Cablegate: Media Reaction: Iraqi Government, December 15th

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BAGHDAD 004841

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, DECEMBER 15th
ELECTION, TRANSPARENCY, U.S. MILITARY PLANTING STORIES IN
THE IRAQI MEDIA; BAGHDAD

SUMMARY: Today's major editorial theme was split between
widespread coverage of the American military's placement of
stories in the Iraqi press and continuing coverage of
electoral issues.

Analysis: Independent Az-Zaman published a page-three
column, "Az-Zaman Cannot Be Seduced Or Threatened" which was
highly critical of the U.S. military's involvement in the
"scandal" of publishing unattributed, pro-American stories
in the Iraqi press. The newspaper described the act as "a
stigma on the forehead of the occupation."

Independent Ad-Dustoor's front-page editorial by Editor-in
Chief Bassim Al-Sheikh was entitled, "Advertising and the
Media" and took a defensive tone coupled with a slightly
broader attack, accusing much of the Western media of
defaming the Iraqi press and even complicity in the scandal
merely by virtue of how it's treated the Iraqi media.

On a different topic, independent Al-Mada's back-page column
entitled, "The Mercy of Reduction" dealt with the upcoming
election and how the Iraqi people are still suffering daily
from crises and problems committed during the current and
former governments.

Independent As-Sabah Al-Jadeed's front-page editorial
highlighted the results of the Cairo Conference and how the
Iraqi people are waiting for reconstruction, progress and
rapprochement following the election.

Al-Adala continues publishing editorials on pages 4, 6, 7
about the political and electoral process in general and
also about the UIA's list. Baghdad also continues to
dedicate a back-page column to speaking about the Iraqiya
National List No. 731

KDP affiliated At-Taakhi published a front-page editorial
entitled, "Kurdistan's Society is Rich Due to Its Unity"
where the writer criticized those who are trying to gain the
votes of Shiite Kurds by employing sectarian slogans. The
writer argued that the Shiite (Faili) Kurds will defend
their rights because first and foremost they are Kurds.

Al-Ittihad published a page-three column entitled "Kurdistan
Coalition List (730) is a List For All Iraqis" that dealt
with preparations for the upcoming election and the
importance of all Iraqis voting for list 730 because "it
will satisfy all wishes and interests of Iraqis."

Independent Al-Mashriq distributed "The Eyes of the Voter,"
an eight-page electoral supplement with the newspaper which
contains editorials about the upcoming election. Other
newspapers (i.e. Ad-Dustoor, As-Sabah, and As-Sabah Al-
Jadeed) are also publishing electoral supplements which have
been less news-driven and more public service oriented. END
SUMMARY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------

A. "Even You?" (Asharq Al-Awsat, 12/4)
B. "Advertising and the Media" (Ad-Dustoor, 12/4)
C. "Allawi Outside of the Electoral Game" (Al-Bayyan, 12/4)
D. "Az-Zaman Cannot Be Seduced or Threatened" (Az-Zaman,
12/4)
E. "Honesty Is Rare In Our Country" (As-Sabah Al-Jadeed,
12/4)
F. "About the Los Angeles Times Article" (Al-Mada, 12/4)
G. "The Lame Duck and the Strategy of Withdrawal" (Al-
Ittihad, 12/4)

----------------------------------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
----------------------------------------

A. "Even You?"
(Asharq Al-Awsat - independent, London-based, Saudi owned,
Pan-Arab, no bias, published this page-eight editorial by
Tarik Al-Hameed)

"The Los Angeles Times' report on the U.S. military paying
Iraqi papers to write pro-American articles indicates what I
call polluted democracy. What is the difference between the
U.S. forces and the dictator Saddam's regime? Saddam
oppressed and tyrannized inside Iraq and domestic media
outlets praised him. At the same time, he paid those who
were outside of Iraq to polish his image.

"We heard General Rick Lynch, the U.S. forces spokesperson
in Iraq, say that Al-Qaeda considers media half the battle,
but did Al-Qaeda push the Americans to adopt the same style
as Saddam? If we understand that the media is half the
battle, can we justify lying? I think we have a lot of liars
in the world--we also have writers who write as a business.
We have authors who write because they believe that media is
a sacred jihad.

"In fact, media outlets that sympathize with Al-Qaeda are
not the press. Therefore, buying a news report from the
Americans in an attempt to improve their image is similar to
burying nuclear waste in our region. We have a lot of
problems and we do not need the Americans to increase these
problems. If we want to improve America's image among
Iraqis, we should avoid making haphazard mistakes in Iraq.

