Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3660
2005-09-06 19:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - September 6, 2005
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003660
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: DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - September 6, 2005
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on
September 6, 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------
A. "Sunni Arab Papers on Iraq's Constitution" (Iraq4all
News, 9/6)
B. "A Remarkable Though Twisted Improvement" (Al-Bayan, 9/6)
C. "The Constitution & Privatization of Iraq" (Iraq4all
News, 9/6)
D. "To the Drafters of the Constitution" (Iraqi Home, 9/6)
--------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
--------------
A. "Sunni Arab Papers on Iraq's Constitution"
(Editorial by Yacoub Jaber Iraq4all News -
http://iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=9677)
"The ones who welcome approval of Iraq's constitution will
be deeply disappointed in mid-October when Iraqis vote on
the constitution. Sunni Arab, with some of Shiite
supporters, will certainly vote against the constitution in
at least three Iraqi provinces and they will turn it into a
meaningless document that should be modified to gain
unanimous agreement and attain relevance.
"Sunni Arabs form the majority in four provinces and they
will be persistent in rejecting a constitution which is
practically dedicated to the actual division of Iraq. If
that won't happen, and it's unlikely, Sunni Arabs will join
the resistance to fight those who adopted the constitution
and the occupation. Then conditions in Iraq will seriously
deteriorate.
"The constitution which was intended to be a tool to
strengthen stability will turn into a tool for killing and
propagating violence to an extent Iraq hasn't witnessed
since the American invasion.
"It's not difficult to understand the reasons that make
Sunni Arabs vote against the constitution or joining the
resistance because this constitution was drafted by people
opposing Sunni Arabs. The Americans with flagrant and tacit
instigation wanted to deprive Sunni Arabs from wealth and
power. What will remain for Sunni Arabs if the North with
its Kurdish inhabitants and South with its oil and Shiite
inhabitants separate? What they are going to do in the arid,
resource devoid center when others will manipulate Iraq's
destinies and domestic and foreign policies? It's obvious
now that the Kurds and Shiites will exact retaliation
against the Sunni Arabs who ruled Iraq for decades.
"It's normal that Sunni Arabs resorted to a resistance
against federalism which they consider a disaster. If Sunni
Arabs vote against the constitution then they will strike
out against U.S. schemes--if they cancel the constitution
which the U.S wants to become a victory slogan that it could
raise in front of the opposition and naysayers. We all hope
Sunni Arab resistance to the constitution won't transcend
the peaceful resistance demonstrated through voting. Perhaps
the parliament still has time to make radical modifications
to the constitution to take into consideration some Sunni
Arab demands to establish peace and calm for Iraqis."
B. "A Remarkable Though Twisted Improvement"
(Editorial by Al-Bayan
http://www.albayan.ae/servlet/Satellite?cid=1 125289799432&pa
gename=Albayan%2FArticle%2FFullDetail&c=Artic le)
"According to reports of well informed sources; the final
agreement among concerned parties was to alter the article
regarding Iraqi identity in draft constitution. The original
article stated "Iraqi Arabs are part of the Arab world,"
i.e. Iraq as a country isn't an Arab country. The new
article became, "Iraq is part of the Arab and Islamic
world."
"This change is a step forward, though a twisted one, in the
criteria of the current conditions and situations in Iraq.
It gives an Arab identity to the whole country with its Arab
and Kurdish inhabitants. This will save Iraq from future
division if anyone thinks of trying to separate the country.
"Guaranteeing Iraq's unity in a constitutional document
comprises the first solid step in this mission. In addition
to this, agreement on identity could assist in creating
tighter knit societies that might offer some concessions on
other contentious points, especially the issue of
federalism. Salvation in Iraq depends on agreement and
consensus among Iraqis in this crucial moment in its
history."
C. "The Constitution & Privatization of Iraq"
(Editorial by Hameed Al-Sadoon, Iraq4all News
http://iraq4all.org)
"No one disagrees about the importance of the constitution
of any nation being a social contract to deal with the
present and future, which should include all people by
`protecting the country's land, people, and sovereignty,'
but even this simple phrase is no where to be found in our
draft constitution.
"Any reading of the draft will reveal its intention to trash
the identity and history of Iraq, sending it back centuries.
The proposed constitution aims to transfer Iraq into a state
with only one society with Arab allegiance which represents
an invitation to Iraq's minorities to find another entity or
country to protect their interests.
"What the Iraqi constitutional committee has finally reached
is nothing more than privatizing the political, social, and
humanitarian segments of Iraq, and an urge for others to
follow the same path under the supervision and encouragement
of occupation.
Subjects such as federalism, national allegiance, and
natural resources shouldn't be solved in a hasty manner
based on a U.S. agenda to meet Washington's deadlines, but
should be discussed in a way that includes the participation
and agreement of all.
"Those who dream of achieving federalism the Swiss way
overlook generations of history acquired only after much
blood was shed among them. Thank God this has been averted
by our people where no religious, sectarian, or racial
massacres have ever occurred in our history.
