US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4483

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004483 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO 
USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (LCDR FLETCHER), 
J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ STYNER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Iraq Constitution Bangladesh-U.S. 
Bilateral 9/11 anniversary; Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: "New Age" front page article suggests that the new 
constitution in Iraq would on the one hand be another step 
towards a US pullout and on the other ensure US control over 
Iraqi oil, with plans to destroy OPEC's control over oil. 
"Daily Star" editorial says it is heartening to know that 
the media of the United States thought highly of the way 
Bangladesh has been managing the prelude to and aftermath of 
natural disasters the country has been historically 
vulnerable to. 
 
"Ittefaq" editorial says on the anniversary of 9/11 that 
terrorism means destruction and death. 
 
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1. Iraq Constitution 
-------------------- 
 
"Iraq Constitution Points To War On Terror's Agenda" 
Independent English language newspaper "New Age" front-page 
article comments (9/11): 
 
The US-led invasion of Iraq dubbed as the "war on terror" 
sparked off by the twin tower bombings in New York four 
years ago today seems to be attaining its hidden agenda 
after all. 
Although the "war on terror," as its champions claimed, 
would promote democracy abolishing a "rogue" state, quashing 
threats of future attacks on America, the new Iraqi 
constitution points otherwise. 
With a new constitution, that would on the one hand be 
another step towards a US pullout and on the other ensure US 
control over Iraqi oil, plans to destroy OPEC's control over 
oil seems to be near realization. 
Together with the Saudi and Iraqi oil under its control - 
constituting about half the world's oil reserves - US 
political and economic hegemony would be ensured for quite 
some time. 
Behind the guarantees of democratic and civil liberty, the 
Iraqi constitution proposes regions and provinces that would 
have authority over their own natural resources. 
In fact the US has influenced drafting the constitution to 
ensure its interests.  Otherwise, the US interests and those 
of the oil lobby it caters to would not be fulfilled in the 
long term, after the occupation army withdraws from a "free" 
Iraq. 
----------------------------- 
2. U.S. - Bangladesh Bilateral 
----------------------------- 
"Praise for Bangladesh: Acknowledgement Is Much Appreciated 
Independent English language "Daily Star" editorially 
comments (9/10/05): 
 
Much that we are swathed in compassion and sympathy for the 
unprecedented damage and devastation caused by the 
catastrophic Katrina, it is nonetheless heartening to know 
that the media of the United States thought highly of the 
way Bangladesh has been managing the prelude to and 
aftermath of natural disasters the country has been 
historically vulnerable to. In fact Bangladesh became 
popularly known in the West as the country of "natural 
disasters" in the eighties and nineties when natural 
calamities struck the country almost every year leaving 
behind a trail of extensive destruction and huge loss of 
lives. 
But now the acknowledgements by the media in the US about 
our efficient handling of disaster situations, in the wake 
of their own calamity in the last week or so, should be much 
appreciated. There is no doubt that Bangladesh, over the 
years, has achieved considerable expertise in disaster 
management in the whole world. Especially since the nature's 
egregious plunder of 1991 when at least one hundred and 
thirty thousand people died in one of the biggest cyclones 
of recent times. The elevated cyclone shelters built by the 
Bangladesh government along the coastal regions, more 
emphasis by the authorities on storm warning system using 
indigenous methods to evacuate people -- all these have 
contributed largely in decreasing the number of casualties 
in later calamities. 
---------------------- 
3. Anniversary of 9/11 
---------------------- 
"Today Is 9/11" 
Large circulation Bangla daily "Ittefaq" editorially 
comments: 
9/11 is a testimony to the fact how unkind and gruesome 
terrorism can be.  The terrorists used some innocent people 
to kill many more innocent people that day. 
The past and the contemporary world show that humanity is at 
stake wherever terrorism exists. Death haunts those places 
where terrorism reigns.  Terrorism means destruction and 
death.  The negative reaction of the 9/11 tragedy still 
continues and will continue in future.  9/11 is a turning 
point in history.  The world before 9/11 and after 9/11 is 
quite different.  No one can say how long the world 
community will have to go through the aftermaths of the 
tragedy. 
Chammas