"We say to the Americans that they should not spoil the
democracy they established in Iraq. Improving the image of
America does not come from buying media outlets. In fact, it
comes through adopting transparency, supporting a free press
and providing freedom for conveying facts without any
interference. But, if the Americans want to establish
another bombastic press in the region, we would say to them
`even you?'"

B. "Advertising and the Media"
(Ad-Dustoor - independent, no bias, published this front-
page editorial by Bassim Al-Sheikh)

"The feverish western media outlets have defamed and accused
the Iraqi press of publishing reports and this reflects the
shining face of the `occupation' or the `multi-national
forces' as those who oppose or support its presence label
them. If we want to be neutral, we should call these forces
foreign troops. It seems western media have forgotten that
any paper has the right to publish ads. Usually, Iraqi
newspapers publish ads and they indicate that these items
are ads and do not necessarily represent the newspaper's
viewpoint.

"All Iraqi newspapers publish ads that call for Iraqis to
promote peace, love and safety. These published articles
clearly represent ads and they have nothing to do with
affiliations or loyalties. On the other hand, when
newspapers publish ads, they are not responsible for the
influence [created by] publishing those ads.

"We know for sure that the leak of information about this
issue is a result of American political and economic
disagreements. However, we will not let the sensationalist
American press defame our national media outlets. Our media
outlets rely on professionalism, rules, and are committed to
journalism's code of honor. We do not care about the
American factions or if they did not benefit from deals,
which are held under the guise of the media. I think this is
an American affair that Iraqis have nothing to do with.
Iraqi journalists know better how to discriminate between
advertising and media."

C. "Allawi Outside of the Electoral Game"
(Al-Bayyan - affiliated with Ad-Dawa (led by Al-Ja'fari), no
bias, published this page-three editorial by Zainab Al-
Khafaji)

"Iraqi National List leader Iyad Allawi recently paid a
visit to a military camp and attended a military parade.
This act has nothing to with the electoral campaign and in
fact, this behavior violates the government's
responsibility. The electoral competition must be ruled by
ethics and values.

"Allawi's recent statements in front of the Iraqi Army's
parade have caused confusion in the electoral competition
and are distant from the rules of the electoral game. These
statements accused Al-Ja'fari's government of disregarding
human rights. At this point, Allawi must present strong
proof to support his accusations. I think that Dr. Iyad
Allawi should have analyzed his statements well before he
announced them. He should have condemned armed terrorist
groups and regional countries that support them instead of
standing against Al-Ja'fari's government.

"Iyad Allawi should not have criticized the government's
military triumphs against terrorism. In fact, Allawi's
accusation may confuse the Iraqi community because Iraqi
voters must not be concerned about details of military
issues that have nothing to do with the electoral process. I
think that Allawi has made a political mistake by making
such a statement. It is not right to randomly accuse others
in an attempt to make electoral gains because this is not
democracy. Allawi and other competitors should focus on one
important issue in their electoral campaign and that is the
interest of the country."

"[Congressman] Murtha and Kerry weep for the sake of the
American Democratic party and they want to hinder the `lame
duck' by calling for early withdrawal from Iraq. However,
Bush laughs for the sake of America and for the sake of
staying in the White House just as Reagan did in order to
achieve `complete victory' in Iraq."

D. "Az-Zaman Cannot Be Seduced or Threatened"
(Az-Zaman - independent, published this page-three
editorial)

"We consider the scandal of the U.S. military's involvement
in publishing articles as publicity for it in the Iraqi
newspapers, a stigma on the occupation's forehead. It seems
that the U.S. army wants to humiliate the independent
national Iraqi press through buying the dignity of
unprofessional journalists. The occupation has brought
unprincipled journalists and established false press
platforms for them to convey amateurish reports. In
addition, these reports lacked patriotism. The occupation
tried to use these reports to affect the Iraqi national
press. At the same time, the occupation tried to fight the
Iraqi national press by providing and allocating funds and
places for those unprofessional media outlets.

"The newspaper Az-Zaman has always watched these attempts,
which represent a significant insult to the independent
Iraqi press. We refused to publish any suspected article or
report. Additionally, we refused many ads for famous
companies because we discovered that these companies
propagandize for the same reason. For all those reasons, our
newspaper has become an example for credibility and
professionalism. Our newspaper is honored for not being
involved in this crisis. Thus, Az-Zaman has set an example
for the national press that refuses submission to any group.
Our newspaper cannot be seduced and there is nothing it
fears but God and the people.

