MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 15th

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000080 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ, INR/P E.0. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 15th ELECTION, TRANSPARENCY; BAGHDAD SUMMARY: The major themes in today's editorials included Eid Al-Adha, government formation, and the recent agreement between the PUK and KDP. In its front-page editorial entitled "This Morning," independent As-Sabah Al-Jadeed discusses the agreement between the PUK and KDP, which unites the two Kurdish administrations in the Kurdistan region. PUK-affiliated Al- Ittihad addresses the same subject and lauds the agreement in "Unity of the Two Administrations Represents a Step to Reinforce the Position of the Kurdistan Region." Al-Mada's back-page editorial entitled "What an Eid." sheds light on Iraqis' preparations for the Eid Al-Adha occasion. The author also highlights Iraqi frustration with the increase in fuel prices and the recent deterioration of the security situation. In its front-page editorial entitled "Priorities of the Next Government," Al-Ahali, affiliated with the National Democratic Party, discusses the duties and responsibilities of the new Iraqi government. END SUMMARY. -------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS -------------- ¶A. "Unity" (As-Sabah, 1/9) ¶B. "Dots on Letters" (Al-Bayan, 1/9) ¶C. "Will Negotiations Fix What Was Spoiled by the Constitution and Elections?" (Democratic Al-Wifaq, 1/9) ¶D. "Miracles of the Government's Formation" (Az-Zaman, 1/9) -------------- SELECTED COMMENTARIES -------------- ¶A. "Unity" (As-Sabah, Iraqi Media Network, government-financed, published a front-page editorial by editor in chief Muhammad Abdul Jabbar about the unification of the two Kurdish administrations. The editorial reads in part) "The announcement regarding unification of the two Kurdish administrations represents a step toward building a new federal Iraq. The permanent constitution states that Iraq is a federal country, but the presence of the two administrations in Kurdistan represents an obstacle to establishing a federal state in Iraq. Now that the KDP and PUK have agreed to unite the two administrations, the political and constitutional situation will move forward amid an Iraqi field that is planted with many political mines. Perhaps this move will help remove these mines." ¶B. "Dots on Letters" (Al-Bayan, affiliated with Islamic Ad-Dawa Party, published a fifth-page editorial by Salim Rasoul about the differences between terrorism and resistance in Iraq. The editorial reads in part) "I always demand that those who identify themselves as `honest resistance' announce their identities and their political platforms, but I am sure that they do not have the courage to answer. In brief, armed groups in Iraq include Islamist extremists who belong to Zarqawi's group; there is also the Islamic Army, which shares the ideology of Zarqawi's group; and there is another group that is comprised of former Ba'thists, officers from the Republican Guards, and intelligence, which is called `Muhammad's Army.' All these groups in Iraq call themselves an `honest resistance.' We heard some political groups that defend this kind of resistance say that they target Americans only. But how can we consider Zarqawi's group an honest resistance when it is involved in the recent crimes in Karbala and Ramadi? Why doesn't this resistance announce it is really an honest resistance that fights terrorists and helps the government expel terrorism from Iraq? We have too many questions for the resistance to answer." ¶C. "Will Negotiations Fix What Was Spoiled by the Constitution and Elections?" (Democratic Al-Wifaq published a front-page editorial by the editor in chief Salah Omer Al-Ali about the political negotiations to form a new government. The editorial reads in part) "The political process in Iraq has entered the stage of political negotiation among the groups that are loyal to the occupation. They are seeking a solution to the crisis regarding election results. If these negotiations are aimed at forming a `national unity government' without viewing the results of the election, it means that the results are really false. We want to know who the winners and losers are in this election. I think the Iraqi people are the first losers from this election, but those who call for sectarian division are saying that they are the winners. Anyway, this feverish conflict will lead to an abyss. We have only one chance, which is to review the constitution after the formation of the next parliament to fix all these problems." ¶D. "Miracles of the Government's Formation" (Az-Zaman, independent, published a back-page editorial by Fateh Abdul Salam about the preparations for forming the new government. The editorial reads in part) "Countries resort to forming national unity governments when they face crises that no political group is able to solve. Some Iraqi politicians have found this solution suitable in the period since the downfall of the former regime. The Iraqi politicians promoted the slogan of national unity during the Governing Council and during the following two governments, but those slogans were useless. After that, they said that holding elections would stabilize the situation in Iraq. The first election was held and it did not stabilize the security situation. Today, after the second election was held, all the political groups announce that a national unity government would be the only solution to overcome the current political crisis. I think that forming a government according to the results of the election is better than forming a national unity government." SATTERFIELD