MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, TERRORISM, ARAB COUNTRIES;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002835

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, TERRORISM, ARAB COUNTRIES;
BAGHDAD



1. SUMMARY: The major themes in the daily newspapers on
July. 5 were the attacks against foreign diplomats in
Baghdad, preparations for drafting the constitution, and
the developments of the security and political situation.
END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "Do you believe us now?" (Al-Bayyan, 7/6)

B. "What are the Arab League representatives doing in
Iraq?" (Al-Adala, 7/6)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "Do you believe us now?" (Al-Bayyan, 7/6)

Al-Bayyan (affiliated with Islamic Ad-Da'wa Party, led by
Al-Jafari) published a third-page editorial by Rasool Salim
about terrorism in Iraq:

"We have always declared that terrorism cannot be
restricted to one country. The perpetrators of terrorism
can easily cross borders and spread fear into other
countries. What is the view of the neighboring countries
with regard to these facts? Up until now, we are not aware
of their official positions. In fact, some of these
countries have continued to support terrorist groups by
facilitating their infiltration into Iraq. This situation
proves that these countries have not listened to the Iraqi
demands. We do not intend here to criticize the nature of
any country's position on terrorism. However, we regret
those attitudes that do not care about the shedding of
innocent Iraqi blood.

It has become normal for these countries not to condemn any
terrorist operation in Iraq while strongly condemning such
operations that occur in other countries. This double-faced
policy has become well known. We have declared more than
once that terrorism in Iraq will affect everyone, without
exception. Today, these countries have become targets for
terrorist operations, which have included explosions and
assassinations. In response, these countries have begun
enacting strict measures against the armed groups whom they
refer to as "terrorists" - despite the fact they refer to
the same groups in Iraq as the "resistance."

We hope that these countries will begin to cooperate
seriously with Iraq in order to eradicate the region from
terrorism. We are growing tired of calling for action
without ever seeing any tangible results. However, we will
repeat our declaration once more that terrorism will not
spare anyone. For this reason, these countries must
cooperate and we must work together to dispose of
terrorism. We realize that these countries do not like the
Iraqi people, but they better begin cooperating for the
sake of their own security. Had they only listened to our
first warning, the terrorists would not have succeeded in
targeting their capitals. Unfortunately, they did not
believe us."


B. "What are the Arab League representatives doing in
Iraq?" (Al-Adala, 7/6)

Al-Adala (affiliated with SCIRI) published a last-page
editorial by Muhammad Al-Abdullah about the Arab countries'
role in Iraq:

"Iraqi security forces have often discovered foreign
passports hidden in terrorist safe-houses. The presence of
such documentation indicates that the Arab League actually
does have representation in Iraq because such passports
have been found in Al-Qa'im, Karabila, Mosul, Falluja,
Latifiyya, and Mada'en. Therefore, the Arab League is
present in Iraq through their unofficial representatives
who have infiltrated into Iraq illegally. It is possible
that the Arab League's official representatives are aware
of such infiltration but have intentionally chosen to
ignore it.

These foreign terrorists are entering Iraq's border
crossings not to expel the occupier but to kill innocent
Iraqis. There are even certain cities that are specializing
in recruiting terrorists and sending them quickly on the
path to heaven. Supposedly, the terrorists' fastest way to
heaven is to detonate a car bomb near a restaurant filled
with innocent Iraqis. These terrorists are also following
Al-Zarqawi's instructions by targeting Shiite areas.
Unfortunately, it appears that the Arab countries are
gathering to kill our people. Al-Zarqawi, the hateful Arab
media, and official and unofficial Arab League
representatives have enlarged the Iraqi wound to the point
of damaging the bone.

Syria recently announced that it was sending a diplomat to
Iraq to investigate the Iraqi claims concerning terrorist
infiltrations into Iraq from Syria. However, I do not
understand why the Syrian security forces are capable of
catching an infiltrator entering Syrian lands while they
are incapable of discovering thousands of infiltrators
entering Iraq from their territory. What are Saudis,
Jordanians, Libyans, Moroccans, and other Arab League
representatives doing at the Syrian-Iraqi border towns of
Al-Bukmal and Al-Qamishly? Have these two cities suddenly
become tourist destinations? We call on our Arab brothers
to stop this yellow death emanating from their lands. We
are tired of using the language of diplomacy. Our Arab
brothers remind us of the old proverb that states, "You
claim that you are strong like a lion when you face me, but
in times of war, you are merely an ostrich."

SATTERFIELD