DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - November 29, 2005

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004780 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 - November 29, 2005 SUMMARY: Discussions of establishing a new, effective government and the importance of Saddam Hussein's trial are the major editorial themes of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on November 29, 2005. END SUMMARY. -------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS -------------- ¶A. "Closing the Gap" (Iraq 4 All News, 11/29) ¶B. "Trying Saddam . Trying History ." (Kitabat, 11/29) -------------- SELECTED COMMENTARIES -------------- ¶A. "Closing the Gap" (Editorial by Fatih Abdul Salam - Iraq 4 All News - http://www.iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=11000 - Independent, based in Denmark) "Talk has circulated in Iraqi political gatherings about a technocratic government that would include academic and scientific experts.We have witnessed that ministerial positions were given to those who carried high scientific certificates-in order to end any discussion about an absence of educated people in the ministries. But giving the `ministerial post' to someone does not mean that technocrats can run the state; in other words, it does not mean that his scientific experience will match his ministry. Many framed certificates moved suspiciously from foreign universities to walls in bedrooms or guestrooms without their bearers understanding what is going on in reality. "Maybe people who own those kinds of certificates are the main hindrance in their ministries. Even if we suppose the minister is well-trained scientifically, where could he lead his ministry if its structure is dictated by parties that lack qualifications? "Have we forgotten that Saddam's government included at least nine people who had received higher education? .Let's hope that civil society organizations and the media educate people about the fact that a technocratic government cannot [necessarily] save the country from its problems." ¶B. "Trying Saddam . Trying History ." (Editorial by Emad Risen - Kitabat - "Writings" - http://www.kitabat.com/i10529.htm - Independent, based in Germany) "The tyrant's trial is on, and faces of his regime's victims are smiling; mothers of martyrs are smiling as they face television screens that show this historic trial, awaited by all free and honorable human beings. If Saddam was part of our painful history, we should review this entire history. And if Saddam committed mistakes, we should seek the causes of these mistakes. The important question remains: have we Iraqis reviewed ourselves and our past? Or do we want to overlook this past and just occupy ourselves with claims of triumph and end the story.the story of bloodshed, hunger, suppression, and pain? "Iraqis should try themselves before trying the tyrant who ruled Iraq with steel and fire. This was a tyrant that did not appear from oblivion to seize power. Saddam ruled Iraq with a culture of death, suppression, and discrimination in all respects-mentally, socially, politically, and even economically. This culture still stands today, and it generated many dictatorships and wars for a long time. "We should review our past, our culture, and even our sacred beliefs and way of life. In brief, we should change the way we see life and begin reconciling with ourselves, promoting love instead of hate, inclusion instead of exclusion. "Our Islamic heritage provides us with an opportunity to overcome many of the crises facing us today with a loving spirit. We should include others in our lives and allow criticism to direct our path towards the right choice. This is the only way we can avenge the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for their country. [We] should review everything, starting with the culture that produced dictatorship to our most sacred beliefs. It is the beginning of the path the will lead us to a peaceful way of life far from sites of execution, where our hopes and words were hanged to death." KHALILZAD