Cablegate: Iraqi Constitution--Getting the Word Out

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 THE HAGUE 002452

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO NL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI CONSTITUTION--GETTING THE WORD OUT

REF: STATE 158420

1. (SBU) Post has shared the Iraqi constitution information
contained in reftel with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think-
tank, and media contacts. In discussions with government
contacts embassy officers stressed the importance of
establishing a positive political environment for the
constitutional process, and urged the Dutch to find ways to
contribute to the process. We specifically asked our
interlocutors to make positive public statements about the
process. Media reaction to the draft constitution has been
somewhat negative, with most commentators questioning what
had been achieved in light of Sunni objections and the
prospects that some saw for civil war.

Government Outreach
-------------------

2. (SBU) Post shared the information with Ministry of
Foreign Affairs contacts on several levels, including:

- The Charge passed the papers to Marnix Krop, Director
General for European Cooperation, prior to the September 1-2
Gymnich meeting.

- The Charge also discussed the Iraqi Constitution with
former Dutch Foreign Minister Max van der Stoel, who has
been working quietly with Iraqi groups (with the support of
the Dutch MFA) to resolve a number of issues related to the
constitution.

- POLCOUNS and POLOFF shared the points/fact sheets in
person and discussed with senior or working-level
interlocutors in MFA's Department of Political Affairs, the
North America Desk, the Department of Security Affairs and
the Department of Near East and North African Affairs

Outreach to Public Opinion Makers
---------------------------------

3. (U) The Public Affairs section shared the fact sheet and
Secretary Rice's statement with ten newspapers and magazines

SIPDIS
across the political spectrum, as well as one TV outlet.
PAS also contacted an influential group of international
affairs opinion makers and academics at the Clingendael
Institute, a prominent think tank.

Media Reaction
--------------

4. (U) "Iraqi Parties Have to Compromise; That is the Right
of the Citizens"
Left-of-Center "Trouw" states in its editorial (8/27):
"President Bush called the hard efforts to write a
Constitution for Iraq a positive thing, but every true
democrat should be worried by the political developments in
Baghdad. Does it really matter if Iraq does not have a
Constitution? When last week's deadline passed, new
elections should have been called for - as had been laid
down in the interim Constitution. This did not happen.
Secondly, it is worrying that a majority is threatening to
impose its will on a minority. A democracy should respect
the rights of minorities. . In these circumstances, the
negotiators, Sunnis as well as others, are also to blame for
not trying their best to achieve an acceptable compromise.
It is about time that the citizens of the country get what
they have a right to: clean water, electricity and health
care."

"Sunnis not Behind the Constitution."
Left-of-Center Trouw's (8/29) foreign editors report: "Since
the Sunnis resist the Constitution, there is a big chance
that it will not be accepted by the population in the
October referendum. . The Sunni `no' is a great
disappointment to the U.S. government. Still, President Bush
thinks the document is an `inspiration to the supporters of
democracy.'"

"Iraqi Constitution not a Feast but a Divisive Element"
Influential independent "NRC Handelsblad" carries a front-
page analysis by editor Carolien Roelants (8/29): "The
constitutional process in Iraq is threatening to promote the
Sunni rebellion into a civil war. The proposals for a
federal state are the product of a Shiite-Kurdish agreement.
The Americans realize that the Sunnis will continue their
violent opposition ... and put great pressure on all parties
to reign themselves in." Still, George Bush called it: "The
most progressive Constitution in the Islamic world."

"Iraq Back to Where it Started"
Influential independent "NRC Handelsblad" in its editorial
(8/29): "The prospect of a viable Iraqi democracy and, with
that, of an honorable withdrawal of American and British
troops is further off than ever. . America thinks about
withdrawing troops . even though there is no real reason for
that, because there is no progress at all. . The situation
is, in fact, more serious than during the Vietnam War,
because a civil war threatens in an area that is of world
importance for its oil resources. The course of the fighting
in Iraq is also used as a motive for terrorist actions in
the West.... Reason for President Bush to drop his rosy,
unilateral ideas about the world order. America needs the
help of international organizations and allies to prevent
worse."

"Divided Iraq"
Influential liberal "De Volkskrant" has this editorial
(8/30): "The responsible parliamentary commission has not
succeeded in writing a draft Constitution acceptable to all
parties. . This is bad news for Iraq - and for the Bush
government that, behind the screens, put great pressure on
the parties to reach agreement. It is mainly the crisis in
the Sunni community that blocked a compromise. . Several
Sunni leaders have by now been killed for their willingness
to cooperate. . If the draft text had been accepted, the
politicians would have shown that the building of a
democratic order does not let itself be derailed by
violence. . In the mean time, the level of suspicion in the
country has further increased, which plays into the hands of
the Jihadists.

"Worse than Vietnam"
Influential independent "NRC Handelsblad" op-ed by columnist
H.J.A. Hofland (8/31): "The milestone of the new
Constitution may also become the blueprint for a civil war.
The more official optimism, the more this is hit by
inflation. . There were many warnings by big allies when the
war in Iraq was being prepared. President Bush and his staff
were inaccessible. The philosophers of the American
government concluded that `old Europe' consisted mainly of
cowards. Still, the American superpower kept isolating
itslef from the rest of the world" through, for instance,
".Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, fighting AIDS in Africa through
sexual abstinence, cancelling the Kyoto Protocol, and
reforming the UN . Large parts of Europe understand the
seriousness of Iraq. A civil war which might draw in Syrai,
Iran and Saudi Arabia, is a nightmare. The unanswered
question remains how the U.S. President can be reached, can
be made receptive to other solutions. Bush's words `We will
prevail' are like a gramophone record stuck in one groove.
As things stand now, only the Americans themselves can
change their government's mind. That is the big similarity
with the war in Vietnam." BLAKEMAN

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