Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN6481
2006-08-24 09:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #6481 2360935 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 240935Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3448 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0424 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1353 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 006481
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 IRAN
Editorial Commentary
-- "Iran and us and the conflict over the region"
Columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (08/24): "It is obvious that
there are those who are trying to start a war, a cold one in the
least, between the Arabs and Iran or between the Shiites and the
Sunnis. Had the starters of this war been those who are concerned
for the Sunnis or those who are truly afraid of an
American-Zionist-Iranian alliance, we would have accepted the
matter. Yet, what we see says otherwise. There are those who are
targeting anyone that resists the Zionist project while, at the same
time they declare war on Iran using sectarians contexts to hide
their political agenda.... The battle between Iran and the United
States is not a silly Indian film and it is not just a conspiracy
being drawn in the White House between the Mullas and the
neo-conservatives. It is a genuine struggle that could reach the
point of sieges and sanctions and may end up in war if Iran persists
on the nuclear issue. Bush's Zionist team does not become the enemy
except against those that stand up to his political program that is
in favor of his mother country, Israel, and he is not concerned for
Sunnis or Shiites; a Shiite who allies with them is a friend, and
the Sunni is no different from that.... What is going on is a
targeting of all the nation, and particularly those that refuse to
submit to the agenda of the neo-conservatives. There is no need for
too much analysis here, those that agree with their agenda are the
accused ones, not those that resist it and pay for their resistance
with blood and sacrifice and the threat of sanctions."
-- "End the wrangling"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (08/24) editorializes:
"The diplomatic wrangling over Iran's nuclear program is yet again
reaching a crescendo. With an August 31 deadline for Iran to suspend
its nuclear enrichment program looming, noises are being made by the
various UN Security Council members about what may or may not happen
once that deadline passes and depending on Iran's actions.... Iran,
meanwhile, is playing for time. Its standing in the region has
significantly improved as a result both of the US-led invasion of
Iraq and Israel's failed attempt at bringing Hizbollah to heel.
Furthermore, flush with money from high oil prices, Tehran perhaps
believes it can afford to stall. That would be a mistake. It is
better for Iran, and for the region as a whole, to end the wrangling
over the nuclear program. Iran has already made progress. At stake
is not Iran's civilian nuclear program. Indeed, a package deal of
incentives proposed some months ago is believed to include
significant aid for Iran's civilian nuclear program, in addition to
an end to US sanctions on certain products, not to mention a
possible thawing of diplomatic relations between Tehran and
Washington. All of these would be significant achievements for
Iran, and Tehran should start thinking of the endgame.... On a more
immediate level, Tehran also needs the US to publicly rule out any
military action. Tehran, especially in the current regional climate,
sees no reason to back down if confronted with threats. The US
should take note. But Tehran cannot simply ask; it must also give.
It would not harm Iran's nuclear program if Tehran should decide to
suspend its enrichment program in order to give a chance for the
"serious negotiations" it says it wants. It could ask for a deadline
for such negotiations to reach fruition."
HALE
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 IRAN
Editorial Commentary
-- "Iran and us and the conflict over the region"
Columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (08/24): "It is obvious that
there are those who are trying to start a war, a cold one in the
least, between the Arabs and Iran or between the Shiites and the
Sunnis. Had the starters of this war been those who are concerned
for the Sunnis or those who are truly afraid of an
American-Zionist-Iranian alliance, we would have accepted the
matter. Yet, what we see says otherwise. There are those who are
targeting anyone that resists the Zionist project while, at the same
time they declare war on Iran using sectarians contexts to hide
their political agenda.... The battle between Iran and the United
States is not a silly Indian film and it is not just a conspiracy
being drawn in the White House between the Mullas and the
neo-conservatives. It is a genuine struggle that could reach the
point of sieges and sanctions and may end up in war if Iran persists
on the nuclear issue. Bush's Zionist team does not become the enemy
except against those that stand up to his political program that is
in favor of his mother country, Israel, and he is not concerned for
Sunnis or Shiites; a Shiite who allies with them is a friend, and
the Sunni is no different from that.... What is going on is a
targeting of all the nation, and particularly those that refuse to
submit to the agenda of the neo-conservatives. There is no need for
too much analysis here, those that agree with their agenda are the
accused ones, not those that resist it and pay for their resistance
with blood and sacrifice and the threat of sanctions."
-- "End the wrangling"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (08/24) editorializes:
"The diplomatic wrangling over Iran's nuclear program is yet again
reaching a crescendo. With an August 31 deadline for Iran to suspend
its nuclear enrichment program looming, noises are being made by the
various UN Security Council members about what may or may not happen
once that deadline passes and depending on Iran's actions.... Iran,
meanwhile, is playing for time. Its standing in the region has
significantly improved as a result both of the US-led invasion of
Iraq and Israel's failed attempt at bringing Hizbollah to heel.
Furthermore, flush with money from high oil prices, Tehran perhaps
believes it can afford to stall. That would be a mistake. It is
better for Iran, and for the region as a whole, to end the wrangling
over the nuclear program. Iran has already made progress. At stake
is not Iran's civilian nuclear program. Indeed, a package deal of
incentives proposed some months ago is believed to include
significant aid for Iran's civilian nuclear program, in addition to
an end to US sanctions on certain products, not to mention a
possible thawing of diplomatic relations between Tehran and
Washington. All of these would be significant achievements for
Iran, and Tehran should start thinking of the endgame.... On a more
immediate level, Tehran also needs the US to publicly rule out any
military action. Tehran, especially in the current regional climate,
sees no reason to back down if confronted with threats. The US
should take note. But Tehran cannot simply ask; it must also give.
It would not harm Iran's nuclear program if Tehran should decide to
suspend its enrichment program in order to give a chance for the
"serious negotiations" it says it wants. It could ask for a deadline
for such negotiations to reach fruition."
HALE