US embassy cable - 02AMMAN5355

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005355 
 
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 
USCINCCENT//CCPA, USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL 
STATE PASS TO AID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- Lead stories in all papers today, September 18, 
highlight the "skeptical" U.S. reaction to Iraq's 
acceptance of the unconditional return of the weapons 
inspectors.  Stories focus on President Bush's remarks 
of September 17 that the Security Council "must not be 
fooled" by Iraq's "questionable promise" and calling 
on the international community to "deal with" the 
Iraqi President.  All papers also highlight Jordan's 
official reaction to Iraq's decision, which praised 
the Iraqi decision as "a positive step towards the 
resumption of constructive dialogue between Iraq and 
the United Nations."  Majority of editorial 
commentaries praise Iraq's "intelligent" decision, but 
warn that the U.S. remains intent on pursuing 
hostilities against Iraq. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "A sigh of relief" 
 
Centrist, influential among the elite English daily 
Jordan Times (09/18) editorializes:  "Some in the 
region are sighing with relief, although the feeling 
would seem temporary.  Iraq's eleventh hour decision 
to allow U.N. weapons inspectors back was welcomed in 
Jordan, embraced in the rest of the Arab world, and 
hailed by China and Russia.  But it was met with 
suspicion and skepticism in London and Washington. 
Jordan and most Arab countries have repeated over the 
past few weeks that Iraq's unconditional acceptance of 
U.N. arms inspectors would make it much more difficult 
for Washington to justify a war.  Much more difficult 
does not mean impossible.  The Iraqi leadership made a 
wise and timely decision yesterday.  It did its part 
to avoid a war.  At this stage, peace-loving nations 
can only take Iraq's commitment to allow U.N. 
inspectors back at face value." 
 
-- "The possibility of a war still stands" 
 
Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back page of 
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm 
(09/18):  "Baghdad's unconditional acceptance of the 
return of the inspectors does change the climate of 
the political confrontation with the United States and 
the Security Council.  Yet, it is too early to 
conclude that the crisis has taken a different turn 
from that of American military aggression against 
Iraq.  The possibility of a war is still high, because 
Washington wants to oust the regime.  That is its main 
objective and the issue of the return of the 
inspectors is nothing but a pretext." 
 
-- "Was Baghdad successful in buying some time?" 
 
Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(09/18):  "The problem with the Iraqi decision is that 
it came in the eleventh hour.  This gives the 
impression that it is a `maneuver' and not an 
`initiative'.  This is the basis for the American and 
British rejection of the Iraqi decision.  I assume we 
are going to hear much more in the next few days about 
Iraq `lacking seriousness' and the `maneuvering' 
aspect of the Iraqi decision.  Needless to say, Iraq 
managed to buy itself some time and this is good in 
itself, particularly if this time is used well to 
launch a diplomatic mission that eliminates the ghost 
of war altogether." 
 
-- "The repercussions of the Iraqi decision" 
 
Daily columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(09/18):  "Changing the Iraqi regime remains the 
objective of the U.S. policy.  It is an objective that 
cannot be attained by a Security Council resolution. 
Therefore, the United States will continue to focus on 
marginal issues, opening one file after another, until 
the final provocation that will be the justification 
for the war." 
 
-- "Washington's utmost hallucination" 
 
Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(09/18):  "No one can understand or accept the 
American justifications for striking Iraq, 
particularly after Iraq agreed to the unconditional 
return of the inspectors.  What does Washington want? 
Washington wants Iraqi oil.  It wants a regime that 
achieves all its interests in the region.  It wants to 
destroy any weapons that can threaten Israel.  Iraq's 
decision marks a very intelligent step.  It exposed 
America's lies completely.  It is now up to the Arab 
countries and Europe to employ the Iraqi stand in 
favor of all concerned.  Washington can continue its 
hallucinations about war, but it is important that no 
Arab or European country listen to those 
hallucinations.  No one wants to start a war in the 
region except Israel,  American oil companies, and 
some of the Iraqi opposition groups." 
GNEHM