MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 004409

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: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION,
REFERENDUM, NATIONAL RECONCILATION, AMR MUSA, INSURGENCY;

BAGHDAD

SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution, Referendum,
National Reconciliation, Amr Musa, and the Insurgency were
the major editorial themes of the daily newspapers on
October 26, 2005. END SUMMARY.

--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------


A. "Following the Approval of the Constitution" (Al-Mada,
10/26)

B. "A Wave of Violence Following a Relative Lull" (Al-
Ittihad, 10/26)

C. "The Lock and the Key" (Al-Fourat, 10/26)

D. "Congratulations to All for the Permanent Constitution"
(Al-Bayyan, 10/26)

E. "Curtail Your Happiness and Be Patient about Your
Suffering" (Al-Mashriq, 10/26)

--------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
--------------


A. "Following the Approval of the Constitution"
(Al-Mada, independent, no-bias, published this front-page
unattributed editorial)

"Finally, the majority of people approved the first Iraqi
constitution presented to a public referendum for the first
time in the history of Iraq. Excluding the talk about the
good and the bad in this constitution, the most important
thing now is how to deal with the period following the
constitution's approval.

"The latest amendment provided a chance to make some changes
to the approved constitution, which is an opportunity for
everybody to prepare for the December election-to win a seat
in the new representative council in order to become more
politically active and contribute to amendments by certain
factions.

"It was impossible to draft a constitution that satisfies
all Iraqi interest groups. This caused reservations among
certain groups who objected to specific articles they felt
opposed their beliefs. Certainly, as is the case throughout
the world, the constitution will endure a process of
revision that satisfies present concerns. The most important
thing in the referendum process is people's beliefs in
expressing their opinion through ballot boxes. This process
is furthering our democratic education and lessening the
influence of political parties.

"Therefore, all political parties (within the government and
the opposition) should respect the people's democracy and
invest in it to establish the kind of democracy everyone can
be proud of."


B. "A Wave of Violence Following a Relative Lull"
(Al-Ittihad, affiliated with the PUK led by Jalal Talabani,
published this page-three editorial by Abdul Hadi Mahdi)

"There has been a relative lull since referendum day and the
Secretary General of the Arab League's visit but this quiet

SIPDIS
is deliberate and not the first time that silence is
followed by violence.

"On the evening of October 24, explosions occurred in the
capital Baghdad and put the security forces in front of
questions about how such violations are allowed to occur.
What happened in Al-Firdus Square does not correlate with
announced statements about the development of abilities and
control of our security forces.

"Alertness and preparedness must always be the slogan for
the security forces. The glory of victory should not lead to
unexpected disaster. A few days of calm in a month does not
mean that attackers have given up and quit. On the contrary,
attention should be focused during these periods because
enemies are waiting for inattention to seize the initiative
in order to attack and cause more victims.

"According to observers, the attack is a message from gunmen
that they dismiss the Arab League's initiative to hold a
conference on national reconciliation. Observers predict
such reconciliation will enhance security and save the
country from violence. We want the police and army to be
more responsible during this stage--for the sake of Iraq and
Iraqis."


C. "The Lock and the Key"
(Al-Fourat, independent, anti-coalition published this back-
page editorial by Dawoud Al-Farhan)

"The Arab media has unanimously agreed that Amr Musa,
Secretary General of the Arab League, is a `political

SIPDIS
magician.' In a precise mission he gathered together
disparate Iraqi political and national elements which,
hitherto, refused to acknowledge his initiative. I would
like to remind my readers of some of the comments
characterizing Amr Musa. The Saudi writer Abdul Rahman Al-
Rashid wrote, `A magical personality capable of managing
difficult and contradictory assignments and succeeding in
resolving them all. If he visits Iraqi more often he will
accomplish great achievements-more than any Arab summit can
achieve.'

"The Lebanese journalist, Abdul Wahab Badrkhan, wrote,
`Without the strong American persuasion for the vital role
of the Arab League, Amr Musa would not be in Baghdad.this is
the beginning of more difficulties ahead because the enemies
of reconciliation are many.'

"An Egyptian writer praised Amr Musa for his braveness,
consistency and presence in Baghdad under such bad security
circumstance. He added that Musa deserves double
congratulations for his successful start in persuading some
Iraqi national elements who have certain doubts about the
Secretary General's impartiality.

