SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: DEATH OF ZARQAWI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002374

SIPDIS

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INR/B; RRU-NEA
IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: DEATH OF ZARQAWI


1. Summary: All UAE Arabic and English dailies featured Al-
Zarqawi's death. An unsigned editorial in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic
daily "Al-Ittihad" 6/10 described Zarqawi's death as the
beginning of the end if Iraqis would all unite together against
those targeting their security. "Al-Khaleej" laid the blame for
instability in Iraq on the presence of the occupation forces and
stated that violent operations done by people like Zarqawi are a
natural, unhealthy reaction to occupation. A columnist in "Al-
Khaleej" stated that the vacuum created by Zarqawi's death would
be hard to fill. An editorial in English daily "Gulf News"
states that Zarqawi's death will have little impact on the
violence in Iraq. End summary.


2. A front-page unsigned 6/9 editorial in Abu Dhabi-based semi-
official Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000)
headlines: "The beginning of the end", and opines:

"The world was relieved at the death of the tyrant of terror and
destruction whose criminal operations claimed thousands of
innocent lives. But the question remains: Has terrorism been put
to an end by Al-Zarqawi's death? The fact that Al-Zarqawi died
does not mean it is the end. It is the beginning of the end if,
and only if, the Iraqis decide, starting today, to not allow the
existence of such killers among them, if they all unite together
to fight anyone who dares to twiddle with their security, if they
agree that no one will divide them under conspiracies of
factional conflict, and if they chose to follow their elected
parliament and their legitimate government. This and only this
will give them a chance to launch a national conciliation roadmap
under the slogan "Iraq or nothing".


3. A 6/9 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan"
(circulation 85,000) headlines: "Is Iraq on the verge of a new
diversion?" and reads:

"...The announcement of Al-Zarqawis' death along with his
associates is a special development... It is difficult to look
at Zarqawi's death as promising relief in Iraq, because Iraq's
situation is an abnormal revolt against basic laws. The new
government has been fully formed and on the Political security
list, disarming militias is a top priority, as promised by
President Nori Al Maliki. No two can disagree on the
significance of this priority; maybe Zarqawi's death enforces the
government's seriousness in achieving this priority..."


4. Under headline "Stability in Iraq", Sharjah-based Pan-Arab
daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 85,000) wrote 6/9 unsigned
editorial:

"American and the British officials realize the magnitude of the
stalemate facing occupation forces in Iraq. This was clearly
shown in the statements that came close to reality when it was
asserted that the death of Zarqawi was a severe blow to the Al-
Qaeda network, but will not however lead to stability in Iraq.
The occupation forces committed multiple mistakes, first by
imposing its occupation, second by dissolving Iraqi
establishments which caused chaos from the first moment. These
are huge mistakes which the occupiers are now beginning to admit.
And because "occupation" is a hostile conduct, it naturally
breeds resistance and many unhealthy phenomena. Stability in
Iraq will return once the occupation forces withdraw because what
is happening right now is a direct and indirect consequence of
their existence."


5. Under headline "Zarqawis", a Lebanese columnist, Saad Mehio,
wrote 6/9 op-ed in Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej"
(circulation 85,000):

"Some suspicions were aroused when Colin Powell used Zarqawi's
name in 2003 to justify invading Iraq while speaking of some
relations between Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein through
Zarqawi. Heretofore, Zarqawi did not play any major role in Iraq
or in Al Qaeda itself. Nevertheless, the United States turned
him into an international star, only to subsequently admit that
it was relying on "wrong information"... The question now is:
Will Zarqawi's end lead to the end of all acts relating to
Zarqawi? Not necessarily. Its network, that is said to be
composed of 800 to 2,000 militants, is still there and could in
the very near future retaliate by further expanding its
revengeful operations... Still, the absence of a strong person
such as Zarqawi must leave a vacuum that cannot be filled..."


6. Under the headline "Things in Iraq may not get better" Dubai
based English daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000) opines in an
unsigned editorial 6/10:

Once the euphoria over the killing of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi is
over, the question arises: What next? There is a general air of
speculation, if not expectation, that the situation in Iraq will
now get better, and the new government with all positions only
now filled will restore law and order, if not sanity, to the
region. But there are others, including U.S. President George W.
Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who believe there is
still more violence to come; the killing of Al Zarqawi, although
significant, will not put an end to the killings in Iraq or
elsewhere. It is surprising there should be people who think Al
Zarqawi's death will end the insurgency. After all, for some
time now we have been informed that Al Qaida cells work
autonomously; often two or more cells working in the same area
will not know of the others' existence. Which is why, we have
been led to believe, it makes it so difficult to infiltrate such
groups, or even track them down. Added to this is Al Zarqawi,
although pledging loyalty to Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden, in
fact differed on how terrorist action should proceed. Bin Laden
wanted to act against Western nations which have a presence in
the Arab world; Al Zarqawi wanted to usurp Arab governments in
the region to introduce strict Sharia law, which is an irony
considering his early riotous behavior and later contraventions
of Islamic teachings. It would therefore be naive to assume the
death of this one terrorist will change the events in Iraq; it
will not.


SISON