"Az-Zaman represents an example for independence and it
succeeded in distancing itself from the occupation's traps
and its tricks to gain influence in the new Iraqi press. We
believe that the U.S. army and any other group involved in
this scandal threatens the Iraqi media's independence and
the honor of journalism. At the same time, we condemn and
totally reject these practices. Az-Zaman calls on Iraqi
journalists to be wary of tricks and traps that they may
fall into. In addition, it warns advertising companies not
to fall into the traps of the occupation. Az-Zaman is proud
to resist all these methods because it is free from
pressures, threats and seduction."

E. "Honesty Is Rare In Our Country"
(As-Sabah Al-Jadeed - independent, no bias, published this
front-page editorial by Ismail Zayyer)

"I saw a phrase on one of the electoral list posters that
says, `seven months of achievements and more are coming.'
Neither I nor any Iraqi has the right to object to the way
candidates portray their electoral campaigns, because
democracy allows any way of doing so, but without insulting
other candidates or hurting the public. But the question is;
what are the achievements during the past seven months that
some candidates are promising to provide us with more?
"If the water and electricity shortages, deterioration of
security, and the shortages of food items in the ration
share, destruction of Iraqi cities, assassination of
scientists and teachers are considered achievements then
congratulations to the Iraqis, because more of these
achievements will come in the next stage.
"For me, I will vote for whoever will clean the streets
simply because whoever propagates such a slogan is
considered the only one who is honest, because he knows his
abilities in advance. He would be certain that he is unable
to provide security, or to elevate the rule-of-law above all
else, unable to provide job opportunities or to feed the
hungry people under these complicated and difficult
circumstances.

"Vote for whomever will deal with the sewage, bring order to
the traffic, cancel the fuel lines through provisions,
because that person is the only honest one among others who
make promises bigger and grander than this."

F. "About the Los Angeles Times Article"
(Al-Mada - independent, no bias, published this front-page
editorial by the paper's editorial board)

"A Los Angeles Times reporter interviewed the managing
editor and employees of our newspaper but, the Los Angeles
Times reporting was distorted-it asserted there are some
Iraqi newspapers that publish articles about military
operations. Al-Mada thinks that this story represents one
point of view and that most of the sources for these reports
are not mentioned. For this reason we do not deal with such
stories, because our newspaper respects its professional
policy and our readers should get accurate information

"The Los Angeles Times report was distorted because it did
not publish the whole interview. Al-Mada newspaper stated
that it refuses to accept money for publishing ads or
articles. At the same time Al-Mada has editorialized more
than once on its font page about the disclosure and the
condemnation of many advertisements that lack clear motives
and sources.

"Here we confirm that the Los Angeles Times report included
distorted information, which is distinct from our policies
and goals. We as a newspaper depend on professionalism and
we reiterate that we are committed to our fixed policies. We
also reject all types of `support and grants' from any
foreign entities whatever their motives might be.

"Finally we ask the Los Angeles Times to publish this
comment in its next edition in order to explain the facts
and to be committed to the principles of journalism."

G. "The Lame Duck and the Strategy of Withdrawal"
(Al-Ittihad - affiliated with the PUK, led by Jalal
Talabani, pro-coalition, published this page-five editorial
by Faryad Rawanduzi)

"With the beginning of the second year of the second
presidential term for the American President George Bush in
the White House, the president now enters the `lame duck'
stage. In this stage, leaders do not hesitate to implement
their dream even if this dream will cost them their
political life.

"President Bush put an end to the likelihood of an early
withdrawal from Iraq in spite of the Democrats and the
pressures of some Republican doves. But, if Bush is now in
`lame duck' mode, this will not belittle pressures to
establish an American strategy to withdraw U.S. forces from
Iraq. Therefore, Bush's plan to withdraw may not meet with
other politicians' plans. Such plans were adopted by the
Democratic Senator Joseph Biden and the hawkish Democrat
Murtha's plans to withdraw from Iraq even if this withdrawal
would be at the expense of `victory.'

"Henry Kissinger believes that any thinking about withdrawal
from Iraq represents a `disaster.' President Bush knows this
fact. As long as President Bush is a `lame duck,' he will
have nothing to lose. If he withdrew from Iraq according to
his opponents' strategies, he would lose everything. Hence,
the `lame duck' stage indicates that President Bush will not
withdraw according to Democratic wishes. In fact, the
withdrawal will be accomplished according to his plans."

KHALILZAD

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