Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3732
2005-09-11 18:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - September 11, 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 003732
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 11, 2005
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on
September 11, 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------
A. "A Day for Men and A Day for Women" (Independent Iraqi
News Agency, 9/11)
B. "A Brave Jordanian Step" (Al-Jeeran, 9/11)
C. "Government for God's Sake? The Death Penalty and Not
Life Sentences for Terrorists" (Al-Nahrain, 9/11)
--------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
A. "A Day for Men and A Day for Women"
(Editorial by Kazum Al-Muqdadi - Independent Iraqi News
Agency - www.iraq-ina.com)
"When the Iraqi government announced, in a statement, the
adoption of the odd-even license system in and around
Baghdad, the justification presented by our wise leaders was
to lessen the suffering of Iraqis who are facing traffic
jams, decision jams, and recommendation jams . to the extent
that Iraqis have become a government testing ground.
"The problem is that every decision results in the suffering
of citizens while officials don't share any of the burden.
Citizens have started to question any new decision, even if
these decisions have come to serve their interests. I've
heard people saying that decisions aimed at solving the fuel
crisis and traffic jams, were actually issued to ease the
flow of officials' convoys, and I've heard them question why
barricades weren't lifted, bridges weren't opened,
occupation tanks weren't pulled out of cities, and official
convoys weren't reduced in size after reaching a state where
dozens of cars escort government officials with no license
plates, and no acknowledgment of the authority of the
traffic police.
"Most likely, all decisions come to serve government
officials at the expense of average citizens, where no heed
is given to the mother that has to accompany her children on
their way to school everyday, nor the university professor
who has to reach his work place, or the teacher who has to
reach his students, or the doctor . the engineer . the
shopkeeper.
"We've seen how the Ministry of Oil has fallen into the trap
of the odd-even system, and today the whole government has
fallen into the same trap again and I'm afraid that our
government might be considering allocating our `wonderful'
days according to gender . a day for men, and another for
women, and our restaurants . a day for chicken, and another
for rice, a day for ice cream, and another for fruit juice .
Perhaps government organizations will also have their
workdays divided into days for men and others for women.
I've seen some singers refuse to be likened to others, and I
believe our government follows the same trend and refuses to
be likened to other governments in the world."
B. "A Brave Jordanian Step"
(Editorial by Ali Al-Shalah - Al-Jeeran - www.aljeran.net)
"It seems the historic step taken by King Abdullah of Jordan
to send his Prime Minister Adnan Al-Badran to Baghdad has
marked a turning point in Iraqi-Arab relations at a time
when Iraqi calls for help left us wondering why the Arabs
have forsaken their Iraqi brethren who have always been a
cornerstone of Arab and Islamic civilization.
"Arab brothers justified this absence by citing the
occupation, saying they didn't wish to support it. Iraqis
themselves never asked for support for the occupation, but
it is absolutely unacceptable for Arabs to behave as if
every Iraqi were working for the occupation, besides, it's
not like Arabs themselves prepared to liberate Iraq from the
regime of mass graves and chemical weapons and were
prevented from assisting by Iraqis; or that the U.S. based
its invasion of Iraq on Iraqi opinion and support.
"The joy that prevailed after toppling Saddam's occupation
wasn't in support of the U.S. occupation, and Iraqis have
their own agenda to rid the country of occupation after the
defeat of terrorism. As Iraqis stand in the face of
terrorism they are actually standing up for every house,
man, woman, and child in the Arab homeland, and Arabs when
witnessing the Iraqi army and police, should remember that
their sacrifices will prevent a Zarqawi or his likeness from
reaching their homeland.
"Resisting occupation - my dear Arab brothers- is through
taking actions that would speed its departure, not provide
it with additional excuses to maintain its presence through
turning Iraq into a blood bath. Life goes on in Iraq and
every crime committed and every day that passes is a day
that Iraq is closer to salvation. At the end of the day that
salvation will be for all neighboring and friendly nations.
"The arrival of Arab delegations in Baghdad is a strong
message that should continue at the highest levels to
complement the already wonderful efforts presented by the
Emirates, Kuwaitis, Bahrainis, and others. Baghdad needs to
see Arab ambassadors acquitting Arab brothers from crimes
committed against Iraqis and mending deep wounds, because we
all believe that nothing can weaken historical and
geographical bonds. God save Iraqis and Arabs from all harm
and occupation, and a welcome to Ambassador Al-Badran in
Baghdad."
C. "Government for God's Sake? The Death Penalty and Not
Life Sentences for Terrorists"
(Editorial by Sarmed Aqrawi, Al-Nahrain, The Two Rivers,
http://www.nahrain.com/d/news/05/09/11/nhr091 1f.html)
"In the United States of America (which statistically is the
country with the highest crime rate in the world due to the
availability and legal mechanisms for gun ownership) there
are more than three millions prisoners. The death penalty
isn't carried out through hanging or shootings but through
lethal injections or the electric chair because those two
methods are more humane than others.
