IRAQ MEDIA SUMMARY NOVEMBER 19-26, CAIRO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 004782 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.0. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PGOV IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ MEDIA SUMMARY NOVEMBER 19-26, CAIRO STIMULATES NATIONAL DIALOG, GOVERNMENT READY FOR DIALOG WITH RESISTANCE; TALABANI FIRST IRAQI PRESIDENT IN TEHRAN IN THREE DECADES ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Comment. This week the Iraqi press zeroed in on the Cairo Conference and spinoff topics. The Cairo Conference in fact prompted Iraq's first real public debate about resistance and terrorism, the coalition presence, and de- Ba'athification. Cairo seems also to have stimulated a more productive dialog among the government and opposition, as the Sunni hardline Association of Muslim Scholars said it would accept UN peacekeepers and Iraq's President proposed dialog with the armed resistance. ¶2. The role of Iraq's neighbors in securing its borders was a theme that media played out along ethnic/sectarian lines. Sunni sympathists downplayed criticisms of Syria that ran in the Shia (and Kurdistan Democratic Party) press. Sunni press also gave more comprehensive coverage to the first visit to Tehran by an Iraqi President in 30 years, a visit largely glossed over by a Shia/Kurdish government that likely wants to downplay ties to Iran. No pro-government press carried Iranian accusations that Washington was creating instability in Iraq. ¶3. Reflecting the Cairo communique and perhaps debate in the U.S., Iraqi media devoted great attention to the coalition presence. Pro-government channels reassured viewers of continued coalition support and praised a more capable Iraqi force. Sunni/opposition outlets took a more negative view and also kept a spotlight on detainee abuse. Finally, editors, websites, and cartoonists lampooned Iraq's leadership, reflecting popular discontent with the government. End Summary and Comment. Iraqis Build Up, Coalition Draws Down -------------- ¶3. (U) This week Iraq-based media speculated widely about possible coalition force drawdowns and growing Iraqi force capabilities. Al-Zaman on November 23 noted, "Khalilzad hinted at the possibility of a partial withdrawal of U.S. forces next year but ruled out early full withdrawal before Iraqi security forces can assume full responsibility." Al-Sharqiya the same day quoted a Fox News report: "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that conditions for reducing the number of US troops deployed in Iraq could be in place fairly soon." ¶4. (U) Media outlets played up increased capacity of Iraqi forces as a way to Iraqi Defense Forces taking control of bases: "U.S. forces handed over a presidential complex in Tikrit to Iraqi forces in a ceremony attended by U.S. ambassador and the U.S. Commander in Iraq." Publicly-financed television al- Iraqiya focused on the possibilities of troop withdrawals, but stressed continued coalition support: "Italy intends to pull out of Iraq by January 2006, but the gradual withdrawal does not mean abandonment." Several outlets, including Ahmad Chalabi's al-Mutamar, touted equipment upgrades for the Army: "Iraqi Army Receives 77 Tanks, 34 Armored Vehicles from NATO." ¶5. (U) Factual, graphic coverage of daily attacks continued, with the larger incidents leading the news most nights. On November 19, al-Sharqiya reported "two bombers have blown themselves up among worshippers at two Shia mosques in Khanaqin martyring 75 people and wounding more than 85." On November 23, al-Sharqiya reported that a car bomb killed at least 12 people and wounded 28 in an attack in Kirkuk. TV, print, and radio (both political and independent outlets) reported at least a dozen other attacks, with casualties among Iraqi forces, civilians, and the coalition. ¶6. (U) Al-Iraqiya TV carried more upbeat news, including a November 22 press conference by MOD BG Abdulaziz Mohammed Jasim, who reported "Operation Steel Curtain ended and all Iraqi cities in the west are now safe. . . Joint forces from both MNF-I and the Iraqi military lost 10 soldiers while 57 were wounded. 136 terrorists were killed, one wounded, 256 detained, 47 weapons caches seized and 123 IEDs destroyed." Increasingly, the media is showing Iraqi officials taking the lead to "manage" their own stories. Iran, Syria Focus Varies -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Leaders zeroed in on the role Syria and Iran play in Iraq's security. Iraq's President Talabani distanced himself from criticism being leveled at Syria by his colleagues, National Security Advisor Rubai'e and Foreign Minister Zebari. (To wit: "National Security Advisor Mowafaq Al Rubai'e demands Syria stop terrorist flow to Iraq," Radio Republic of Iraq; "Foreign Minister Zebari: Syria is the main channel for suicide bombers," al-Jazeera; Talabani: "Iraqi officials made a mistake by attacking Syria," al-Sharqiya). ¶8. (SBU) Meanwhile, Talabani gained the spotlight this week as the first Iraqi president to visit in over 30 years. Kurdish news outlets played down the visit (which may not be popular among Iran's Kurdish population); thus the low-key coverage, "Talabani met grand Ayatollah Ali Khamen'i and reviewed the political process and the security situation in Iraq," in the PUK paper al-Ittihad. Sunni and Shia outlets on the other hand highlighted economic cooperation and Iran's pledges to play a positive role on security ("Talabani expressed confidence will assist in combating terrorism. The Iranian president denied accusations that his regime is using Iraq to launch indirect war against and London," was the line taken by Sunni-leaning al-Mashriq. All Iraqi outlets shied away from reporting Khamenei's statements -- carried by Iran's al-Alam and al-Jazeera -- that the U.S. was the most destabilizing force in Iraq. ("Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamen'i urged Iraqis to ask for a US withdrawal timetable, stressing that the US is responsible for Iraq's suffering," al-Jazeera.) Cairo Conference -------------- ¶8. (U) All media covered the Cairo conference in detail. Analysis on November 22 