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 001535

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
IRAQ PD FOR SMITH, PINESS AND ROOKARD
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

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

1. Under headline "Bush humbled by uncertainty in Iraq"
the July 30 edition of the government-controlled
daily "The Herald" carried the following op-ed by
Lovemore Mataire in which he blames the United
States for going into Iraq without possessing "a
brilliant exit strategy." Excerpts:

2. "The United States is now courting the United Nations
to intervene in restoring normalcy in Iraq, which is a
clear sign of their failure to clear the flagrant political
debris they created. . .With the gusto and machismo that
Bush publicly displayed when the U. S. invaded Iraq, no one
would have thought that five months after the invasion, he
would be appealing not only to the U. N. but to other
nations to assist in the restoration of peace and stability
in Iraq. This, indeed, is a humbling experience for this
`democratic' administration, which, under its leadership,
is not known for admitting mistakes and accepting
criticism, even from its own people. This is a lesson to
all right wing elements. . .which supported the invasion. .
.The back-peddling move taken by the U. S. is also a lesson
to the world not to allow one nation to become so powerful
to the extent that it can bully everyone in the world. .
.It seems everything that Bush touches reeks, for there are
still problems in Afghanistan with no sight of Osama bin
Laden and peace is yet to be realized in Palestine where
the U. S. President has been mediating. Devoid of any
tactical maneuvers, the U. S. President is now appealing to
the U. N. as the last face saver to legitimize the U. S.
presence in Iraq. . .It is now apparent to most people
throughout the world that military might without ingenuity
is not only dangerous but leads to disaster. The major
problem that confronts the U. S. in Iraq is that the
brilliant military planning that was displayed to the world
was not accompanied with a brilliant exit strategy. . . ."

SULLIVAN

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