MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION, TAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003823

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, TAL
AFAR; BAGHDAD

SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution and Terrorism were
the major editorial themes of the daily newspapers on
September 15, 2005. END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "A Country of Crises" (Az-Zaman, 9/15)

B. "Kadhimya and Sho'la Neighborhoods and the Tamim Tribe"
(Al-Adala, 9/15)

C. "The Irrational Media Coverage of Othman Al-Obeidi" (Al-
Mashriq, 9/15)

D. "Untitled" (Dar Al-Salam, 9/15)

E. "Foreign Company Closes BIAP.Why?" (Baghdad, 9/15)

SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "A Country of Crises"
(Az-Zaman, independent, lately anti coalition, published
this page-eight editorial by Rahman Meshawi)

"Iraqi citizens are extremely lucky in what political
leaders (during interviews) like to call `The New Iraq.'
After being blessed by God with patience and the ability to
endure all sorts of weather conditions and impossible crisis
that require the government's sedative explanations of
difficulties caused by `former regime elements:' power
crises, fuel crises, water crises, crises with corruption,
an unemployment crisis, and traffic crises, in addition to
other escalating crises that have taken root under the era
of the former regime. Those would include: the security
crisis, sewage crises, and a crisis with food rationing
items.

"But the main problem isn't these crises themselves or the
fact that, according to some political geniuses, they'll
need 5 - 10 years to be solved, but it is the fear of those
holding positions of power to maintain the courage to resign
when that becomes an item of last resort-as we usually see
happen in democratic countries after incidents causing
losses of life or economic devastation.

"So this crisis will determine whether we head towards
democracy or tyranny. Thank God that all governments that
have assumed power since the toppling of the former regime
until the coming elections are following the White House's
map, and only God knows what could happen if the elected
government strengthens its grip on power. Some crises might
end while others might be created, but again, we always have
the `former regime' to blame."


B. "Kadhimya and Sho'la Neighborhoods and the Tamim Tribe"
(Al-Adala, no bias, affiliated with SCIRI led by Abdul Aziz
Al-Hakim, published this page-three editorial by Dr. Ali
Khalif)

"Terrorists committed a horrible crime in the crowded Al-
Uroba quarter of the Kadhimya neighborhood-a place where day
laborers mass to eek out their daily existence. All Iraqis
know that this is a place where impoverished families live
and the terrorists and zealots have multiplied their crimes
by targeting the innocent of the Sho'la and Al-Adil
neighborhoods as well. In addition, they executed 17
innocent Iraqis from the [Shi'a] Tamim tribe and did so in a
public square in the Al-Taji quarter [a Sunni district].

"Many other crimes were perpetrated by terrorists and
zealots yesterday resulting in 150 martyrs and many others
injured. My question is: what will the people who joined the
terrorists and used guns instead of participating in the
political process say to the world?
And what will those who condemned the government's military
operations against terrorism say to the world?

"The events of yesterday show that there are many terrorists
in Baghdad, but the bigger problem that Iraqis face is the
incubators, and those who incite terrorism. So why doesn't
the government question those who condemn its actions
against terrorists? As a matter of fact, the government
should arrest those who release statements inciting
terrorism and be firm with those playing games to legitimize
terrorism; by disrupting their environment the government
could lessen their appeal.
"So, after all of the sacrifices that our people made and
still make, should we accept demands to strike
debathification from the constitution and heed the calls for
postponing reconciliation? And after all the irresponsible
statements by those with no regard for Iraqi life, should we
listen to their appeals to dissolve the National Assembly?

"We are faced with a severe war waged by honest Iraqis on
one side and on the other it is terrorists, zealots, former
regime elements and the privileged who seek to reclaim their
glory. Some of them enjoy shedding the blood of others while
others simply reject federalism.