varied, but most outlets reported discussants had agreed to establish a timetable for coalition withdrawal and agreed on a definition of resistance: Al-Sharq al-Awsat: "Cairo Conference Participants Agree To Draft A Withdrawal Schedule And To Refuse Terrorism. The Iraqi Accord Conference final statement includes . . . a definition of terrorism and a drew distinction between terrorism and 'resistance.' It agreed that resistance is a right for all people." Most papers highlighted U.S. embassy comments on the statement: "U.S. Embassy Objects to Resistance Item in Communiqu," (al-Zaman) and quoted unnamed sources saying "any statement legitimizing killing any coalition member is unacceptable." ¶9. (U) Al-Mashriq reported that the Cairo communique demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces and confirmed that "resistance" is a legal right of the people, but also noted that participants agreed terrorism does not constitute 'legal resistance.'" Radio Free Iraq reported that "delegates also agreed on the need to release "all prisoners not convicted by a court" and to investigate all "allegations of torture and bring those responsible to justice." The KDP party paper noted Kurdish "reservations about some clauses: "at first there was no mention of the existence of a federal democratic system; another reservation concerned a special clause on resistance," most other reporting was neutral or positive. ¶10. (SBU) The Iraqi media tested its limits with speculations about disagreements and walkouts in Cairo, but remained diplomatic in tone. On November 21, Al-Arabiya TV remarked on Prime Minister Ja'feri's decision to leave early: "I will keep my aide to represent my bloc; the government only intended to attend the opening session." Al-Iraqiya TV noted reports of Ja'afari's departure in protest were false. There was colorful commentary in anti- coalition al-Furat that demonstrated the sectarian nature of political faultines: "Shia and Kurdish delegates stormed out of the conference. The SUBJECT: IRAQ MEDIA SUMMARt@67H|EADY FOR DIALOG WITH RESISTANCE; TALABANI FIRST IRAQI PRESIDENT IN TEHRAN IN THREE DECADES group returned . . . after Christian Ibrahim Menas al-Youssefi apologized for comments. . . which a Sunni delegate said were struck from the record. Youssefi had accused delegates of being US stooges saying the entire Iraqi political process was illegitimate. Storming out of the meeting, Shia legislator Jawad al-Maliki said such comments insulted all Iraqis who voted for the constitution." ¶11. (U) Editorials were mixed: in opposition newspaper Al-Furat, Daoud Al-Farhan wrote: " . . .there is a general consensus that the final statement represents harmony among participants. I think that this is a success, however, Iraqis do not care . . . [they] want immediate solutions to stop bloodshed, insecurity, assassinations, arrests, executions, night raids and the lack of services. The final statement . . . should have strongly recognized the Iraqi resistance." In contrast, pro- government, PUK paper al-Ittihad ran a column by Abdul Hadi Mahdi: "The meeting at such a difficult time in Iraq represents a positive step. It is very important to put an end to violence. . . The Cairo Conference conveys a message that it is impossible to move backwards." Sunni Rejectionists Consider UN Peacekeeping Force, Government Reaches out to Resistance -------------- ¶12. (U) Pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat continues to take the lead among dailies covering Iraq for the intellectual elite. Politicians increasingly use it and al-Arabiya to debut their views regionally. Thus, on November 22, the paper ran an interview with hardline Sunni oppositionist Shaykh Harith al- Dari, chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS),in which the normally bombastic Shaykh showed an openness to UN peacekeepers: "If there is a UN schedule for the departure of occupation forces, then there would be no harm if some UN peacekeeping forces entered Iraq." ¶13. (SBU) While Sunni hardliners changed their tune slightly, the government pried public debate wide by opening the door to dialog with the resistance. Al-Bayyna Al-Jadeeda ran a Reuters report November 21 noting with President Talabani's remarks in Cairo: "If those who call themselves Iraqi resistance wish to contact me, I'd welcome them. I will not refuse to meet any Iraqi, even if I don't agree with their statements." Al-Dustoor also reported this week "Iraq's VP "Abdul Mahdi Announces Government Readiness to Facilitate the Process for Anyone Who Wants to Put Down Their Weapons." The AMS on November 20 welcomed Talabani's gesture, according to reports carried on al-Iraqiya, al-Arabiya, and al-Jazeera. Detainees -------------- ¶14. (U) Media continued to highlight apparent abuse by Ministry of Interior officials at the Jadriya detention center. Al-Adalah (associated with ruling Shia coalition) criticized "exaggerations of abuse." But other media, including government-funded al-Iraqiya, (usually pro- government) showed some public skepticism remains: "Iraqis in Baghdad protested the mistreatment of detainees. They demanded . . . the removal of ministers of defense and interior." Meanwhile, al- Sabah noted that the Deputy Minister of Interior promised "Investigation into Jadriya Bunker to Conclude in Two Weeks." Al-Ittijah al-Akhar, an opposition paper, devoted a full page to reported human rights violations by "the Interior Ministry and Badr militants." Good Government -------------- ¶15. (SBU) Editorialists, websites and cartoonists focused on corruption and weak leadership, often targeting the Ja'aferi government. German-based independent website "kitabat.com" on November 21 observed "much criticism has been directed at the current government's performance just as political entities have launched campaigns. . . . Some politicians might believe that harshly criticizing the government or the political system will help them, but they are wrong. Iraqis want transparency and national programs that contribute to the prosperity of the new Iraq, provide employment based on patriotism, competence, and loyalty, and favor public over personal interests." KHALILZAD