"The average annual cost of each prisoner (with three meals
a day and medical care) is $50,000. Gangs inside American
prisons are many and the most dangerous gangs are the
religious ones. Muslim detainees constitute the norm in
American prisons and they are susceptible to influence from
extremists who may try to recruit them when they're released
from prison. The most important thing in Middle East
prisons, in general, is the executions--if criminals repent
they may become like Al-Zarqawi, from a thief to a
politician, to a defender of the faith (Mujahid).
"A Salafi sheikh appeared on a Saudi satellite channel and
narrated the following story: `Listen carefully O government
and National Assembly. A Saudi extremist was jailed for his
actions and I as a sheikh visited him in prison, I used to
see him often as he drew tanks and bombs on the walls of his
cell. After he served his sentence he left the prison and I
met him in a mosques and I asked him, `are you still
following the philosophy of Jihad, war and killing?' He
answered, `No' and said, `Sheikh that was from a reckless
youth.' After two weeks I heard his name announced on T.V.
he was involved in killing an officer or group of policemen
in a Saudi city. There is nothing useful you can do with
those except execute them, you hear, execute them. Listen
elected Iraqi government, listen.'
"O life sentence government, your decision will fill Iraq's
prisons with hundreds or perhaps thousands of Afghan Arabs.
Thousands of new extremists will emerge and you are not up
to it, Americans are not up to it either.
"So if you are Egyptian, Afghan, Syrian or Tunisian or
others who are starving then I would announce Jihad against
the U.S.A, travel to Iraq to support my ideological brothers
only to be caught by the Iraqi justice and be put in prison
for a period of time with a free residency, three meals,
medical insurance, access to sports, T.V (to watch the
infidel's satellite channels that support Jihad-all so that
I would not forget Jihad when I leave prison),Qur'anic
recitation lessons, and then perhaps an Iraqi Mujahida
(female Mujahid) will fall in love with me and my children
will become Iraqis according to the new constitution? This
is a great blessing of Jihad! I come to Iraq to kill Iraqis,
set fire and destroy Iraq's wealth, Iraqis honor me with
free residency, food and medical insurance only to get
married to an Iraqi to let my children enjoy Iraq's fortunes
which I come to waste.
"Wake up government; wake up people for there isn't but
death sentence for those bastards."
SATTERFIELD
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 11, 2005
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on
September 11, 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------
A. "A Day for Men and A Day for Women" (Independent Iraqi
News Agency, 9/11)
B. "A Brave Jordanian Step" (Al-Jeeran, 9/11)
C. "Government for God's Sake? The Death Penalty and Not
Life Sentences for Terrorists" (Al-Nahrain, 9/11)
--------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
A. "A Day for Men and A Day for Women"
(Editorial by Kazum Al-Muqdadi - Independent Iraqi News
Agency - www.iraq-ina.com)
"When the Iraqi government announced, in a statement, the
adoption of the odd-even license system in and around
Baghdad, the justification presented by our wise leaders was
to lessen the suffering of Iraqis who are facing traffic
jams, decision jams, and recommendation jams . to the extent
that Iraqis have become a government testing ground.
"The problem is that every decision results in the suffering
of citizens while officials don't share any of the burden.
Citizens have started to question any new decision, even if
these decisions have come to serve their interests. I've
heard people saying that decisions aimed at solving the fuel
crisis and traffic jams, were actually issued to ease the
flow of officials' convoys, and I've heard them question why
barricades weren't lifted, bridges weren't opened,
occupation tanks weren't pulled out of cities, and official
convoys weren't reduced in size after reaching a state where
dozens of cars escort government officials with no license
plates, and no acknowledgment of the authority of the
traffic police.
"Most likely, all decisions come to serve government
officials at the expense of average citizens, where no heed
is given to the mother that has to accompany her children on
their way to school everyday, nor the university professor
who has to reach his work place, or the teacher who has to
reach his students, or the doctor . the engineer . the
shopkeeper.
"We've seen how the Ministry of Oil has fallen into the trap
of the odd-even system, and today the whole government has
fallen into the same trap again and I'm afraid that our
government might be considering allocating our `wonderful'
days according to gender . a day for men, and another for
women, and our restaurants . a day for chicken, and another
for rice, a day for ice cream, and another for fruit juice .
Perhaps government organizations will also have their
workdays divided into days for men and others for women.
I've seen some singers refuse to be likened to others, and I
believe our government follows the same trend and refuses to
be likened to other governments in the world."
