US embassy cable - 04AMMAN1802

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001802 
 
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 GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ 
 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- The lead story in all papers (with the exception of 
Al-Arab Al-Yawm) today, March 9 focused on the signing 
of the temporary Iraqi constitution.  Other lead 
stories focused on domestic-related issues including 
the cabinet meeting that held in the port city of 
Aqaba. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "No constitutions for military bases!" 
 
Daily columnist Khaled Mahadin writes on the op-ed 
page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai 
(03/09):  "Since March 20, 2003, Iraq became the 
target of the American war machine, and since April 9, 
2003, it has become an American base, and American 
bases are ruled by neither temporary nor permanent 
constitutions, but by the American Pentagon.  The 
important thing is for the Iraqis to remain steadfast 
and loyal to uncompromising pan-Arabism and non- 
surrendering Iraqi nationalism.  They must not allow 
any opportunity for those lurking from within and from 
without to harm Iraq and they must persevere until 
that time when occupation is defeated and the invaders 
are kicked out of the homeland." 
 
-- "After endorsing the temporary constitution" 
 
Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back page of 
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm 
(03/09):  "Whatever the opinion about the temporary 
Iraqi constitution is, we breathed out with 
reassurance once the members of the governing council 
signed the constitution, because otherwise the gates 
of hell will open wide and engulf the Iraqis..  There 
are forces inside Iraq, not to mention outside forces, 
that have no interest in seeing this agreement work 
out.  The outside forces can be dealt with if Iraqi 
factions that are carrying arms now are convinced to 
switch to peaceful political struggle.  But this means 
that the governing council, particularly the Shiites 
and the Kurds, must backtrack from labeling others 
with the mortal sin of collaborating with the former 
regime.  The former regime was there for 30 years and 
it is logical that thousands of people would be 
working in that regime's military and security 
apparatuses.  The decision to remove these people from 
their positions or pursue them would be equal to 
making them fuel for the military resistance..  The 
next correct step after the endorsement of the 
temporary constitution is to backtrack from any 
discriminatory measures and give the necessary 
reassurances to all citizens, including those who 
served the former regime." 
 
-- "The temporary Iraqi constitution is a step on the 
way" 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(03/09) editorializes:  "Under the difficult 
circumstances that Iraq is going through, the 
governing council's signing of the temporary 
constitution is a particularly important event.  Given 
domestic factors, the differences over some of 
constitution's items, and the nature of representation 
in the governing council, yesterday's signing signals 
an important step forward, even if some consider it 
incomplete or inadequate..  The task at hand will not 
be easy.  Iraq is a country confronted with an absence 
of security and stability, and on its ground there are 
forces at work that refuse to accept the new reality. 
This is in addition to the challenge that everyone 
will have to live up to in terms of enforcing what was 
achieved in the constitution and strengthening 
national agreement..  Iraq is entitled to get support 
from its Arab brethren at this stage in order to back 
up its march and help it build its official and 
popular institutions." 
HALE