"The draft constitution represents a recipe for differences
and not agreements. So October 15th in these critical times
is an invitation for dividing Iraq under many names, all of
which come with the occupation's tanks."
D. "To the Drafters of the Constitution"
(Editorial by Ali Al-Butaihi, Iraqi Home
http://www.iraqihome.com)
"Has the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Musa,
become part of Iraqi society? We need to understand this.
And why should Iraqis concede what they have agreed upon to
a foreigner such as the Egyptian, Amr Musa. And what does
the Arab League have to do with the Iraqi constitution, why
doesn't the head of the Islamic conference interfere with
the draft claiming Islam has been compromised in Iraq and
that Islamic identity is under threat since no reference was
made regarding Iraq being a founding member of the Islamic
conference.
"And shouldn't the constitution's drafters, and only them,
come to agreement regarding what's Iraqi? And without the
Arab League, foreigners, Amr Musa, or the Egyptians who are
surviving on Iraqi blood and sending all of their unemployed
to Iraq.
"And who gave the constitutional committee members the right
to draft a constitution according to Egyptian desires and
those of other Arab countries exporting terrorism to Iraq,
and benefiting from the destruction of this country while
murdering Iraqis? Weren't Egyptians the main beneficiaries
of Iraqis dying in the war with Iran, when Saddam wouldn't
have been able to launch such a war without millions of
Egyptians coming into the country and living on its natural
resources, marrying Iraqi women, and committing all sorts of
crimes including rape?
"Countries memberships in international associations aren't
considered legitimate without a referendum. When European
countries aspire to join the European Union they hold a
referendum to gain the approval of their people, so who
solicited Iraqi's opinions in joining the Arab League? This
membership is illegitimate since no one took Iraqis' opinion
on the subject.
"Musa should speak out frankly with no shame, he wants to
know how much Iraqi oil will end up in Egypt, just how many
unemployed Egyptians will be sent to Iraq, and how many
Iraqi women will marry Egyptians and bestow Iraqi
nationality to their children.
"What have we gained from the Arab League other than the
Ba'ath party that dug mass graves for Iraqis (especially the
Shiites)? What have we gained beside extremist groups such
as the likes of Zarqawi and others? What have we gained
other than destruction?
What have we gained other than Iraqi wives abandoned by
Egyptian husbands, human body part dealers, drug dealers,
and corruption through the oil for food program?
"May God save Iraqis from the plots of Egyptians,
Palestinians, Iranians, Turks, and other foreigners leading
suicide attacks and murders such as bin-Laden, Al-Zarqawi,
Al-Dhwahiri, and others . Amen."
Khalilzad
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: DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - September 6, 2005
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on
September 6, 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------
A. "Sunni Arab Papers on Iraq's Constitution" (Iraq4all
News, 9/6)
B. "A Remarkable Though Twisted Improvement" (Al-Bayan, 9/6)
C. "The Constitution & Privatization of Iraq" (Iraq4all
News, 9/6)
D. "To the Drafters of the Constitution" (Iraqi Home, 9/6)
--------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
--------------
A. "Sunni Arab Papers on Iraq's Constitution"
(Editorial by Yacoub Jaber Iraq4all News -
http://iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=9677)
"The ones who welcome approval of Iraq's constitution will
be deeply disappointed in mid-October when Iraqis vote on
the constitution. Sunni Arab, with some of Shiite
supporters, will certainly vote against the constitution in
at least three Iraqi provinces and they will turn it into a
meaningless document that should be modified to gain
unanimous agreement and attain relevance.
"Sunni Arabs form the majority in four provinces and they
will be persistent in rejecting a constitution which is
practically dedicated to the actual division of Iraq. If
that won't happen, and it's unlikely, Sunni Arabs will join
the resistance to fight those who adopted the constitution
and the occupation. Then conditions in Iraq will seriously
deteriorate.
"The constitution which was intended to be a tool to
strengthen stability will turn into a tool for killing and
propagating violence to an extent Iraq hasn't witnessed
since the American invasion.
"It's not difficult to understand the reasons that make
Sunni Arabs vote against the constitution or joining the
resistance because this constitution was drafted by people
opposing Sunni Arabs. The Americans with flagrant and tacit
instigation wanted to deprive Sunni Arabs from wealth and
power. What will remain for Sunni Arabs if the North with
its Kurdish inhabitants and South with its oil and Shiite
inhabitants separate? What they are going to do in the arid,
resource devoid center when others will manipulate Iraq's
destinies and domestic and foreign policies? It's obvious
now that the Kurds and Shiites will exact retaliation
against the Sunni Arabs who ruled Iraq for decades.
"It's normal that Sunni Arabs resorted to a resistance
against federalism which they consider a disaster. If Sunni
Arabs vote against the constitution then they will strike
out against U.S. schemes--if they cancel the constitution
which the U.S wants to become a victory slogan that it could
raise in front of the opposition and naysayers. We all hope
Sunni Arab resistance to the constitution won't transcend
the peaceful resistance demonstrated through voting. Perhaps
the parliament still has time to make radical modifications
to the constitution to take into consideration some Sunni
Arab demands to establish peace and calm for Iraqis."
