Cablegate: Daily Iraqi Website Monitoring - September 26, 2005
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003986
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ, INR/P
E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ
SUBJECT: DAILY IRAQI WEBSITE MONITORING - September 26, 2005
SUMMARY: Discussion on Iranian influence in Iraq; the Iraqi
foreign ministry; and the proposed Honor Accord were the
major editorial themes of Iraqi, Arabic language websites on
September 26, 2005. END SUMMARY.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "What Is the Secret to Iran's Strength . It's Iraq!"
(Iraq 4 All News, 9/26)
B. "Good Morning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (Sot Al-Iraq,
9/26)
C. "An Honor Accord" (Independent Iraqi News Agency, 9/26)
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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "What Is the Secret to Iran's Strength . It's Iraq!"
(Editorial by Khair Allah Khair Allah - Iraq 4 All News -
http://iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=10046 )
"It might be too late to do anything for Iraq. Our fears
have become reality: the war that America launched to topple
the Iraqi regime has resulted in Iraq's capitulation to
Iran.
"Before entering Iraq, Americans planted the seeds of
sectarianism by providing literature to Iraqi opposition
that included phrases like: "The majority Shiites." The
Iranian regime loves phrases like this. Opposition groups
taking refuge in Iran added a Shiite touch to other
opposition groups in the United States, including that of
Ahmed Al-Chalabi-the most familiar face among these
opposition forces.
"After entering Iraq, Americans dissolved the Iraqi Army and
left hundreds of thousands of families with no way to earn a
living. This was followed by the formation, on an ethnic and
sectarian basis, of the Iraqi Governing Council, which
stoked fears within the Sunni Arab community and further
drove Sunnis towards extremism.
"While many issues have surfaced since the U.S. began its
occupation, we cannot escape the fact that Iran has been the
major winner of this war, followed by the Kurds who managed
to organize their affairs and lay the groundwork for an
eventual independent state.
"To see how far Iranian influence extends in Iraq, all you
need to do is reflect on the situation involving British
forces in southern Iraq. They have become Iranian hostages
ever since London joined the European-American debate over
Tehran's nuclear program. Basra, where British forces
operate, has become an Iranian city for all intents and
purposes.
"The spell has turned against the Americans in Iraq. Control
in Iraq has become Iran's secret strength these days, and
Iran is proving that it has the ability to manipulate all
issues related to its nuclear program. Iran has won the Iraq
war without fighting. It uses its Iraqi agents to direct
corruption scandals at the former Minister of Defense, Hazim
Al-Shalan-one of the few who took a stand against the
Iranian role in Iraq. Will Americans continue their search
for fictional achievements in a country consumed by civil
war while Iran continues to gain the upper hand?"
B. "Good Morning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs"
(Editorial by Muhsin Radhi Al-Daraji - Sot Al-Iraq -
http://www.sotaliraq.com/articles-iraq/nieuws .php?id=16139 )
"When will our foreign ministry stand up for diplomacy and
tradition? It seems that our officials only smile for the
cameras while Iraqis suffer. The ministry has exhibited its
indecisiveness many times. It condemns the indecisiveness of
the Syrian government but fails to set a timeline for
solving problems between the two countries. Iraqi bloodshed
continues. And why hasn't the ministry demanded that
America, as Iraq's principal political caretaker, intervene
to solve these problems and refer this case of Syrian
indifference to the U.N.?
"We demand that our government come to some conclusions
about what is taking place along our borders with Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, Iran, and even Kuwait. Do ministry officials
simply attend international conferences and meetings, or do
they actually monitor what is going on in the world and keep
an eye on implications for Iraq; develop relationships
between Iraqis and our friends abroad, and monitor foreign
media that incite violence and hostility?
"Our foreign ministry should play a central role, and our
ambassadors should assume their national duty and serve as
true representatives of Iraq. The role of ambassadors should
not be restricted to issuing passports and granting visas;
it should include monitoring all that takes place in our
missions' host countries. We see other foreign ministries
withdraw ambassadors and dismiss individuals in connection
with various and sundry events all the time. Iraq, too, has
witnessed many events: explosions in Hilla, statements by
the king of Jordan, Amr Musa, and the Saudi Foreign
Minister, the Beirut Ba'athist conference, and the "Anbar
Residents Conference" in Jordan, but none has elicited a
reply from our foreign ministry informing these countries
that their actions hindered the Iraqi political process.
"We wish our foreign ministry would review its policies of
courtesy and good manners-policies that are detrimental to
our rights and our people."
C. "An Honor Accord"
(Independent Iraqi News Agency - http://www.normal.iraq-
ina.com/showarticles.php?id=1407 )
"Muslim Scholars' Association member, Sheikh Mahmoud Mahdi
Al Sumaida'i, issued a call for an "honor accord to prohibit
fighting" between Iraqis. The accord is considered a crucial
step in reducing tension between Iraq's various factions.
The accord followed the release of one of Al-Zarqawi's most
divisive tapes, in which he called for the murder of Shiite
Iraqis.
"The call for a national dialogue and reconciliation among
the country's factions is one element of an eloquent
response to Al Zarqawi's provocations. But this kind of
accord cannot be effective (and it will not initiate a
productive dialogue) unless there is an end to all armed
operations that target Iraqi civilians. This would give much
needed credibility to Sumaida'i's call.
"Al Sumaida'i and the Muslim Scholars' Association must
follow through on their call if they wish to transform their
idea of an honor accord into a reality-a reality that will
improve relations and maintain the unity and freedom of the
Iraqi people."
KHALILZAD