US embassy cable - 05AMMAN8361

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 008361 
 
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 THE MEHLIS REPORT 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- The lead story in all papers today, October 24, 
focuses on King Abdullah's visit to Yemen to discuss 
mutual relations and regional issues.  The second lead 
story reports on developments on Hariri's 
assassination following release of the Mehlis report, 
with attention focusing on Syria. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "Mehlis' report: the end or beginning of Al-Baath 
[resurrection]?" 
 
Columnist Manar Rashwani writes on the op-ed page of 
the independent, centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad 
(10/24):  "True, the United States and others are 
going to use the report to finish off the last of the 
Arab pan-Arab campaign of slogans, namely the Syrian 
Baath party.  It is equally true that many will not be 
sorry to see that party and its heritage go.  Thus, 
the real influence of the Mehlis report is revealed - 
even if the entire international community does not 
adopt negative procedures against Syria - in the 
Lebanese joy and welcoming of the report.  The cover 
of the Arab pan-Arab slogans is lifted, and now we 
have to face the reality about the depth of the gap 
that exists between us, not just as countries but also 
as individuals and groups within the state.  The 
Mehlis report may just be the declaration of the end 
of the Baath party in Syria and then the entire Arab 
world, especially now that the American invasion has 
terminated its existence in Iraq.  Having said that, 
both that invasion and the report provide 
opportunities for us to acknowledge the termination of 
the age of 'pan-Arab slogans' that are no longer able 
to pull in our ranks.  We genuinely need new thought 
and practice that lead to the real resurrection of the 
nation." 
 
-- "Notes about the report" 
 
Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back-page of 
Al-Ghad (10/24):  "I read Mehlis' report carefully and 
I must say that I found its presentation of the work 
of the committee not very convenient.  It fluctuates 
in terms of style and professionalism, so that there 
are boring details vis-a-vis some formalities and 
procedures, and extreme summaries of important 
clarifications....  The result is that the very strong 
suspicions do not leave much room for Syria other than 
giving its full cooperation to the investigation. 
This will protect it from international decisions and 
sanctions until that time when the investigation that 
could last years and the trials that could also take 
years are concluded." 
 
-- "What's after the Mehlis report?" 
 
Columnist Raja Talab writes on the op-ed page of semi- 
official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/24): 
"The Security Council will tomorrow hold a session to 
discuss the [Mehlis] report with the likelihood that 
it will call for completing the investigation and will 
ask Damascus to cooperate and to respond to the 
committee's demands....  This calls upon the Arab 
countries that are concerned for Syria's welfare to 
advise the Syrian leadership to respond to the demands 
of the investigation committee.  I believe that the 
spirit by which the Syrian leadership handled the 
implementation of Resolution 1559 on Syria's 
withdrawal from Lebanon should be the same spirit by 
which Damascus handles the upcoming Security Council 
decisions.  Otherwise, Syria would just be allowing 
America, France and Britain to get at it very easily. 
Going along with the international will and desire is 
not weakness and going against is not strength.  The 
experience of the former Iraqi regime is still before 
us and it is an experience we do not wish upon our 
brothers in Syria." 
 
-- "Tomorrow's Security Council session: an 
opportunity for Bush and his administration" 
Columnist Mohammad Kharroub writes on the op-ed page 
of Al-Rai (10/24):  "President Bush wants to direct 
attention away from his domestic problems, which are 
real problems and cause him a great deal of worry, not 
just because his popularity is deteriorating, but also 
because congressional elections are at hand and the 
loss of the Republicans would mean that Bush is held 
to blame.  That is why he wants to use the Mehlis 
report for a political accomplishment, which he badly 
needs following the humble or insignificant political 
and field results yielded by the Iraqi referendum on 
the constitution and the rising indications that pre- 
referendum Iraq is itself post-referendum Iraq." 
 
-- "Mehlis report, what's next?" 
 
Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back-page of 
Al-Rai (10/24):  "The Mehlis report was not written to 
be presented to a court of law but rather to a 
political entity.  That is why Mehlis allowed himself 
to state not just facts and evidence, but also a group 
of observations and convictions that would otherwise 
be worthless in a court of law and that would create 
the required climate for further procedures such as 
economic and political sanctions.  Hariri's killing 
might have gone by as easily as other killings have 
gone by before had the circumstances been different 
and had Syria and the Syrian regime not been targeted. 
America is not upset about Hariri's killing, but it 
saw this crime as its opportunity to tighten the noose 
around Syria's neck to bring it on board....  Syria's 
situation today is very similar to that of Iraq 
previously when it had been required to prove that it 
did not have weapons of mass destruction.  Syria is 
now required to prove its innocence.  In other words, 
the accused is guilty until proven innocent." 
 
-- "The report: political rush and judicial delay" 
 
Daily columnist Rakan Majali writes on the back-page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour: 
"It has become clear that the report is targeting 
Syria, and that the United States considers it a 
stepping stone for rallying international support for 
its plans against Syria by going through the Security 
Council and snatching whatever kind of condemnation, 
thus allowing it to get international coverage for 
escalating its pressures on Syria....  We believe that 
the investigative committee's report was addressed to 
the Security Council and that there will not be any 
legal proceedings." 
HALE