MEDIA REACTION ON WAR ON TERRORISM AND IRAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 004456 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR TSOU SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR JO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON WAR ON TERRORISM AND IRAN Editorial Commentary -- "Political issues take precedence over economic issues" Chief Editor Taher Odwan writes on the back-page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (06/19): "The current crisis between the government and the Muslim Brotherhood about terrorism has re-emphasized the importance of political issue in the domestic and foreign policy agenda, when economic issues were at the top of that agenda in recent years.... It may be coincidence that the draft anti-terrorism law was proposed at this time, but it is a coincidence that only enriches the national debate. It also contributes to focusing attention on the culture of terrorism, the difference between terrorism and resistance, the relationship with political reform, and the meanings of freedom, democracy and human rights. I do not want to discuss the terms of the draft anti-terrorism law ... but I have to start by wondering whether the country really needs such a law, thus I join those who consider the Jordanian Penalties Law more than sufficient.... Combating terrorism is a national tasking. It is the society's duty before it is the responsibility of the state. Here I make two observations. The first is that there is need to have a national plan for the war on terror, a plan that differs from the global war on terror that Bush is implementing. After all, the U.S. President's plan is based on turning Iraq into an international arena for attracting terrorists, then fighting them and winning so that the United States is safe - a plan that failed because it just enriched terrorism.... The anti-terrorism Jordanian national plan must be distinguished from the American plan, because we, as Arabs, believe that liberating Iraq from terrorism starts with liberating it from the occupation and the quagmire of sectarian strife.... The second observation is that having numerous laws and penalties and intensifying them is not going to stop the terrorism that is based on self-sacrifice weaponry.... The best weapon for combating terrorism is to create a social and cultural national environment that rejects giving cover to terrorism.... This environment cannot be established by numerous anti-terrorism laws, but rather by a free society founded on principles of democracy, freedom, citizenship and human rights." -- "Where is the crisis between the government and the Islamists going?" Columnist Fahd Khitan writes on the inside page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (06/19): "All current scenarios for addressing the issue between the state and the Islamists are not going to lead to solutions, but rather to further complication of the crisis, that is with the exception of the legal solution that has to do with the arrested four deputies. As far as the Government is concerned, the legal option is inevitable. But what about the other scenarios? The talk about a parliamentary memorandum calling for the dismissal of the four deputies is not yet confirmed, and if such a memorandum does exist, then there are legal ramifications and great skepticism of its legality. Politically speaking, going ahead with dismissal measures will only mean a serious escalation of the crisis.... The scenario of disbanding the Muslim Brotherhood that is indirectly being hinted at by official sources is not on the table, at least as far as the Government is concerned. Going ahead with it means the end of decades of strategic alliance between the state and the Brotherhood and forcing the Muslim Brotherhood underground.... The path is not closed for solving the crisis. Despite the hardline statements and the media escalation, there are strong indications from both parties towards reconciliation. The Government's demand of the Islamic movement is legitimate and logical and does not harm the movement's reputation or diminish its popularity. The Government does not expect the Islamists to describe resistance as terrorism, as claimed by the IAF. The conflict is not about the stand vis-`-vis the Iraqi or Palestinian resistance, but about Zarqawi.... The Islamists too are entitled for the government to stop its campaign against them and let the law take its course in the case of the four deputies." -- "Watching reality" Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (06/19) editorializes: "The Human Rights Watch's criticism of the Government over the arrest of four parliamentarians after they visited the family of the slain terrorist Abu Mosab Zarqawi to offer their condolences exemplifies how international human rights NGOs can err, no matter how reputable they are. By criticizing Jordan for the Detention of the four members of the Lower House of Parliament ... Human Rights Watch did a disservice to the human rights process, ignoring the sensitivities and peculiarities of the situation and the cultural context of this case.... In the eyes of Human Rights Watch, Zarqawi is only an 'alleged terrorist'. Legally speaking, a suspect continues to be referred to as an 'alleged criminal' when there are doubts about his criminality. If Human Rights Watch concludes that Zarqawi is only an 'alleged terrorist', it does so blindly. The organization could do with some reckoning with realities and not only with abstract and academic ideas." Editorial Commentary on Iran -- "Where are the Arabs?!" Former Minister of Information Saleh Qallab writes on the back-page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/19): "What is going on between Iran and the United States is very dangerous, and it is certain that, once this ongoing courting between Washington and Tehran is concluded, the Arab countries in this region will pay a huge price.... There is serious talk between Washington and Tehran to rewrite the regional equation on the basis of America's acknowledgement of Iran's role in this region in return for stopping Iran's military nuclear project. If this happens, then all the Arabs will be completely left out. When the Americans acknowledge Iran's regional role, then they will already guaranteed an understanding, albeit indirectly, between Israel and the Iranians over areas of authority in the region. If this happens, and it is clearly on its way to happening, then the Arabs in the region and all the rest of the Arabs will be like chess pawns on the Iranian-Israeli chessboard.... If the concerned Arabs - Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the PNA at this time - do not pull in ranks seriously and effectively, then they will come to regret it some day soon." RUBINSTEIN