B. "A Brave Jordanian Step"
(Editorial by Ali Al-Shalah - Al-Jeeran - www.aljeran.net)
"It seems the historic step taken by King Abdullah of Jordan
to send his Prime Minister Adnan Al-Badran to Baghdad has
marked a turning point in Iraqi-Arab relations at a time
when Iraqi calls for help left us wondering why the Arabs
have forsaken their Iraqi brethren who have always been a
cornerstone of Arab and Islamic civilization.
"Arab brothers justified this absence by citing the
occupation, saying they didn't wish to support it. Iraqis
themselves never asked for support for the occupation, but
it is absolutely unacceptable for Arabs to behave as if
every Iraqi were working for the occupation, besides, it's
not like Arabs themselves prepared to liberate Iraq from the
regime of mass graves and chemical weapons and were
prevented from assisting by Iraqis; or that the U.S. based
its invasion of Iraq on Iraqi opinion and support.
"The joy that prevailed after toppling Saddam's occupation
wasn't in support of the U.S. occupation, and Iraqis have
their own agenda to rid the country of occupation after the
defeat of terrorism. As Iraqis stand in the face of
terrorism they are actually standing up for every house,
man, woman, and child in the Arab homeland, and Arabs when
witnessing the Iraqi army and police, should remember that
their sacrifices will prevent a Zarqawi or his likeness from
reaching their homeland.
"Resisting occupation - my dear Arab brothers- is through
taking actions that would speed its departure, not provide
it with additional excuses to maintain its presence through
turning Iraq into a blood bath. Life goes on in Iraq and
every crime committed and every day that passes is a day
that Iraq is closer to salvation. At the end of the day that
salvation will be for all neighboring and friendly nations.
"The arrival of Arab delegations in Baghdad is a strong
message that should continue at the highest levels to
complement the already wonderful efforts presented by the
Emirates, Kuwaitis, Bahrainis, and others. Baghdad needs to
see Arab ambassadors acquitting Arab brothers from crimes
committed against Iraqis and mending deep wounds, because we
all believe that nothing can weaken historical and
geographical bonds. God save Iraqis and Arabs from all harm
and occupation, and a welcome to Ambassador Al-Badran in
Baghdad."
C. "Government for God's Sake? The Death Penalty and Not
Life Sentences for Terrorists"
(Editorial by Sarmed Aqrawi, Al-Nahrain, The Two Rivers,
http://www.nahrain.com/d/news/05/09/11/nhr091 1f.html)
"In the United States of America (which statistically is the
country with the highest crime rate in the world due to the
availability and legal mechanisms for gun ownership) there
are more than three millions prisoners. The death penalty
isn't carried out through hanging or shootings but through
lethal injections or the electric chair because those two
methods are more humane than others.
"The average annual cost of each prisoner (with three meals
a day and medical care) is $50,000. Gangs inside American
prisons are many and the most dangerous gangs are the
religious ones. Muslim detainees constitute the norm in
American prisons and they are susceptible to influence from
extremists who may try to recruit them when they're released
from prison. The most important thing in Middle East
prisons, in general, is the executions--if criminals repent
they may become like Al-Zarqawi, from a thief to a
politician, to a defender of the faith (Mujahid).
"A Salafi sheikh appeared on a Saudi satellite channel and
narrated the following story: `Listen carefully O government
and National Assembly. A Saudi extremist was jailed for his
actions and I as a sheikh visited him in prison, I used to
see him often as he drew tanks and bombs on the walls of his
cell. After he served his sentence he left the prison and I
met him in a mosques and I asked him, `are you still
following the philosophy of Jihad, war and killing?' He
answered, `No' and said, `Sheikh that was from a reckless
youth.' After two weeks I heard his name announced on T.V.
he was involved in killing an officer or group of policemen
in a Saudi city. There is nothing useful you can do with
those except execute them, you hear, execute them. Listen
elected Iraqi government, listen.'
"O life sentence government, your decision will fill Iraq's
prisons with hundreds or perhaps thousands of Afghan Arabs.
Thousands of new extremists will emerge and you are not up
to it, Americans are not up to it either.
"So if you are Egyptian, Afghan, Syrian or Tunisian or
others who are starving then I would announce Jihad against
the U.S.A, travel to Iraq to support my ideological brothers
only to be caught by the Iraqi justice and be put in prison
for a period of time with a free residency, three meals,
medical insurance, access to sports, T.V (to watch the
infidel's satellite channels that support Jihad-all so that
I would not forget Jihad when I leave prison),Qur'anic
recitation lessons, and then perhaps an Iraqi Mujahida
(female Mujahid) will fall in love with me and my children
will become Iraqis according to the new constitution? This
is a great blessing of Jihad! I come to Iraq to kill Iraqis,
set fire and destroy Iraq's wealth, Iraqis honor me with
free residency, food and medical insurance only to get
married to an Iraqi to let my children enjoy Iraq's fortunes
which I come to waste.
"Wake up government; wake up people for there isn't but
death sentence for those bastards."
SATTERFIELD