Cablegate: Media Reaction: Iraqi Government, Constitution,
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 004272
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: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION,
REFERENDUM, NATIONAL RECONCILIATION; BAGHDAD
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution, Referendum, and
National Reconciliation were the major editorial themes of
the daily newspapers on October 17, 2005. END SUMMARY.
-------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------
A. "Iraq Between Two Constitutions: Regardless of Results"
(Asharq Al-Awsat, 10/17)
B. "Significant Step and Huge Accomplishment" (Al-Adala,
10/17)
C. "Rice Announces Results Before the Vote Count" (Al-Quds
Al-Arabi, 10/17)
D. "Now.Towards Reconciliation" (Al-Hayat, 10/17)
----------------------------------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
----------------------------------------
[Editor's note: due to the four-day national referendum
holiday, Iraqi newspapers are in limited production; only
one (Al-Adala) has resumed publication today]
A. "Iraq Between Two Constitutions: Regardless of Results"
(Asharq Al-Awsat, London-based, independent, Saudi owned,
published this page-ten editorial by Jabber Habib Jabber)
"When I was still a student at the Faculty of Law &
Politics, I remember a Moroccan colleague of mine asking me
who Saddam's successor, following his death, would be. In
fact, I could not speak about that issue because it would
have caused problems for me and for that reason I told him
to ask the relevant professor. Today, I remember that event
when I see how media outlets and TV news channels freely
discuss constitutional issues without any fear of
retribution from the government.
"Some Pan-Arab channels have dedicated themselves to
speaking out against the Iraqi constitution and have tried
to illustrate that it was drafted by the Americans; some
channels described those who drafted the Iraqi constitution
as traitors and collaborators. However, those who criticize
the current Iraqi constitution must know that this
constitution was drafted for a country that is characterized
by diversity and this constitution moves Iraq from
disharmony to harmony.
"This constitution was drafted on the ruins of a dictatorial
regime that has distorted Iraqi identity. The current Iraqi
constitution respects Shariah while respecting and applying
democracy and human rights. This constitution, on which
Iraqis voted, represents the seventh constitution in Iraq's
history. It seems that this constitution and the first one
in 1925, are the only two Iraqi constitutions that were
drafted by an elected assembly while all others were written
by rulers. It is interesting that these two constitutions
were drafted under occupation; this first under British
occupation and the current one under American occupation.
"Usually constitutions are drafted by rulers, an elected
assembly or through a public referendum. The current
constitution allows any three provinces to reject it, giving
the minority the right of veto. In fact, it has even given
rights to small minorities to reject the constitution. I do
not think there is any former constitution that has given
the Iraqi people the same guarantees and rights as the
current constitution. We know that even the United States'
constitution allowed up to six states to reject it and that
was during a time when the United States was comprised of
only thirteen states.
"The Americans have been hopeful that the Sunni Arabs would
join the political process through their participation in
the drafting of the constitution to ensure its success. For
this reason, the recent American move has caused dissenting
Iraqi politicians to become more flexible and make
compromises to Sunni Arabs in order to achieve national
consensus.
"I think that the chances of the constitution's rejection
are improbable. However if this happens, armed groups in
Iraq will think that they are able to disrupt the political
process. In addition, these groups will believe that they
have popular support and rejection of the constitution will
increase sectarianism in the political process and this will
cause those who made compromises to retract them. Amid hope
for the future, Iraqis went out to vote in order to build
their costly democracy."
B. "Significant Step and Huge Accomplishment"
(Al-Adala, affiliated with SCIRI led by Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim,
published this page-three editorial by Dr. Ali Khalif)
"Iraqis went out on October 15 armed with a challenge and a
hope that a shining future would be realized through a new
constitution. It was a big day filled with happiness while
Iraqis decided to leave everything behind and to choose
their way forward, by themselves, and announced their
approval for the constitution as a gateway to progress
towards democracy and freedom.
"Regardless of a positive or negative outcome, what we have
seen on the great referendum day is the happiness that has
appeared on the faces of Iraqi voters while they were
walking long distances to go to polling centers to cast
their votes. The fact that no one can deny or hide is that
Iraqis have defeated the terrorists.
"Whatever we say about the referendum day is not an
exaggeration because this day has broken the backs of
terrorists and their supporters. Those who had bet on the
failure of the political process and the government should
reconsider their positions.
"What Iraqis have registered through their votes has
emphasized a real willingness in practicing the democratic
process. However, what Iraqis have achieved would never have
happened unless there were sacrifices by the people and
their friends [Coalition Forces] who helped in practicing
this democratic process. Therefore, the blood of freedom has
been mixed [between Iraqis and Coalition Forces]. Many
victims have fallen in Iraq in order to establish freedom
and democracy for all Iraqis.
