US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI1519

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001519 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; 
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
LONDON ALSO FOR MOC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION:  ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS IN ABU GHAREEB PRISON 
CONTINUED TO DOMINATE COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC 
MEDIA.  AN "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIAL NOTED THAT EVEN THE AMERICANS 
FEEL ASHAMED OF THE ABUSE OF THE IRAQI PRISONERS.  AN EDITORIAL 
IN "AL KHALEEJ" ALSO NOTED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THIS 
SCANDAL IS TO HAND IRAQ OVER TO IRAQIS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  NOTING THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR THE AMERICAN AND UK 
ADMINISTRATIONS TO GET RID OF THE PRISONERS SCANDAL IS TO HAND 
IRAQ BACK TO IRAQIS, SHARJAH-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" 
05/11:(CIRCULATION 75,000) 
 
". HANDING OVER IRAQ TO IRAQIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE COMMITTERS OF 
THESE CRIMES COULD DO PENANCE FOR THEIR HORRIBLE ACTIONS.  THIS 
SHOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT PLAYING ANY GAMES LIKE THAT OF TRANSFERRING 
ADMINISTRATION, BUT KEEPING THE RIGHT OF AUTHORITY WITH THE 
OCCUPATION, ESPECIALLY AFTER EVERYTHING THAT WAS HIDDEN WAS 
REVEALED AND THE REAL REASONS BEHIND OCCUPYING IRAQ ARE BECOMING 
OBVIOUS." 
 
3.  COMMENTING ON THE U.S. NEGLIGENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE 
PRISONERS ABUSE, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED "AL BAYAN" ON 
05/10: (CIRCULATION 30,000) 
 
". THE ASTONISHING THING IS THAT THE U.S. IS SPREADING JOURNALS 
THAT TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY, PEACE, AND THE FUTURE THAT IS AWAITING 
THE IRAQIS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ERASE THIS SCANDAL BY PUNISHING 
THE COMMITTERS!  THIS IS WHAT IS SO IRONIC AND DISGUSTING, JUST 
LIKE BUSH'S DISGUST." 
 
4.  NOTING THAT THERE IS FEAR THAT SHARON INTENDS TO ESCALATE THE 
SITUATION IN PALESTINE, LEBANON, AND SYRIA TO COVER THE SCANDAL 
OF THE IRAQI PRISONERS ABUSE, "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 05/10: 
 
". WORKING TO MAKE THE ARABS WEAKER IS THROUGH TORTURING THEM AND 
PUBLICIZING THEIR PICTURES WHILE BEING ABUSED SO THE FEELING OF 
DESPAIR AND DEPRESSION WILL SPREAD, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS MEANT 
TO BE IMPOSED WILL BE THROUGH TORTURE." 
 
5.  POINTING OUT THE SHAME OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AFTER THE 
PUBLICATION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ABUSE OF THE IRAQI 
PRISONERS, ABU DHABI-BASED SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" 
EDITORIALIZED 05/09:(CIRCULATION 100,000) 
 
". THIS DISGRACE AND SHAME THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FEELING 
IS CONNECTED TO LETTING JUSTICE TAKE ITS COURSE WITHOUT ANY 
INTERFERENCE AND TO MAKING THOSE CONVICTED IN THIS SCANDAL PAY 
FOR WHAT THEY DID WHATEVER THEIR RANK, IN ADDITION TO 
COMPENSATING THE VICTIMS FOR THE TORTURE AND HUMILIATION THEY 
WENT THROUGH." 
 
ALBRIGHT