SIPDIS

"This important achievement makes us optimistic about the
future of our Iraq, it means that all Iraqi political and
national elements (despite different ambitions and goals,
and in spite of a military occupation in Iraq) have common
hopes for Iraq. However, the Secretary General should be
aware that the Iraqi political platforms he encountered in
Baghdad, Najaf, Arbil, and Sulaymaniyah may change before
the preliminary meeting in Cairo. Iraqis now have a million
political leaders who think we should listen to and obey
them. We recognize that Amr Musa managed to sidestep the
difficulties in his mission, such as impossible conditions
requested by some religious factions and political
parties-he declared that all should draw a decisive line
between violence and reconciliation in Iraq.

"The conspiracy theories of a few Iraqi government officials
were dispelled when Musa met with the grand Ayatollah in
Najaf, Kurdish leaders in the North, the Muslim Scholars'
Association, the National Dialogue Council, Dr. Iyad Allawi
and other political and independent Iraqi figures. He
listened to all points of view but nevertheless, the Al-Sadr
group boycotted their meetings with him under the demand
that the League condemn violence in Iraq-but we are aware of
their opportunism in the political process.

"I am not defending the Arab League by saying that they
condemned violence against innocent Iraqis several times.
Indeed I have levied blame on the Arab League for their hazy
attitude opposing military operations in the provinces that
reject the occupation of Iraq. We praised Musa when he
refused to reside in the Green Zone, rejected a proposed
American security detail, and refused to land his plane in
an American military base.
The question is, since Musa visited Baghdad, Najaf, Arbil
and Sulaymaniyah, why didn't he visit Fallujah, Ramadi, and
Samara where he could find the key to unlock the problem."


D. "Congratulations to All for the Permanent Constitution"
(Al-Bayyan - affiliated with Ad-Dawa (led by Al-Ja'fari),no
bias, published this front-page unattributed editorial)

"Iraq has entered a new stage by ratifying the permanent
constitution in a fair and democratic manner, witnessed by
all. Iraqi citizens voted to express their opinions in all
governorates, some voted yes and others no. Regardless of
the outcome, the important thing is participation which
underscores a belief in the political process.
"Accordingly, the ratification was a successful
demonstration of the democratic process. It illustrated
Iraqi interest in the constitution, which preserves the
rights and freedom of all sects and ensures the peaceful
transfer of power through citizen involvement, the
decentralization of power, and an end to discrimination. The
day the constitution was ratified was a pleasant occasion
for Iraqis and will remain so for coming generations because
it represents a guarantee for the future.

"This accomplishment by the Iraqi people was a result of
continued and faithful efforts on behalf of the TNA,
political parties, the Iraqi government, and the marje'ia
[Shi'a religious authorities] who assured the broad
participation of all Iraqis regardless of their sects or
beliefs.

"So, we would like to congratulate our people for this basic
and blessed step, which raised the name of Iraq to the level
of civilized countries which have constitutions that
represent the wishes of the people. Congratulations to all
who participated regardless of their votes, because it was
important for the progress, prosperity and development of
Iraq."


E. "Curtail Your Happiness and Be Patient about Your
Suffering"
(Al-Mashriq- independent, anti-coalition, Sufi-leaning,
published this front-page editorial by Dr. Hamid Abdullah)

"There is no difference between Iraqis who voted for or
against the constitution, the important thing is that Iraqis
achieve victory toward violence. Iraqis must be victorious
against factions trying to weaken and divide them by killing
the smiles of their children, destroying schools, closing
factories, transforming streets into venues for battle, and
forcing citizens to hide in their houses to avoid security
cordons, robbery, beheadings and assassinations.

"We have lived through the whole stage of the political
process and concluded that our conditions have only
worsened. The Governing Council was formed and then worked
under the supervision of the decent guy (Paul Bremer) but as
soon as members received their shares from a divided Iraq
they began to disclose sensitive issues and criticized
Bremer who answered them quietly, explaining to them that he
gave them their shares of Iraq's oil revenues and funds
meant for the reconstruction of Iraq. Then he took his share
and left Iraq!

"Later the Iraqi Interim Government was formed but the
bloodshed proliferated and violence increased. Then the
elections were held and only some participated while others
boycotted-some political blocs won and others lost, but life
has deteriorated and Iraq has begun to regress. The elected
Transitional National Government was formed but Iraq's slide
backwards accelerated. Frankly, it looks to be a race--but
one run backwards.

"And now, the constitution has passed and those who voted
for it won while those who voted against it lost. The Iraqi
people have become more scared and anxious than even during
the period that preceded the referendum. So, should we be
pleased or pray to God to protect us from the success of the
constitution? Following the other successes, bad luck and
danger has befallen Iraqis more than if they had failed.

"Iraqis who were pleased with their success should check
their happiness. Iraqis who were disturbed by this success
should be more patient-things aren't stable and nothing can
continue forever. We pray to God to improve our conditions
according to what he wants-not what we want."

SATTERFIELD