"The most marvelous thing from the referendum is that voters
cast their votes freely without any pressure. The era of
dictatorship and tyranny is over, and it is now time for
freedom and democracy to prevail in the new Iraq."
C. "Rice Announces Results Before the Vote Count"
(Al-Quds Al-Arabi, independent, Palestinian owned, London-
based anti-coalition published this page nineteen
unattributed editorial)
"The U.S. Secretary of State Condolezza Rice announced the
results of Iraqi voting on the draft constitution, even
before the IECI had given its account, when she commented in
London that the Iraqi people had likely approved the
constitution.
"These statements mean that the U.S. administration is
determined to go forward with its political process in Iraq
and that all measures have been taken to pass the
constitution regardless of the results of voting. What needs
to be closely monitored in the coming days is the
announcement of final results of the referendum-particularly
the percentages from the four majority Sunni provinces.
"The U.S. administration made a clever move by rejecting the
TNA amendment to the election law ensuring that the voting
process would be honest and announcing it would be committed
regardless of the outcome of the referendum.
"According to Saleh Al-Mutlak, the spokesman for the [Sunni]
National Dialogue Council, `The monitors at the voting sites
said Iraqis gave a strong `No' for the constitution that
aims to divide Iraq and alienate people from their
surroundings.'
"The primary results reported that Sunnis voted `No' (by
more than 70%) in Salahadin and Al-Anbar provinces, but the
`Yes' percentage in Mosul province reached 70%, meaning the
rejecters may not reach numbers necessary to reject the
constitution. The new constitution, whether approved or not,
is considered a recipe for sedition in Iraq, it enhances
sectarianism and psychological division among the people of
Iraq.
"President Bush praised the voting process, and he is right
in that, because what he is trying to impose in Iraq serves
his agenda; not Iraqi's national agenda. The U.S. wants to
prove that the political process is working well in Iraq and
that the upcoming elections are proof of democracy, while
the reality on the ground is totally different. Car bombs,
the lack of security or water, power shortages, and the
Iraqi government's retreat to the Green Zone are all
examples of that reality."
D. "Now.Towards Reconciliation"
(Al-Hayat, London-based, independent, Saudi owned, published
this page-nine editorial by Deputy Editor Abdul Wahab
Badrkhan)
"There was a rush by the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice and some other European officials in their statements
concerning the referendum on the Iraqi constitution. Rice
spoke about the matter as if she knew the result of the
referendum in advance. It seems that she knows that the
result will be so positive that the U.S. administration will
be able to think for awhile about how to celebrate the new
victory in Iraq.
"The primary results have shown that Salahadin and Al-Anbar
have totally rejected the constitution. At the same time,
there is a percentage of rejection in other provinces. This
percentage of rejection must be carefully analyzed. We know
that the overwhelming majority will settle the fate of the
constitution. However, the previously unsettled
disagreements about the constitution will force politicians
to make amendments to the document.
"It was clear that this constitution was aimed to make a
specific move in Iraq although this country is not yet ready
for one. For this reason, the idea of national
reconciliation was presented again but hasn't been
implemented because those who drafted the constitution have
refused the idea of national reconciliation from the
beginning and continue to reject this idea. They think that
by rejecting it they will be able to exploit the current
chaos in Iraq to implement their agendas. The Secretary
General of Arab League, Amr Musa, has made reconciliation
his purpose for visiting Baghdad. This visit comes at an
appropriate time although some Iraqi groups believe it's too
late.
"We had hoped that the drafting of the constitution would be
a type of reconciliation conference which we thought would
encourage Iraqis to discuss their future. But, this hasn't
happened and we hope that, at the very least, the proposed
constitution will unite the country. However, this also has
not happened. In fact, this constitution weakens the central
government at the expense of territories and provinces. It
also puts national resources under the control of specific
areas at the expense of the country as a whole. It was
obvious that this constitution is appropriate for a divided
rather than united country.
"The Chairman of the Iraqi Center for Development and
National Dialogue, Mahdi Al-Hafuz, has done well when he
called for holding a conference for national reconciliation
and unity. This conference will support and legitimize the
Arab League's delegation to Iraq. The Iraqi government
should have called for holding such a conference rather than
saying that Iraqis do not need reconciliation. Those who
call for holding such a conference today look for a united
political statement that can save the country. Their goal is
to restore and reinforce national unity through inclusive
national dialogue. We do not know if this conference will
succeed; but I think it is on time because all hopes of
reaching national agreement through the constitution are
gone."
KHALILZAD