US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3203

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 003203 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: G 8 summit, London Blast, Iraq; 
Dhaka 
 
Summary: English "Daily Star" says that the G-8 summit 
showed that wealthier nations are willing to take 
responsibility for alleviating poverty in the world. 
 
On the London blast, the conservative "Ittefaq" hopes that 
the perpetrators will be punished. Independent "Bangladesh 
Observer" notes that the Anglo-U.S. invasion of Iraq has had 
little effect on global terrorism.  Jamaat-e-Islami's 
sponsored "Sangram" opines that if the International Court 
of Justice takes initiatives, terrorist hands can be broken 
for good and Islam and the Muslim nations can be free from 
suspicion. 
 
On the death of the Egyptian diplomat in Iraq, "New Age" 
says that Iraq remains a dangerous country for diplomats. 
 
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1. G-8 Summit 
------------- 
 
"Limited Gain at G-8: Disappointment Over Environment" 
Independent English language newspaper "Daily Star" 
editorially comments (7/10): 
 
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on London, there 
was much speculation that the G-8 summit at Gleneagles would 
be side-tracked from the issues it had convened to discuss, 
in order to address the issue of terror and security. 
However, the fact that the G-8 was able to continue with its 
stated agenda, even against the backdrop of the carnage in 
London, made the agreements reached at the summit all the 
more laudable. 
The summit ended with the leaders of the world's wealthiest 
eight countries signing the biggest aid deal in history for 
Africa. According to the agreement, development aid to 
Africa would be doubled to $48 billion by the year 2010, and 
debt would be written off for the 18 most indebted African 
countries. This alone counts as a considerable achievement. 
However, there were still some disappointments with respect 
to the summit. The first was that even though dialogue on 
climate change has come some way, the US is still dragging 
its feet on any kind of commitment, and nothing concrete was 
agreed to in terms of the environment. Similarly there was 
nothing solid agreed to in terms of eliminating agricultural 
subsidies by the G-8 nations... 
Nevertheless, the agreement reached at Gleneagles represents 
a real watershed for the world. It shows that the wealthier 
countries are finally willing to accept responsibility for 
alleviating poverty and acting for the common global good. 
No doubt they could have gone even further in their 
commitments, but there is also no doubt that the summit 
should be seen as a very positive development. 
--------------- 
2. London Blast 
--------------- 
 
"Bomb Attack in London" 
Conservative Bangla language newspaper "Ittefaq" editorially 
comments (7/10): 
 
The people of Bangladesh are sad and concerned over the bomb 
attacks in London.  In a message to British Prime Minister 
Tony Blair, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said that Bangladesh 
condemns this heinous attack on innocent people.  She 
further said that Bangladesh is opposed to all kinds of 
terrorism and hoped that the perpetrators will be punished. 
Leader of opposition Sheikh Hasina and other leaders have 
condemned the London bomb blast. 
 
It is not yet known who was behind the London tragedy. 
However, an Al Qaeda group has claimed responsibility.  We 
are concerned and sad over the tragic incident in London and 
express our deep sympathy to the families who have lost dear 
ones. 
 
------------- 
"Violence Breeds Violence" 
Independent English language newspaper "Bangladesh Observer" 
editorially comments (7/10): 
Terrorists, probably of the jihadi variant, have struck once 
again. This time in the heart of the United Kingdom - 
London... 
It is now clear that the Anglo-US invasion of Iraq had 
little effect on curbing global terrorism and has rather 
accentuated it. Saddam may have been a tyrant but he had no 
links with terrorism. After the easy conquest of Afghanistan 
the US and its allies were emboldened to take on a 
"profitable" target like Iraq. The question of right and 
wrong probably did not figure in their decision. Upbeat 
Pentagon officials were quoted as saying, "Men go to 
Teheran," indicating the next target of aggression. 
The war on Iraq actually gave more credence to terrorist 
claims that the West was out to plunder the resources of the 
Muslim world, all over again. Rather, belatedly, the US had 
recently understood the need for a political settlement in 
Iraq. Tony Blair's desire to share the spoils in a post-war 
Iraq has proved to be disastrous. And now to make things 
worse, there is a fear of a backlash on the Muslims staying 
in the West. If that happens, it will be the worst nightmare 
after World War II. Hutchinson's doomsday scenario of a 
"clash of civilizations" will come true. It will serve 
nobody's interest and will be a great human tragedy. We hope 
the worst case scenario does not come to pass. 
------------- 
 
"On the London Blast" 
Conservative Islamic and Jamaat-e-Islami's spokesman Bangla 
language newspaper "Sangram" editorially comments (7/10): 
 
We condemn the criminal act and express out deep sorrow for 
the death of innocent people...Investigations into the 
London blast have just begun, but already Al Qaeda has been 
identified as the prime suspect. Since Al Qaeda is involved 
with Islam and Muslims, Muslims become a target of suspicion 
in various countries.  This baseless suspicion must be ended 
for the sake of peace and for the preservation of rights of 
a great religion and nation. 
Bin laden and Al Qaeda are new names to the Muslim world. 
They are not something to be followed in the Islamic world. 
After 9/11, Laden's name came to the forefront, then Al 
Qaeda emerged.  Since 9/11 incidents were not thoroughly 
investigated and perpetrators were not put on trial. Laden 
and Al Qaeda's identity and activities have remained in the 
dark.  These two names are being implicated in all major 
terrorist incidents....  We think that terrorist acts of 
political and international nature must be investigated 
impartially.  In this case, the International Court may come 
forward.  We think that if the International Court takes 
initiative with the cooperation from all countries, Laden 
and Al Qaeda's existence can be proved, if they exist at 
all, and their hands can be broken for good. 
 
The International Court, as a part of the U.N., should come 
forward to apprehend Bin laden and Al Qaeda and free Islam 
and the Muslim nation from baseless suspicion. 
 
------------- 
"A Diplomat Dies in Iraq" 
Independent English language newspaper "New Age" editorially 
comments (7/10): 
The killing of the Egyptian envoy raises the very 
fundamental issue of just how feasible it is to demonstrate 
to the world that conditions in Iraq are good enough for 
other countries to have their diplomatic missions open their 
offices. The reality is simple: Iraq remains a dangerous 
country for diplomats. Worse, insofar as the Iraqi 
government is concerned, is the growing feeling that the men 
the Americans have installed in office could soon be forced 
into a situation where they will begin to resemble the 
besieged and ineffectual Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. That 
will truly be a pity. 
Where the insurgents are concerned, they have made it clear 
that their targets are not only foreign soldiers but also 
those who are part of Iraq's new military and police forces. 
That makes it increasingly unlikely that the US 
administration will be in a position to feel comfortable 
about Iraq any time soon, despite the confidence it 
demonstrates in public. 
Chammas