US embassy cable - 05AMMAN7940

UNCLAS AMMAN 007940 
 
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 TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ 
 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- Lead stories in all papers today, October 5, focus 
on domestic issues, especially the rising price of 
commodities during the month of Ramadan and the King's 
call to provide the people with basic commodities at 
reasonable prices.  Other major stories continue to 
highlight developments related to the Palestinian- 
Israeli conflict and the situation in Gaza, as well as 
continued violence in Iraq. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "An initiative to sponsor an Iraqi reconciliation" 
 
Daily columnist Mahmoud Rimawi writes on the op-ed 
page of the leading, semi-official Arabic daily Al-Rai 
(10/05):  "A ministerial committee of the Arab League 
agreed that the League will sponsor a conference for 
national reconciliation in Iraq.  This reconciliation 
conference, if it does take place, will be the first 
Arab political contribution to try and put out the 
flaming crisis in Iraq.  It is clear now that there is 
no security solution to the crisis, because the 
American power is superior and the armed groups are 
waging a gang war against the state and the society.. 
What is required is finding a status that pleases the 
majority of Iraqis, that lifts the political cover off 
the presence of the American forces . and that lifts 
the political cover off the armed groups..  Should 
this beginning take place, political and social forces 
. will be responsible for the future of Iraq..  The 
Arab League must have ready such beginnings and ideas 
as it moves towards organizing a general conference 
for dialogue and reconciliation.  Time must not be 
wasted in the search for a good starting point.  After 
all, it is true that, despite the tragic situation in 
which the Iraqis are living, they have made 
significant steps on the path of the political 
process, building a pluralistic regime and the draft 
constitution." 
 
-- "Solution lies in reconciliation" 
 
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of 
the independent, centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad 
(10/05):  "In a few days, the Iraqis are going to vote 
on their draft constitution.  Yet, the results of the 
voting are already clear.  The majority of the Iraqis 
will vote in favor of the constitution, while the 
Sunni Arabs will fail to achieve a majority vote.. 
This means that October 15, the voting date, will be 
the beginning of a new stage of tension in Iraq.  The 
Sunni Arabs' rejection of the constitution means the 
rejection a large and influential section of the Iraqi 
society of the aspects of the new political system. 
The result will be entrenching the feeling of 
injustice and helplessness for the Sunni Arabs and 
more ethnic and sectarian division in Iraq..  Iraq 
should not be ruled by the majority.  History, 
demography, culture, security and politics dictate the 
need for reconciliation, the only formula capable of 
salvaging Iraq from its status quo." 
HALE