DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - October 3, 2005

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 004088

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 - October 3, 2005

SUMMARY: Discussion of the occasion of Ramadan, Saudi
interference, government incompetence, and the constitution
were the major editorial themes of Iraqi, Arabic language
websites on October 3, 2005. END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "Ramadan Doesn't Revive the Dead, But It's an Occasion
for Solace" (Iraq 4 All News, 10/3)

B. "Your Highness, Saud Al-Faisal, It's Enough!" (Sawt Al-
Iraq, 10/3)

C. "Our Government Is Busy .Please Do Not Disturb" (Watan 4
All, 10/3)

D. "Why `No' to the Constitution?" (Al-Jeeran, 10/3)

SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "Ramadan Doesn't Revive the Dead, But It's an Occasion
for Solace"
(Editorial by Fatih Abdul Salam - Iraq 4 All News -
http://iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=10169 )

"Despite traditional differences over [when to] announce the
start of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims of different
sects have agreed upon the significance of the month. It
represents a graceful occasion, but its spiritual generosity
has not been used appropriately by Iraqi politicians, whose
only concern is to announce the Ministry of Interior's
decision to prevent eating in public.

"Ramadan does not change political positions or beliefs, but
this religious occasion should encourage politicians of
different backgrounds to meet and agree over political
basics. These foundations have been lost in the widening gap
of power struggles and the lost definitions of concepts such
as terrorism, treason, infidelity, resistance, suppression,
and democracy.

"Any monitoring of daily political life in Iraq will show
that the broad perspective of two years ago has been reduced
to nothing more than narrow angles and tunnels. This view
indicates a political stagnancy that should be resolved
through true cooperation among all parties. No quick
solution can be reached through political activities such as
a constitutional referendum or parliamentarian elections. If
there is no intention to walk this road, then I believe that
solos will dominate our political concerts [that unilateral
action will decide political outcomes].

"Policy should not be monopolized by major parties and
alliances, especially in a naked political process that has
nothing aside from U.S. support-an incredible support that
insists that the dead are alive and the living are dead,
until proven otherwise."


B. "Your Highness, Saud Al-Faisal, It's Enough!"
(Editorial by Tarmed Aqrawi - Sawt Al-Iraq - Voice of Iraq -
http://www.sotaliraq.com/articles-iraq/nieuws .php?id=16652 )

"You speak of the Iraqi constitution as if Saudi Arabia has
one! You have forgotten, maybe deliberately, that Saudi
Arabia does not.not.not have a constitution and that the
kingdom is ruled by a tribal, dictatorship-like, sectarian
governing system that is apparently religious. In reality,
princes and rulers eagerly indulge in a life of alcohol,
gambling, and prostitutes.

"Your highness, an Arabic proverb says, `He who lacks
something cannot give it.' Iraqis know only too well that
Saudi Arabia lacks a constitution; so before wasting your
breath and advising Iraqis, why don't you start with
yourself and your royal family and explain to them the
meaning of a constitution.

"Your highness, why don't you use your constitutional
drafting experience to draft a Saudi constitution that would
guarantee a decent life for Saudis instead of interfering in
the lives of Iraqis? Don't your countrymen deserve this
favor more than anyone else? Your highness, another Arabic
proverb says, `A sick doctor shouldn't be treating people!'
You speak of sectarianism in Iraq, well please allow me to
ask you about who fueled sectarianism in Islam? Wasn't it
the extremists supported by your kingdom with men and money?

"Your highness, I would like to tell you something: if you
wish to secure the region, you should grant Saudi Shiites
their rights. We have a Sunni Endowment Council in Iraq. Do
you have one for Shiites in Saudi Arabia?"

C. "Our Government Is Busy .Please Do Not Disturb"
(Editorial by Abdul Salam Salih - Watan 4 All -
http://wattan4all.com/viewarticle.php?id=5263 &pg=articles )

"Iraq's current conflict of authority between the prime
minister and the president of the republic descended to
chaos at the headquarters of Al Sabah newspaper, the
mouthpiece of the supposed government. It reflects the
differences among current Iraqi government leaders,
contributing to negative effects on Iraqi people who
continue to suffer from a lack of security and necessary
services.

"Such difference among government figures will have negative
effects on the whole electoral process, starting with the
constitutional referendum and continuing to the major
election that everybody is struggling to win. This chaos and
conflict, centering on authority and positions and how to
occupy them, will bring destruction to Iraq, which is
already suffering from failures and disastrous consequences.

"The fact that employees of the Iraqi embassy in Damascus
helped organize a demonstration in support of the tyrant
[Saddam Hussein] and his ousted regime shows scorn for Iraqi
peoples' feelings, as well as for the current government.
The major problem is that despite our government's advice
and appeals, no one [in the government] is listening. Is it
because our brothers are busy with more important things
.distribution of posts? Certainly they are not busy with the
distribution of ration cards items, for which Iraqis were
begging from the state.

"Such poor conditions and political disagreements will lead
the country and its people to hell. Talking about
accusations and counter-accusations over the disappearance
of billions is endless, while so many of Iraq's people are
living under the poverty line. The parties' [in]competence
surface when disasters take place. All run to denounce and
condemn these terrorist acts, as if mismanagement and poor
choices were not the main reasons for these disastrous
failures."


D. "Why `No' to the Constitution?"
(Editorial by Ziyad Cobrolo - Al-Jeeran - "Neighbors" -
http://www.aljeeran.net/articles.php )

"It is known that the Iraqi National Assembly evaded an
important responsibility by starting discussions on the
draft constitution behind closed doors and with limited
numbers of people participating for one or two days. The
National Assembly was supposed to immediately distribute
copies of this draft to the Iraqi people. Instead, they sent
it to the U.N., as if there is plenty of time for this. We
still do not know the reason for this act-why they sent this
copy request for a twenty-page document!

"Yes, we can see in this draft a lot of words and names we
had not seen before. But when you scrutinize the draft
constitution, you will not find anything you could call
truth except for the ink and the paper on which the
constitution was written. Everything is illusory. This is
why we urge you to vote against the constitution:

"1). It indicates ethnic, religious, and ideological
affiliation and ignores Iraqi citizenship.

"2). Ambiguity surrounds this constitution; most of its
articles are linked to laws that will be legislated by
the Parliament's future majority. Constitutions and their
articles should be clear, not ambiguous.

"3). It instigates discrimination against ethnicities.

"4). While the last article of the Transitional
Administrative Law [TAL] indicates that it will be null
upon adoption of the new constitution, the draft excludes
item A of Article 53 of the TAL but does not exclude item

C. In the same way, article 58 is excluded. In other
words, it allows for random migration until 2007.

"5). The peoples' will regarding Kirkuk's future is
postponed until after a census and referendum, which will
be held after this date.

"6). The draft, due to pressure from the United States of
America, will be submitted immediately to a popular
referendum, without giving it the chance to be discussed
freely and seriously-even by the MPs, whom the people
voted into Parliament to represent them.

"7). The complicated rule system in the draft is
unprecedented; implementing it will lead the country to
division in short time.
"For all these reasons, every citizen who loves his country
should go to polling centers and vote against this draft.
Iraqi people should say `my will is above everything.'
Otherwise, this beloved country, with all its fortunes, will
fall to others. You, dear citizen, you will continue to be
humiliated on you own land. the choice is in your hand."

SATTERFIELD