MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 15th

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 005150 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, DECEMBER 15th ELECTION, TRANSPARENCY; BAGHDAD SUMMARY: The major themes in today's editorials were the political discussions and conflicts surrounding parliamentary elections, the formation of the next government, and the Kurdish initiative to bring together political groups. In its front-page editorial entitled "Dukan Resort and the Way to Reach a Solution," PUK affiliated Al-Ittihad discusses the Kurdish initiative to gather key political leaders to reach an agreement on forming the next government. The SCIRI-affiliated Al-Adala discusses Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim's visit to Kurdistan to meet Kurdish leaders in its third-page editorial entitled "Preserving Accomplishments"; the editorial emphasizes the importance of reaching national consensus to form the new government. The first-page editorial of quasi-independent As-Sabah spotlights the dearth of funding for public services in Baghdad. END SUMMARY. -------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS -------------- ¶A. "Beware of Slipping into the Abyss" (Al-Basaer, 12/28) ¶B. "Kurdish-American Relations" (At-Taakhi, 12/28) ¶C. "Can the Kurdistan that Dreams of Separating from Iraq Unite the Country?" (Al-Bayyna Al-Jadeedah, 12/28) ¶D. "Is It a Deal?" (Al-Fourat, 12/28) ¶E. "White Elections and Red Violations" (Al-Mashriq, 12/28) ¶F. "This Morning" (As-Sabah Al-Jadeed, 12/28) -------------- SELECTED COMMENTARIES -------------- ¶A. "Beware of Slipping into the Abyss" (Al-Basaer, affiliated with Association of Muslim Scholars, published a front-page unattributed editorial about the electoral process, violations, and demonstrations throughout the country. The editorial reads in part) "We were not surprised about the fraud in the elections because we have already said that any election held under the occupation would not be honest, and it would not solve Iraq's problems. There are demonstrations in many cities supporting the elections. At the same time, we saw rallies rejecting this election. The Americans bless both of these demonstrations. We warn the Iraqi people of slipping into the abyss because the occupier wants to establish sectarianism and racism in Iraq through the current political process." ¶B. "Kurdish-American Relations" (At-Taakhi, affiliated with the KDP, published a front-page editorial by editor in chief Dr. Badr Khan Al-Sindi about American relations with the Kurds. The editorial reads in part) "There have been many plots developed against the Kurds through their history. Recently, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad's statements during his press conference in Kurdistan concerning the Kurds and the Algeria Agreement made the Kurdish community happy. He regarded the agreement as a negative point in American-Kurdish relations. He also said that the U.S. supports the federal system that is ratified in the Iraqi constitution. This makes the Kurds confident; they believe that there will be no more plots against them in the future." ¶C. "Can the Kurdistan that Dreams of Separating from Iraq Unite the Country?" (Al-Bayyna Al-Jadeedah, affiliated with the Shiite Political Council, published a front-page unattributed editorial about the Kurdish initiative to unify quarreling political groups. The editorial reads in part) "Will Kurdistan be the path for uniting Iraqi politicians-this place that always dreamt of separating from Iraq? I think this question represents a dream for Iraqis who suffered from terrorism and the absence of government. We believe that there is no use in dividing the country or continuing the violence. If we continue distributing the government's positions according to sectarian and ethnic bases, Iraq will be similar to Lebanon. We hope that all winners and losers in the election understand that the language of violence and fighting is useless. Only dialogue will be able to solve our problems. Politicians should take away a good lesson from Saddam, who was toppled, who was found in a rat's hole, and whose socialism and nationalism are gone for ever." ¶D. "Is It a Deal?" (Al-Fourat, independent, published a back-page editorial by Dawood Al-Farhan about the establishment of the next government. The editorial reads in part) "We heard that there is a speech about a deal to form a `national unity government' in light of the parliamentary elections and the accusations of ballot-rigging. I think the next parliament should discuss and solve the crisis of forming the government. If the coming parliament is not formed according to honest and fair bases, the new government will find itself controlled by the conditions of political deals. The current government was established according to these deals, and for this reason it failed to accomplish people's demands and [live up to their] expectations. The current discussions on forming a 'national salvation government' will not solve the main problem because the main problem lacks a solution that satisfies all parts." ¶E. "White Elections and Red Violations" (Al-Mashriq, independent, published a front-page editorial by Hamid Abdullah about the parliamentary elections and the violations that occurred during elections. The editorial reads in part) "The IECI has divided election violations into red, white, yellow, and purple. However, the IECI regards only the red violations as the most important, which deserve studying and checking. In fact, the IECI was surprised to see the senior government's officers violate the period of silence that preceded the election. Those officials addressed people, saying that Iraqis should go on 'Jihad' by heading for the ballot boxes. Those speeches and statements were advertisements for specific electoral lists. Some political parties believe that elections that are held under violence and car bombings can be free and public. I would like those political parties to wake up if they were asleep." ¶F. "This Morning" (As-Sabah Al-Jadeed, independent, published a front-page editorial by editor in chief Ismael Zayyer about the expected meeting of Iraqi politicians in Kurdistan to solve the current political crisis. The editorial reads in part) "Today, leaders of the political parties will meet in Kurdistan to prepare for the establishment of the next permanent government. All Iraqis are looking forward to the results of this very important meeting because it will decide the future of the next government. The Iraqi community considers this meeting an important step toward solving all problems in the country. Iraqis are looking forward to seeing their dreams come true." KHALILZAD