Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA4290
2005-08-30 04:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ'S CRISIS OVER CONSTITUTION;

Tags:  KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004290

SIPDIS

FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO
USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B

CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (LCDR FLETCHER),
J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS)

USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ STYNER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ'S CRISIS OVER CONSTITUTION;
DHAKA

SUMMARY: AN EDITORIAL FROM "THE DAILY STAR" SAYS THAT THE
CONTINUING PRESENCE OF US TROOPS IN IRAQ AND TIGHT US
CONTROL OVER ALL ASPECTS OF IRAQ'S NATION BUILDING EFFORTS
ARE PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE ALLEVIATED IF THE US
WERE TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR AN ORDERLY AND DIGNIFIED
WITHDRAWAL OF ITS TROOPS. THE PERCEIVED US TILT TOWARDS THE
SHIITES AND KURDS IS NOT HELPING IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL
NEGOTIATIONS.

ON THE ISRAELI PULL-OUT FROM GAZA SETTLEMENTS, AN OP-ED OF
THE SAME PAPER OPINES THAT THE US PRESIDENT HAS TO LIVE UP
TO HIS PROMISE OF ESTABLISHING A PALESTINIAN STATE BY 2005.
HE NEEDS TO CREATE A SOVEREIGN STATE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
SOVEREIGN STATE - IRAQ -- WHICH HE VIRTUALLY DESTROYED.

--------------
IRAQ'S CRISIS OVER CONSTITUTION
--------------

"CONSTITUTION CRISIS IN IRAQ: CAN THERE BE REAL PROGRESS
UNTIL US WITHDRAWS?"

INDEPENDENT ENGLISH DAILY "THE DAILY STAR" EDITORIALLY
COMMENTS (8/28/05):

THE SHIITE AND KURDISH LEADERS ABANDONING NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SUNNI REPRESENTATIVES OVER THE CONSTITUTION THAT IS BEING
DRAFTED FOR IRAQ, THE QUEST FOR CONSENSUS MAY HAVE REACHED A
DEAD-END AND THE COUNTRY COULD BE HEADING TOWARDS EVEN
GREATER DIVISION AND FACTIONALISM.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF US TROOPS IN
THE COUNTRY AND TIGHT US CONTROL OVER ALL ASPECTS OF THE
NATION BUILDING EFFORTS. THE US HAS LONG ARGUED THAT ITS
PRESENCE IS NECESSARY TO CONTAIN THE VIOLENCE AND TO
MAINTAIN SOME SEMBLANCE OF LAW AND ORDER. THE TRUTH,
HOWEVER, IS THAT IT IS THE US PRESENCE THAT IS FUELING MUCH
OF THE VIOLENCE.

FURTHERMORE, THE PERCEIVED US TILT TOWARDS THE SHIITES AND
KURDS IS NOT HELPING IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL NEGOTIATIONS.
NEITHER IS THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS MORE CONCERNED WITH ITS
OWN INTERESTS AND PUBLIC OPINION AT HOME THAN WITH WHAT
WOULD BE BEST FOR THE IRAQIS.

THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE VERY MUCH ALLEVIATED IF THE US WERE
TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR AN ORDERLY AND DIGNIFIED WITHDRAWAL OF
ITS TROOPS. AS OF YET, THERE APPEAR TO BE NO SIGNS OF THIS
ON THE HORIZON, IN FACT, IF RECENT REPORTS ARE TO BE
CREDITED, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE TO COME OF THIS QUAGMIRE THAT IRAQ
HAS DESCENDED INTO, THE IRAQIS MUST BE PERMITTED TO MANAGE
THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. AS LONG AS THE COUNTRY REMAINS UNDER US
MILITARY OCCUPATION AND THE US REMAINS AS THE CRUCIAL PEACE-
BROKER, THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO SLIDE DOWN-HILL.

--------------
ISRAELI PULL-OUT FROM SETTLEMENTS
--------------

"GAZA PULL-OUT: PALESTINIANS TO GET BACK LAND AFTER FOUR
DECADES"

INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY "THE DAILY STAR" OPINES
8/26/05:

JEWS AGAINST JEWS; JEWS EXPELLING JEWS FROM THEIR HOMES IN
THE "LAND PROMISED BY GOD". JEWS BURNING THEIR OWN FLAG --
SOMETHING NOBODY COULD EVER THINK OF IN ISRAEL. JEWS IN
GRIEF, TEARS AND ANGER AS THEY LOST THEIR HOMES AND MANY
TURNED VIOLENT AND THEY PROMISED TO RETURN TO "THEIR
PROMISED LAND" ONE DAY. SOME OF THE SETTLERS CALLED SHARON A
HITLER. THIS SIGNIFIES THE ONSET OF VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE
FROM ISRAELI SIDE. INDEED, ONE ISRAELI SETTLER ALREADY SHOT
DEAD THREE PALESTINIANS IN ONE OF THE SETTLEMENTS. ARIEL
SHARON CONDEMNED THE INCIDENT AND CALLED HIM A TERRORIST.
EARLIER ONE ISRAELI IDF RESERVIST KILLED FOUR ISRAELI
PALESTINIANS IN A BUS IN ISRAEL. SO VIOLENCE HAS BEGUN AND
IT IS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY IN THE COMING DAYS. ISRAELIS MUST
NOW UNDERSTAND WHY PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SO VIOLENT; THEY
LOST THEIR HOMES AND THEIR ANCESTRAL LAND TO THE ISRAELIS.

ARIEL SHARON IS REPORTEDLY SCHEDULED TO GO TO WASHINGTON
NEXT WEEK TO MEET AND REPORT HIS COMPLIANCE TO PRESIDENT
BUSH. ONE EXPECTS PRESIDENT BUSH TO ASK PRIME MINISTER
SHARON TO CONTINUE THE EVACUATION OF FURTHER SETTLEMENTS
BEFORE COMMITTING A HANDSOME GIFT OF SOME THREE BILLION
DOLLARS TO ISRAEL. AS ARIEL SHARON HAS ONE-TRACK MIND, MAY
BE IT IS HE AND NOT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WHO CAN DO THE JOB.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE US PRESIDENT HAS TO BE FIRM TO
HAVE IT DONE TO LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISES OF ESTABLISHING THE
PALESTINIAN STATE BY 2005. HE CERTAINLY NEEDS TO CREATE A
SOVEREIGN STATE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STATE -- IRAQ, A
SOVEREIGN ONE WHICH STANDS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED.

CHAMMAS