"Many of those people who were killed in Kadhimya yesterday
came from southern governorates (especially Kut) to Baghdad
for work because there are no jobs in their provinces. Those
who reject federalism intend on making the people of the
south servants and humiliating them as Saddam and his
followers did-they keep holding grudges.
We see on television that some of those who believe in
sectarianism and regard themselves as educated are trying to
find justification for killing the poor. Though terrorists
may try they will not be able to terminate Iraqis-their
predecessors tried in the past and failed to eliminate the
Shi'a and today they will fail again because the Shi'a are
committed to their principles."


C. "The Irrational Media Coverage of Othman Al-Obeidi"
(Al-Mashriq, independent, no bias published this page-four
editorial by Amr Al-Mijar)

"A colleague of mine has previously addressed this subject
which I believe is a very important one to write about and
should be taken into consideration by all media whose
coverage of this story was far from reality. What we're
talking about here is the `simple' or emotional treatment of
the young Iraqi man who saved many Iraqis from drowning
during the A'emma bridge incident, the martyr Othman Al-
Obeidi.

"Many media organizations went on to say that Al-Obeidi `set
an example for national unity' and `cemented brotherhood'
among Iraqis; that could be said about two hostile countries
with deep differences separating them. In addition there
were statements about how such noble courage contributed to
restoring a sense of fraternity that has been lost due to
continuous rivalry. So does this apply to Iraqis?!

"There's no doubt that the conditions Iraq is enduring make
it necessary to invest in any honorable example to further
strengthen bonds between Iraqis, but to portray this example
as a unique one, never before presented, is a true media
catastrophe.
And here, I would like to pose the question, did the Iraqis
who went to defend Palestine in 1948 ask each other what
religion or sect they belonged to and did they consider that
when their blood mixed on the battlefield and they carried
the wounded among them?
Did Iraqi cities segregate people of different backgrounds
by barricades that were only removed on April 9, 2003? The
actions of the heroic martyr Othman Al-Obeidi are actions of
an Iraqi and need no sectarian or political spin."


D. "Untitled"
(The weekly Dar Al-Salam, affiliated with the Iraqi Islamic
Party, published this front-page unattributed editorial
about the constitution)

"It's very important for general opinion in Iraq and abroad
to understand that our reasons for objecting to some items
in the draft constitution have nothing to do with sectarian,
political, or circumstantial considerations as alleged by
some, but is based on Islamic and patriotic considerations
intended to support the interests of Iraqi people.

"These considerations have always formed the basis for any
approval or rejection, and we have always reflected an
Islamic national platform, not a sectarian one, and if some
see our position as a reflection of the Sunni position,
that's fine because Sunnis in Iraq are like other patriotic
groups eager to preserve the unity of Iraqis and the social
bonds of their society, which in the end, is an Islamic
policy not restricted to Sunnis only.
We're glad to find influential groups and segments in Iraqi
society taking the same stance which confirms the
righteousness of our perspective and underscores the fact
that different Iraqi groups sense the same danger and
formulated their reaction on the same Islamic and national
basis."


E. "Foreign Company Closes BIAP.Why?"
(Baghdad newspaper, affiliated with pro-coalition Wifaq
party, published this page-six editorial by Adil Al-Ardawi)
"Are you familiar with the bitterness, anxiety, and stress
felt by a traveler who has packed his bags and reached
Baghdad International Airport after taking that most
dangerous route with death staring one down, to finally hear
upon reaching the terminal that his flight has been
canceled.

"It's not very easy to hear the staff announce the
cancellation of the flight especially when it's for no
logical reason which is exactly what happened a few days ago
when the British-based Global closed BIAP claiming the
Ministry of Transportation hadn't paid the company for the
last two months leading to a suspension of flights on Sep. 8
and 9. The problem was finally solved after intervention
from the Ministry of Transportation and exhausting
negotiations with the British company which is only one of
many companies we have to tolerate.

"We would like to ask the Ministry of Transportation and the
Civil Aviation Department about the former staff that used
to run these operations before April 9, 2003 when Baghdad
International Airport was crowded with travelers. What has
happened to the experienced and qualified staff that used to
operate our airports in Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul? And why
don't we make use of their services so they can be employed
in this sector and actually work for their salaries?"

SATTERFIELD