MEDIA REACTION ON LEBANON

UNCLAS AMMAN 005568

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 LEBANON

Editorial Commentary

-- "Say something good or shut up"

Columnist Oraib Rantawi writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (07/25): "Why do some of us
insist on being more American than the neo-conservatives and even
more Israeli than Kadima? What alternatives, regimes and policies
are these people defending? Was the peace process before July 12
moving ahead gracefully only to be halted by Hizbollah's operation?
Were Arab diplomacies about to secure the release of more than ten
thousand Palestinian and Arab prisoners and were thwarted by the
capture of the three Israeli soldiers? Were Arab diplomacies about
to liberate Rafah crossing and stop the free death that claimed the
lives of nine Palestinians? What are these people fighting for so
ferociously? Is the economic and social development that is
achieving amazing numbers and placing us in the ranks of 'Asia's
tigers'? Is the Voltairian freedoms and the Anglo-Saxon democracies
that we are living by in our Arab capitals? We understand that some
have reservations against Hizbollah and Hamas and have their own
alternative ideologies. We do have such reservations and we desire
living in western-style civility and secularism. We understand that
some have strong criticisms for Hizbollah and Hamas' adventures....
But we do not understand that some have poured out their anger on
Hizbollah and Hamas in a language that rivals even that of the
Israeli defense army.... Gentlemen, say something good or else shut
up. We have enough of Olmert's spokespeople's analyses, accusations
and quotes."

-- "The croak of crows"

Columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (07/25): "The time is not right
for moody analyses designed as fillers in between news items on
satellite channels. The final say now is for the war. These
analysts must beg our pardon and keep quiet if their words stem from
fear and if they are not able to understand that there is an Arab
party that is capable of breaking Israel's arrogance and that there
are those in the nation who are ready to stand up for its dignity
and pay for it with their lives."

-- "Jordan's stand vis-`-vis the American plan for the region"

Columnist Bater Wardam writes on the inside page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (07/25): "The main question is
what is to be done in the face of this American-Israeli destructive
machine? What is the Arab world to do and what is Jordan, a country
in the middle of the storm, to do? Many commentators and
politicians argue that Jordan's friendship with the United States
and the peace treaty with Israel do not always guarantee stability
and security because the neo-conservatives do not respect these
agreements. Sensible, logical and justifiable, but the problem is
that these same people call on Jordan to cancel the peace treaty
with Israel and start new alliances. Let us be frank. If Jordan's
interest lies in the cancellation of the treaty, then we would all
be calling for it. But can canceling the treaty without having a
'national response plan' regarding the pressures that are expected
to pile up on us considered the most sensible and responsible thing
to do for Jordan and its people? I do not want to seem defeatist,
but I care for Jordan. I know very well that Jordan's interests and
strategic depth lies in the Arab world, but in order to depend on
the Arab world, the Arab world must depend on itself.... We must
protect Jordan and safeguard the accomplishments that we have made
over the past decades.... We know that the one stand that leads to
popularity and applause is the one that calls for canceling the
treaty. But there are moments when we have to be honest and say
that Jordan alone, just like Lebanon alone and Iraq alone, cannot
pay the cost of heroism and national and religious zeal. When the
Arab countries decide they are ready for the sacrifice, we will be
the first to respond. But, I swear, we will not allow that Jordan
be thrown into the fire so that some people can applaud, because our
duty is to protect our accomplishments, and we cannot afford to
exercise international political heroism."

-- "All there is to it"

Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (07/25) editorializes:
"To the average Arab, Rice's trip to Lebanon yesterday was an
insult. Whatever the rhetoric and propaganda, regardless of the
official declarations or handshakes of the day, all that Arabs see -
and all there is to see - is that the United States is politically,


economically and militarily supporting a nuclear power that is yet
again making a mockery of international legitimacy by using
excessive force, invading lands, targeting civilians and exercising
collective punishment."
HALE