Editorials from the New Iraqi Press: MEMRI Baghdad Dispatch (6)
August 29, 2003
memri.org
The following report is the sixth release from MEMRI's Baghdad office. It focuses on editorials which appeared in the Iraqi press regarding Iraq's relations with the Arab world, terrorism in Baghdad, and the rebuilding of Iraq. There are over 100 dailies and weeklies published in Iraq, many of which characterize themselves as "politically independent," while others are clearly associated with established political parties or groups such as Al-Mu'tamar (Iraqi National Congress headed by Dr. Ahmad Al-Chalabi), Al-Nahdha (Liberal Democratic Group under Dr. 'Adnan Al-Pachachi), and Al-'Adala (of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution headed by Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Hakim). To the extent possible, MEMRI will identify the affiliation of the newspapers quoted in this dispatch.
In Annex IV MEMRI publishes the fourth biographical note on one of Iraq's post-Saddam leaders. In this issue, the biographical note is that of Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Hakim.
Editorials
I. The New Iraq and the Arab World
The Iraqi press has been unanimous in its blunt criticism of the Arab countries for their past support of Saddam's regime, their passivity towards the suffering of the Iraqi people during his reign, and their lack of support for the new political process in post-Saddam Iraq. The following is a short review of some of these editorials:
Al-'Adala (published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq), in an editorial titled "The Arab System: Between Legitimacy and Illegitimacy" stated that "some Arab groups and officials issue irresponsible statements about the interim Governing Council…Such positions reflect the extent of confusion and chaos that dominate Arab policies towards the occupation and the needs of the Iraqi people…" The article further states that, in the past, the same parties had "supported Saddam and his shenanigans, and turned a blind eye to what took place in Iraq… in the pretext that it was up to the Iraqis [to deal with it]… and now, when the Iraqi people try their best to find the correct way to end the occupation and deal with the problems that Saddam left behind, they [i.e. the Arab countries] rush to build obstacles in the path of this patient, striving, and generous nation…" The paper goes on to state that recent military campaigns against Iraq were launched from Arab territories, so the Arab regimes were not only partners to a regime that used chemical weapons and turned Iraq into a mass-grave, but also partners to the occupation itself. [1]
Expressing a similar opinion, the independent daily Al-Ayyam declared that the "Arab leaders are in a quandary [regarding the new political reality in Iraq ], because an Arab leader is one of three types: [he either] inherited the monarchy, assumed the position by a military coup, or inherited the republic…" This third type – stated the paper - has been invented by the Arabs. "Hence their position towards the Governing Council has been extremely comical. They did not reject it altogether, and did not accept it completely [either]. They did not criticize it for not being elected by the people, because they all know that the Arab regimes were not elected either. They live in a glass house and therefore cannot throw stones at others…"
The writer continues, stating, "[T]hose who know the Arab reality must share my feelings of mercy for the Arab ruler: America is facing him, democracy is as far away from him as could possibly be, human rights issues are [ignored], the example of the Liberian President is not so alien to him, foreign forces are at his borders or inside his country, sometimes they support him and sometimes they shake the ground under his feet… The Arab people accepted the old depictions of a movie-hero who never dies… [but] now, they are waiting [for] his death, even if it is at the hands of the 'gang leader'…" [2]
The bi-weekly Al-Nahdha (affiliated with 'Adnan Al-Pachachi) joined the criticism, stating that "many of the Arab positions towards Iraq have been a cause for sorrow and admonition… we don't advocate revisiting the past and recalling painful memories, we look to the future… It is the right of the Iraqi people to expect new proactive Arab positions in support of their just cause and of saving Iraq from danger…" [3]
Al-Taakhi (affiliated with the Kurdish Democratic Party) singled out Egypt and its president, opining that "it is regrettable that the Egyptian ruler… described all Arab nations, except the Iraqis, as patriotic... What about the sacrifices that were manifested in the mass-graves and deportations… aren't they patriotic? What about the Iraqis who defended Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan … during their crises. Isn't that patriotism...? And what about the Iraqi revolts against despotism throughout history…? Is it possible that this nation has no patriotism...?" [4]
Iraqi frustration with the dominant Arab position was also reflected in a grass-root initiative: According to the daily Baghdad (published by the Iraqi National Reconciliation Movement) "more than 700 Iraqi intellectuals signed a petition urging the Governing Council to suspend Iraq's membership in the Arab League… because of the Arab countries' support of the former regime and their opposition to the Coalition efforts to change it. The petition harshly criticized the latest decision of the Arab League regarding the interim Governing Council [the League did not recognize the legitimacy of the Council]…" The petitioners urged the suspension of Iraq 's membership until "the Arab League admits its grave mistakes towards our nation and amends its appalling positions towards the Council and Iraq …" [5]
Meanwhile, the Arab League refused to comment on the decision of the Governing Council members not to meet with the League's secretary general individually. An official spokesman at the League declared that "it is imperative now to start discussing the basic issues that interest the Iraqi people, particularly ending the occupation, and preparing for general elections and writing the constitution." He added that "the Secretary General had often reiterated that the League's doors are open to all political powers in Iraq, including members of the Governing Council." [6]
20,000 Saboteurs
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20,000 Saboteurs in Baghdad
The independent daily Al-Yawm Al-Aakher reported that it obtained confirmed information that "ten thousand Egyptian saboteurs, and a similar number from Afghanistan, were sent to Baghdad to carry out sabotage operations, including bombings of embassies, to create instability…" The report stated that these operations "have no justifiable reasons [except to serve] agendas that are well known to a large segment of the Iraqi people." The paper concluded: "The Iraqis wish that those [saboteurs] are not dubbed Mujahideen or resistance fighters, because the situation is so confused now that we no longer know who is a resistance-fighter and who is a Mujaheed." [7]
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II. Terror in Baghdad
The first editorials to appear in the Iraqi press following the bombing of the U.N. offices in Baghdad unanimously condemned terror and violence. The following is a sampling of some of these editorials:
An editorial published in the daily Al-Taakhi (affiliated with the KDP) titled "Violence has no Mercy for Religion and Country" mourned the death of the head of the U.N. mission in Baghdad: "This peaceful Christian man who came from the other side of the globe just to become a victim of violence… and hatred that emanates from the swamps of despotism…" The article asks, "who benefits from such acts and who loses?" and answers by stating that "the losers are the Iraqi people, domestic stability, and peace, [as well as] the efforts to establish the anticipated democratic federal regime…" [8]
"A Sad Day in Baghdad. The Immoral Attack on the U.N. Headquarters Unleashes Feelings of Rage. The Iraqis Lose a Sincere Friend…" declared the headline of an editorial published by the daily Al-Sabah daily (published by the Iraqi Information Network). The article declared that the building which was attacked represented a "ray of hope for most Iraqis who aspire for a better future." [9]
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20,000 Saboteurs in Baghdad
The independent daily Al-Yawm Al-Aakher reported that it obtained confirmed information that "ten thousand Egyptian saboteurs, and a similar number from Afghanistan, were sent to Baghdad to carry out sabotage operations, including bombings of embassies, to create instability…" The report stated that these operations "have no justifiable reasons [except to serve] agendas that are well known to a large segment of the Iraqi people." The paper concluded: "The Iraqis wish that those [saboteurs] are not dubbed Mujahideen or resistance fighters, because the situation is so confused now that we no longer know who is a resistance-fighter and who is a Mujaheed." [7] |
