Cablegate: Media Reaction Iraq; Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS HARARE 002062

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AD/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE

1. Under headline "Who will pre-empt the war on Iraq?"
the independent, pro-government weekly "The Sunday Mirror"
dedicated its September 8 editorial to urging the United
Nations Security Council to stop the United States and
Britain from attacking Iraq. Excerpts:

2. "The first salvos of the unfolding war against Iraq
have already been fired. The U.S. and its key ally, the
UK, are meeting this weekend, in the context of a `Council
of War' (to use their own words), almost as a confirmation
that war can no longer be stopped. And with the
anniversary of the September 11 due this week, war fever
has almost engulfed the U.S. We have no doubt that other
members of the
UN Security Council will deny Bush and Blair the nod
they are seeking as a formality for war plans
already concluded. It will be yet another test for
the world body, a commendable outcome, of at least
Russia, China and France can stand up and be
counted, even if, as appears to be the case, the
U.S. and the UK should persist with their war plans.
[NB: This is an accurate transcription.]

"If Bush and Blair should go it alone, the emptiness
of their cause will become even more obvious and
their penchant for bullying thereby exposed. But it
might not be too late to stop this senseless war,
provided that all sections of our Earth speak out
and demand that Kofi Annan calls an urgent meeting
of the UN Security Council. The Arab World has
already stated its strong opposition to any attack
on Iraq and, in so doing, has exposed the hawk that
is Israel that alone in the Middle East is in favor
of war. Africa and the Third World need to add
their voice. It is not too late to clinch a
diplomatic solution over Iraq and place the matter
entirely within the ambit of the United Nations."

SULLIVAN

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