Cablegate: Daily Iraqi Website Monitoring - November 29, 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 004780

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 - November 29, 2005

SUMMARY: Discussions of establishing a new, effective
government and the importance of Saddam Hussein's trial are
the major editorial themes of Iraqi, Arabic language
websites on November 29, 2005. END SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. "Closing the Gap" (Iraq 4 All News, 11/29)
B. "Trying Saddam . Trying History ." (Kitabat, 11/29)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
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A. "Closing the Gap"
(Editorial by Fatih Abdul Salam - Iraq 4 All News -
http://www.iraq4all.org/viewnews.php?id=11000 - Independent,
based in Denmark)

"Talk has circulated in Iraqi political gatherings about a
technocratic government that would include academic and
scientific experts.We have witnessed that ministerial
positions were given to those who carried high scientific
certificates-in order to end any discussion about an absence
of educated people in the ministries. But giving the
`ministerial post' to someone does not mean that technocrats
can run the state; in other words, it does not mean that his
scientific experience will match his ministry. Many framed
certificates moved suspiciously from foreign universities to
walls in bedrooms or guestrooms without their bearers
understanding what is going on in reality.

"Maybe people who own those kinds of certificates are the
main hindrance in their ministries. Even if we suppose the
minister is well-trained scientifically, where could he lead
his ministry if its structure is dictated by parties that
lack qualifications?

"Have we forgotten that Saddam's government included at
least nine people who had received higher education? .Let's
hope that civil society organizations and the media educate
people about the fact that a technocratic government cannot
[necessarily] save the country from its problems."

B. "Trying Saddam . Trying History ."
(Editorial by Emad Risen - Kitabat - "Writings" -
http://www.kitabat.com/i10529.htm - Independent, based in
Germany)

"The tyrant's trial is on, and faces of his regime's victims
are smiling; mothers of martyrs are smiling as they face
television screens that show this historic trial, awaited by
all free and honorable human beings. If Saddam was part of
our painful history, we should review this entire history.
And if Saddam committed mistakes, we should seek the causes
of these mistakes. The important question remains: have we
Iraqis reviewed ourselves and our past? Or do we want to
overlook this past and just occupy ourselves with claims of
triumph and end the story.the story of bloodshed, hunger,
suppression, and pain?

"Iraqis should try themselves before trying the tyrant who
ruled Iraq with steel and fire. This was a tyrant that did
not appear from oblivion to seize power. Saddam ruled Iraq
with a culture of death, suppression, and discrimination in
all respects-mentally, socially, politically, and even
economically. This culture still stands today, and it
generated many dictatorships and wars for a long time.

"We should review our past, our culture, and even our sacred
beliefs and way of life. In brief, we should change the way
we see life and begin reconciling with ourselves, promoting
love instead of hate, inclusion instead of exclusion.

"Our Islamic heritage provides us with an opportunity to
overcome many of the crises facing us today with a loving
spirit. We should include others in our lives and allow
criticism to direct our path towards the right choice. This
is the only way we can avenge the martyrs who sacrificed
themselves for their country. [We] should review everything,
starting with the culture that produced dictatorship to our
most sacred beliefs. It is the beginning of the path the
will lead us to a peaceful way of life far from sites of
execution, where our hopes and words were hanged to death."

KHALILZAD

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