Media Reaction: Iraq Constitution Bangladesh-U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004483

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 Constitution Bangladesh-U.S.
Bilateral 9/11 anniversary; Dhaka


Summary: "New Age" front page article suggests that the new
constitution in Iraq would on the one hand be another step
towards a US pullout and on the other ensure US control over
Iraqi oil, with plans to destroy OPEC's control over oil.
"Daily Star" editorial says it is heartening to know that
the media of the United States thought highly of the way
Bangladesh has been managing the prelude to and aftermath of
natural disasters the country has been historically
vulnerable to.

"Ittefaq" editorial says on the anniversary of 9/11 that
terrorism means destruction and death.

--------------

1. Iraq Constitution
--------------

"Iraq Constitution Points To War On Terror's Agenda"
Independent English language newspaper "New Age" front-page
article comments (9/11):

The US-led invasion of Iraq dubbed as the "war on terror"
sparked off by the twin tower bombings in New York four
years ago today seems to be attaining its hidden agenda
after all.
Although the "war on terror," as its champions claimed,
would promote democracy abolishing a "rogue" state, quashing
threats of future attacks on America, the new Iraqi
constitution points otherwise.
With a new constitution, that would on the one hand be
another step towards a US pullout and on the other ensure US
control over Iraqi oil, plans to destroy OPEC's control over
oil seems to be near realization.
Together with the Saudi and Iraqi oil under its control -
constituting about half the world's oil reserves - US
political and economic hegemony would be ensured for quite
some time.
Behind the guarantees of democratic and civil liberty, the
Iraqi constitution proposes regions and provinces that would
have authority over their own natural resources.
In fact the US has influenced drafting the constitution to
ensure its interests. Otherwise, the US interests and those
of the oil lobby it caters to would not be fulfilled in the
long term, after the occupation army withdraws from a "free"
Iraq.
--------------

2. U.S. - Bangladesh Bilateral
--------------
"Praise for Bangladesh: Acknowledgement Is Much Appreciated
Independent English language "Daily Star" editorially
comments (9/10/05):

Much that we are swathed in compassion and sympathy for the
unprecedented damage and devastation caused by the
catastrophic Katrina, it is nonetheless heartening to know
that the media of the United States thought highly of the
way Bangladesh has been managing the prelude to and
aftermath of natural disasters the country has been
historically vulnerable to. In fact Bangladesh became
popularly known in the West as the country of "natural
disasters" in the eighties and nineties when natural
calamities struck the country almost every year leaving
behind a trail of extensive destruction and huge loss of
lives.
But now the acknowledgements by the media in the US about
our efficient handling of disaster situations, in the wake
of their own calamity in the last week or so, should be much
appreciated. There is no doubt that Bangladesh, over the
years, has achieved considerable expertise in disaster
management in the whole world. Especially since the nature's
egregious plunder of 1991 when at least one hundred and
thirty thousand people died in one of the biggest cyclones
of recent times. The elevated cyclone shelters built by the
Bangladesh government along the coastal regions, more
emphasis by the authorities on storm warning system using
indigenous methods to evacuate people -- all these have
contributed largely in decreasing the number of casualties
in later calamities.
--------------

3. Anniversary of 9/11
--------------
"Today Is 9/11"
Large circulation Bangla daily "Ittefaq" editorially
comments:
9/11 is a testimony to the fact how unkind and gruesome
terrorism can be. The terrorists used some innocent people
to kill many more innocent people that day.
The past and the contemporary world show that humanity is at
stake wherever terrorism exists. Death haunts those places
where terrorism reigns. Terrorism means destruction and
death. The negative reaction of the 9/11 tragedy still
continues and will continue in future. 9/11 is a turning
point in history. The world before 9/11 and after 9/11 is
quite different. No one can say how long the world
community will have to go through the aftermaths of the
tragedy.
Chammas