B. "A Remarkable Though Twisted Improvement"
(Editorial by Al-Bayan
http://www.albayan.ae/servlet/Satellite?cid=1 125289799432&pa
gename=Albayan%2FArticle%2FFullDetail&c=Artic le)
"According to reports of well informed sources; the final
agreement among concerned parties was to alter the article
regarding Iraqi identity in draft constitution. The original
article stated "Iraqi Arabs are part of the Arab world,"
i.e. Iraq as a country isn't an Arab country. The new
article became, "Iraq is part of the Arab and Islamic
world."
"This change is a step forward, though a twisted one, in the
criteria of the current conditions and situations in Iraq.
It gives an Arab identity to the whole country with its Arab
and Kurdish inhabitants. This will save Iraq from future
division if anyone thinks of trying to separate the country.
"Guaranteeing Iraq's unity in a constitutional document
comprises the first solid step in this mission. In addition
to this, agreement on identity could assist in creating
tighter knit societies that might offer some concessions on
other contentious points, especially the issue of
federalism. Salvation in Iraq depends on agreement and
consensus among Iraqis in this crucial moment in its
history."
C. "The Constitution & Privatization of Iraq"
(Editorial by Hameed Al-Sadoon, Iraq4all News
http://iraq4all.org)
"No one disagrees about the importance of the constitution
of any nation being a social contract to deal with the
present and future, which should include all people by
`protecting the country's land, people, and sovereignty,'
but even this simple phrase is no where to be found in our
draft constitution.
"Any reading of the draft will reveal its intention to trash
the identity and history of Iraq, sending it back centuries.
The proposed constitution aims to transfer Iraq into a state
with only one society with Arab allegiance which represents
an invitation to Iraq's minorities to find another entity or
country to protect their interests.
"What the Iraqi constitutional committee has finally reached
is nothing more than privatizing the political, social, and
humanitarian segments of Iraq, and an urge for others to
follow the same path under the supervision and encouragement
of occupation.
Subjects such as federalism, national allegiance, and
natural resources shouldn't be solved in a hasty manner
based on a U.S. agenda to meet Washington's deadlines, but
should be discussed in a way that includes the participation
and agreement of all.
"Those who dream of achieving federalism the Swiss way
overlook generations of history acquired only after much
blood was shed among them. Thank God this has been averted
by our people where no religious, sectarian, or racial
massacres have ever occurred in our history.
"The draft constitution represents a recipe for differences
and not agreements. So October 15th in these critical times
is an invitation for dividing Iraq under many names, all of
which come with the occupation's tanks."
D. "To the Drafters of the Constitution"
(Editorial by Ali Al-Butaihi, Iraqi Home
http://www.iraqihome.com)
"Has the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Musa,
become part of Iraqi society? We need to understand this.
And why should Iraqis concede what they have agreed upon to
a foreigner such as the Egyptian, Amr Musa. And what does
the Arab League have to do with the Iraqi constitution, why
doesn't the head of the Islamic conference interfere with
the draft claiming Islam has been compromised in Iraq and
that Islamic identity is under threat since no reference was
made regarding Iraq being a founding member of the Islamic
conference.
"And shouldn't the constitution's drafters, and only them,
come to agreement regarding what's Iraqi? And without the
Arab League, foreigners, Amr Musa, or the Egyptians who are
surviving on Iraqi blood and sending all of their unemployed
to Iraq.
"And who gave the constitutional committee members the right
to draft a constitution according to Egyptian desires and
those of other Arab countries exporting terrorism to Iraq,
and benefiting from the destruction of this country while
murdering Iraqis? Weren't Egyptians the main beneficiaries
of Iraqis dying in the war with Iran, when Saddam wouldn't
have been able to launch such a war without millions of
Egyptians coming into the country and living on its natural
resources, marrying Iraqi women, and committing all sorts of
crimes including rape?
"Countries memberships in international associations aren't
considered legitimate without a referendum. When European
countries aspire to join the European Union they hold a
referendum to gain the approval of their people, so who
solicited Iraqi's opinions in joining the Arab League? This
membership is illegitimate since no one took Iraqis' opinion
on the subject.
"Musa should speak out frankly with no shame, he wants to
know how much Iraqi oil will end up in Egypt, just how many
unemployed Egyptians will be sent to Iraq, and how many
Iraqi women will marry Egyptians and bestow Iraqi
nationality to their children.
"What have we gained from the Arab League other than the
Ba'ath party that dug mass graves for Iraqis (especially the
Shiites)? What have we gained beside extremist groups such
as the likes of Zarqawi and others? What have we gained
other than destruction?
What have we gained other than Iraqi wives abandoned by
Egyptian husbands, human body part dealers, drug dealers,
and corruption through the oil for food program?
"May God save Iraqis from the plots of Egyptians,
Palestinians, Iranians, Turks, and other foreigners leading
suicide attacks and murders such as bin-Laden, Al-Zarqawi,
Al-Dhwahiri, and others . Amen."
Khalilzad