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 ABU DHABI 002374 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; 
INR/B; RRU-NEA 
IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR MCKUNE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO TC
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: DEATH OF ZARQAWI 
 
¶1.  Summary: All UAE Arabic and English dailies featured Al- 
Zarqawi's death.  An unsigned editorial in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic 
daily "Al-Ittihad" 6/10 described Zarqawi's death as the 
beginning of the end if Iraqis would all unite together against 
those targeting their security.  "Al-Khaleej" laid the blame for 
instability in Iraq on the presence of the occupation forces and 
stated that violent operations done by people like Zarqawi are a 
natural, unhealthy reaction to occupation.  A columnist in "Al- 
Khaleej" stated that the vacuum created by Zarqawi's death would 
be hard to fill.  An editorial in English daily "Gulf News" 
states that Zarqawi's death will have little impact on the 
violence in Iraq.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  A front-page unsigned 6/9 editorial in Abu Dhabi-based semi- 
official Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000) 
headlines: "The beginning of the end", and opines: 
 
"The world was relieved at the death of the tyrant of terror and 
destruction whose criminal operations claimed thousands of 
innocent lives.  But the question remains: Has terrorism been put 
to an end by Al-Zarqawi's death?  The fact that Al-Zarqawi died 
does not mean it is the end.  It is the beginning of the end if, 
and only if, the Iraqis decide, starting today, to not allow the 
existence of such killers among them, if they all unite together 
to fight anyone who dares to twiddle with their security, if they 
agree that no one will divide them under conspiracies of 
factional conflict, and if they chose to follow their elected 
parliament and their legitimate government.  This and only this 
will give them a chance to launch a national conciliation roadmap 
under the slogan "Iraq or nothing". 
 
¶3.  A 6/9 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 
(circulation 85,000) headlines: "Is Iraq on the verge of a new 
diversion?" and reads: 
 
"...The announcement of Al-Zarqawis' death along with his 
associates is a special development...  It is difficult to look 
at Zarqawi's death as promising relief in Iraq, because Iraq's 
situation is an abnormal revolt against basic laws.  The new 
government has been fully formed and on the Political security 
list, disarming militias is a top priority, as promised by 
President Nori Al Maliki.  No two can disagree on the 
significance of this priority; maybe Zarqawi's death enforces the 
government's seriousness in achieving this priority..." 
 
¶4.  Under headline "Stability in Iraq", Sharjah-based Pan-Arab 
daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 85,000) wrote 6/9 unsigned 
editorial: 
 
"American and the British officials realize the magnitude of the 
stalemate facing occupation forces in Iraq.  This was clearly 
shown in the statements that came close to reality when it was 
asserted that the death of Zarqawi was a severe blow to the Al- 
Qaeda network, but will not however lead to stability in Iraq. 
The occupation forces committed multiple mistakes, first by 
imposing its occupation, second by dissolving Iraqi 
establishments which caused chaos from the first moment.  These 
are huge mistakes which the occupiers are now beginning to admit. 
And because "occupation" is a hostile conduct, it naturally 
breeds resistance and many unhealthy phenomena.  Stability in 
Iraq will return once the occupation forces withdraw because what 
is happening right now is a direct and indirect consequence of 
their existence." 
 
¶5.  Under headline "Zarqawis", a Lebanese columnist, Saad Mehio, 
wrote 6/9 op-ed in Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" 
(circulation 85,000): 
 
"Some suspicions were aroused when Colin Powell used Zarqawi's 
name in 2003 to justify invading Iraq while speaking of some 
relations between Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein through 
Zarqawi.  Heretofore, Zarqawi did not play any major role in Iraq 
or in Al Qaeda itself.  Nevertheless, the United States turned 
him into an international star, only to subsequently admit that 
it was relying on "wrong information"...  The question now is: 
Will Zarqawi's end lead to the end of all acts relating to 
Zarqawi?  Not necessarily.  Its network, that is said to be 
composed of 800 to 2,000 militants, is still there and could in 
the very near future retaliate by further expanding its 
revengeful operations...  Still, the absence of a strong person 
such as Zarqawi must leave a vacuum that cannot be filled..." 
 
¶6.  Under the headline "Things in Iraq may not get better" Dubai 
based English daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000) opines in an 
unsigned editorial 6/10: 
 
Once the euphoria over the killing of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi is 
over, the question arises: What next?  There is a general air of 
speculation, if not expectation, that the situation in Iraq will 
now get better, and the new government with all positions only 
now filled will restore law and order, if not sanity, to the 
region.  But there are others, including U.S. President George W. 
Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who believe there is 
still more violence to come; the killing of Al Zarqawi, although 
significant, will not put an end to the killings in Iraq or 
elsewhere.  It is surprising there should be people who think Al 
Zarqawi's death will end the insurgency.  After all, for some 
time now we have been informed that Al Qaida cells work 
autonomously; often two or more cells working in the same area 
will not know of the others' existence.   Which is why, we have 
been led to believe, it makes it so difficult to infiltrate such 
groups, or even track them down.  Added to this is Al Zarqawi, 
although pledging loyalty to Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden, in 
fact differed on how terrorist action should proceed.  Bin Laden 
wanted to act against Western nations which have a presence in 
the Arab world; Al Zarqawi wanted to usurp Arab governments in 
the region to introduce strict Sharia law, which is an irony 
considering his early riotous behavior and later contraventions 
of Islamic teachings.  It would therefore be naive to assume the 
death of this one terrorist will change the events in Iraq; it 
will not. 
 
 
SISON