MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003501

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 BAGHDAD
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION;
BAGHDAD


SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of the daily newspapers on August 28, 2005.
END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "The Constitution is the Fruit of the Political Process"
(As-Sabah al-Jadeed, 8/28)

B. "The Constitution--Between Harmony and Veto" (Al-Bayyan,
8/28)

C. "Our Iraqi Efforts and Our Kurdish Hopes" (Al-Taakhi,
8/28)

D. "We Are Waiting for the Good News" (Ad-Dustoor, 8/28)

E. "Harmonious Agreement Is A Healthy Sign in the March
Toward Democracy" (Al-Ittihad, 8/28)

F. "The Constitution and Political Memory" (As-Sabah, 8/28)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "The Constitution is the Fruit of the Political Process"
(As-Sabah al-Jadeed published in Arabic a page-eight, un-
attributed editorial on the constitution)

"After the downfall of the dictatorial regime, freedom rose
like the sun in Iraq and the country began to move forward
towards security, advancement, and prosperity. Today, the
Iraqi people have to play a big role to make this process
successful. All Iraqis, whether they agree or disagree with
the current political process, need to work towards Iraq's
national interest. The Iraqi people challenged and crushed
terror when they headed for the ballot boxes during the
elections on the 30th of January. Now, it is time to
complete this process by drafting a constitution for this
country and its people. It is time for Iraqis to now harvest
the fruits they have been waiting for. They will not be
affected by terror as long as the constitution will open the
door to hope and progress. The development of the political
process means that we are defeating terror in Iraq. So, we
call on all Iraqis to bring their containers to collect the
fruits of the political process."


B. "The Constitution--Between Harmony and Veto"
(Al-Bayyan published in Arabic a back-page editorial by Adel
Al-Rubai'ee on the constitution)

"All civilized countries have their own democratic and
constitutional experiments that were developed over years
before reaching their final forms and many countries'
experiments are similar. However, establishing democratic
communities does not come from nothing but is developed
through years of political work and effort. Indeed, the
constitutions of other countries have taken years to
develop. Concerning our draft constitution, I believe that
current disagreements and disputes amongst Iraqi politicians
in the National Assembly represent a healthy debate to build
a new Iraq. The Iraqi people will have their final say about
the constitution during the referendum. But, the most
important matter now is to solve all pending issues in
accordance with national interests. These issues must not be
resolved according to a minority veto at the expenses of the
majority because this does not benefit the political process
or national interests."


C. "Our Iraqi Efforts and Our Kurdish Hopes"
(Al-Taakhi published in Arabic a front-page editorial by
Sa'ad Badr Khan on the constitution)

"The Iraqi constitution is being drafted amid disputes,
disagreements, and harmony amongst Iraqi politicians. This
represents the proper way to reach the goal that is to make
the constitutional process successful. This constitution can
make Iraq's two main nationalities, Arabs and Kurds, in
addition to other sects, feel they are real Iraqi citizens.
The Kurdish list insists on defending Iraq as one country
and at the same time it defends Kurdish rights through this
constitution. When the Kurds insist on not making Iraq an
Islamic republic this means that they want to build a modern
state for all Iraqis. When the Kurds demand women's rights
they call for guaranteeing all Iraqi women's rights without
discrimination. The Kurds believe in democracy and in a new
Iraq and they also think that it is necessary to install
federalism throughout Iraq. We know that federalism is an
optional choice that has its own justifications. These are
the Kurdish orientations that represent purely Iraqi
viewpoints. The Kurdish attitude was characterized with
transparency and insistence on making all Iraqis participate
in the current constitutional process. The Kurds have played
a vital role in encouraging dialogue about the constitution.
History will record the great Kurdish role in making the
draft constitution successful. History also must appreciate
the Kurdish National Assembly's decision on approving the
draft constitution. This approval came after Barazani worked
hard to make all dissenting opinions come together to
prevent Iraq's enemies from disrupting the political
process. The upcoming stage following the referendum will be
more dangerous and sensitive. The next period requires more
wisdom, attention, accuracy, and objectivity to make the
referendum successful and to pass the constitution's
articles. This is the main goal of any honest Iraqi."


D. "We Are Waiting for the Good News"
(Ad-Dustoor published in Arabic a front-page editorial by
Bassim Al-Sheikh)

"We are expecting the National Assembly to approve the draft
constitution today by two-thirds of its members. A
promotional campaign will begin to educate Iraqis about the
basics and principals of the constitution, in spite of those
who are working against Iraq's unity and trying to create
crisis and sectarianism among Iraqi sects; those who are
singing for civil war and division will never relent in
their mischievous plots against Iraq.The draft constitution
was submitted to the National Assembly by the deadline of
the first extension and now members are having discussions
and making amendments to the last draft to vote for final
approval. Hence, everyone should be aware today that there
is no way to go back--the political process should move
forward and we should all work together to help it succeed.
We should all work for the benefits of our Iraq and work
against our enemies' will and make this day a day of good
news."


E. "Harmonious Agreement Is A Healthy Sign in the March
Toward Democracy"
(Al-Ittihad published in Arabic a page-three column by Abdul
Hadi Mahdi about the constitution)

"The structure of Iraqi society is considered complicated
compared to other societies. Iraqi society consists of
pluralistic nationalities and a diversity of religions and
sects that have uniqueness that must be respected.Despite
all that, Iraq's society seems to be more united than other
societies which lack such diversity. Therefore, this must be
considered during the drafting of the
constitution.Harmonious agreement is considered a healthy
sign in the democratic march, because Iraq's foundation
cannot withstand a certain group imposing its will on
others. The time of marginalizing others has gone; all
Iraqis must assert their political and national rights and
this cannot happen without a permanent constitution drafted
through harmony.
Today, Iraqis hope to reach harmony through their political
leaders' announcement of a final draft for the permanent
constitution."


F. "The Constitution and Political Memory"
(As-Sabah published in Arabic a page-two editorial by Falah
Al-Mish'al about the constitution)

"An observer of the constitutional committee's work can find
some relevance in the political memories of committee and
TNA members. Those members recall their disasters and
sacrifices while they are drafting the constitution phrase
by phrase. The majority of TNA members are Shiites and Kurds
and they share joint obsessions, due to their suffering
under the former regime. Therefore, you can find their
demands in line with their political memories.The Sunnis are
against the others because they represent the ruling class
in Iraq from the establishment of the Iraqi state in 1921
until Saddam's toppling in 2003. Therefore, they act with a
ruler's logic and not that of one who has been ruled. And
their political memory functions in the past more than it
does in the future.The question is: will the draft
constitution define Ba'athist ideology as a terrorist one
that propagated real criminal activity, started wars, and
triumphed in the comprehensive destruction throughout Iraq
because of Saddam's policies? This trail of destruction will
require more than decades in order to be forgotten. It is
etched in the memories and the spirit of Iraq more than
merely being mentioned in a document made of paper."


Khalilzad