US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5353

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005353 
 
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 TRANSFER OF IRAQI AUTHORITY 
 
Summary 
 
-- The transfer of authority to the Iraqis is the lead 
story today, June 29.  With the exception of Arabic 
daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm, all dailies carry front-page 
coverage of the handing over of authority.  All papers 
feature King Abdullah's congratulatory message to the 
new Iraqi president.  Editorial commentary views the 
transfer as "a positive step in the right direction" 
but reflects cautious optimism with regard to the new 
government's tasks and responsibilities in light of 
the security situation. 
 
Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "A point of transition in Iraq's history" 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(06/29) editorializes:  "Handing authority over to the 
Iraqis is a particularly significant event at this 
stages, because however it is seen or described, it is 
an event that creates new facts on the grounds..  We 
could ask a lot of questions about the authorities and 
capabilities vested in this assumption of control. 
However, these questions will remain unanswered until 
the new leaders of Iraq show us their capability to 
act, to impose sovereignty of law, to manage well 
Iraqi ministries and institutions, and to ensure the 
safety and security of the Iraqi people.  We are not 
in the business of placing bets, but rather we are 
recognizing the difficult and complicated tasks that 
await this leadership..  Everyone knows that restoring 
security in Iraq is no longer an Iraq-only issue, as 
such.  Chaos there and the accompanying attacks that 
target the Iraqi people themselves and try to thwart 
every step towards achieving a reasonable degree of 
stability and a better life for Iraqis indicate the 
presence of an entity in Iraq that is growing as a 
result of confrontations with foreign troops, but also 
that has an agenda that goes beyond Iraq.  While 
acknowledging that the transfer of authority to the 
Iraqis is but a step on the long hard road, it our 
duty to remind everyone of the importance of 
supporting the Iraqi leadership at this stage so it 
might rise up to the tasks at hand." 
 
-- "A step in the right direction" 
 
Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(06/29):  "Despite rumors of the possibility of 
postponing the transfer of authority to the Iraqis, 
Bremer and the Iraqi government surprised everyone by 
pushing this deadline forward.  Security 
considerations may have been responsible somewhat for 
this decision, but the important thing is that the 
step was taken and, by all standards, it is a step in 
the right direction that cannot be belittled by the 
fact that it takes place while occupation troops are 
still on the ground..  The hot issue inside and 
outside Iraq, namely the future of the American 
occupation, will most likely remain on Iraq's agenda 
until that time when the occupation's departure is 
complete.  The more the Iraqis move towards restoring 
security and stability and reestablishing the Iraqi 
state, the sooner they can call for the end and 
departure of the occupation." 
 
-- "With and next to a united and sovereign Iraq" 
 
Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/29) 
editorializes:  "A strong and united new Iraq must be 
the outcome of the efforts of its people, far away 
from sectarianism, tribalism and ethnicity.  It is an 
Iraq that respects the culture and specificity of 
minorities in a framework of unity.  We in Jordan look 
to the new stage that Iraq just crossed into with 
faith and optimism.  The old and modern history of 
Iraq confirms that all Iraqis of all background are 
capable of building their country in a manner that 
honors its well-known civilization and 
accomplishments." 
 
-- "Positive steps in Iraq" 
 
Daily columnist Mohammad Amayreh writes on the op-ed 
page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai 
(06/29):  "What happened in Iraq yesterday is a 
positive step..  The important thing, however is the 
coming steps and procedures that seek to establish a 
democratic and free regime in Iraq.  Many obstacles 
stand in the way of this enormous task..  The security 
situation in Iraq makes this hard to achieve, and this 
is where the new Iraqi leadership noted the role that 
the Iraqi people can play in carrying these burdens 
and responsibilities.  Bremer's departure from the 
Iraqi territories indicates the departure of the 
symbol of the occupation.  However, other steps must 
follow towards ending the Anglo-American occupation.. 
We hope that the new leadership will be up to the 
level of expectations and hopes of the Iraqis and 
those who are concerned for Iraq's people, unity and 
independence." 
GNEHM