new
day from dawning in Iraq.

The terrorists are trying to recreate instability in our
country by their chaotic and random attacks. But they will
not succeed. It is their ignorance and hatred that will be
their undoing. They have played out their hands and have
nothing more to do but admit their incompatibility with the
future and surrender.

They cannot stop Iraqis from building a united and
democratic Iraq. Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said that
Iraq's enemies are armed with ferocity, terrorism, car
bombs and beheadings. They want to stop our progress and
we must be armed with our people's support. He also said
that we must rehabilitate our security forces.

Therefore, it is clear what weapon terrorism uses and its
ideology is known to everyone. At the same time, the
government's weapon is also clear. It is represented by
the brave Iraqi people, who defeated terrorism on Election
Day and will continue to defeat it in each upcoming battle
because the future is for Iraq and honest Iraqis."

JEFFREY