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DE RUEHAM #4420 1691107
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O 181107Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1400
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0352
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UNCLAS AMMAN 004420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, 
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
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LONDON FOR TSOU 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO
 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON ZARQAWI'S DEATH AND WAR ON TERROR 
 
Editorial Commentary on Zarqawi's Death 
 
-- "Struggle between the government and the Islamists to win the 
people" 
 
Columnist Fahd Kheetan writes on the inside page of independent, 
mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (06/18):  "The noticeable 
development in the case of the four Islamic deputies is not the fact 
that they were arrested, but that the incident is being employed to 
formulate an anti-Islamic movement trend among the people and 
attract the huge numbers of unbiased people to the government's 
side....  More than once, PM Ma'rouf Bakhit said that he will 
compete with the Islamists over the people....  The case of the four 
deputies was an opportunity to test the ability of the government 
and state institutions to challenge the power of the Islamists among 
the people on the streets....  The discrepancy was in last 
Thursday's demonstration where the government resorted to protesting 
in the streets, a tradition usually adopted by the opposition, as 
governments have the authority and can make any decision they want. 
So who would the government pressure when it goes on a 
demonstration?  The purpose of the demonstration this time was 
different, and the struggle with the Islamists is for the street and 
not the rule.  Yet, a legitimate question remains: would the Mayor 
of Amman allow the Islamists to organize a demonstration similar to 
that of last Thursday?  True, the Islamists lost as a result of 
their four deputies did, but the government gained no benefits. 
After all, where are those forces that reap in the streets and add 
to the government's basket?  They do not exist, and will not exist 
as long as the governments in our countries are formed in salons and 
do not reflect the will of the parliamentary and people's 
majority." 
 
-- "The government and the Brotherhood in initial confrontation" 
 
Chief Editor Taher Odwan writes on the back page of independent, 
mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (06/18):  "In short, the 
state is waging an initial confrontation [against the Islamists] by 
invoking the law, the public and the media.  Even if the thousands 
of people who took part in Thursday's demonstration were encouraged 
to do so by the government, it is in the best interest of the Muslim 
Brotherhood, their image and their status to deal with the issue by 
recognizing the presence of popular pressures and respecting the 
social and humanitarian considerations related to the families of 
the martyrs of the bombings and the feelings of all Jordanians. 
Continuing to ignore this is going to complicate the crisis and 
leave it open to surprises, when, in a best case scenario, means the 
continued deterioration of relations between the two parties." 
 
Editorial Commentary on War on Terror 
 
-- "The 'shapeless' definition of terrorism requires disciplined 
legislation" 
 
Columnist Bater Wardam writes on the inside page center-left, 
influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (06/18):  "I do not know if the 
anti-terrorism law includes the need for detailed regulations and 
instructions, but it is clear that the law needs a definition that 
is disciplines and leaves no room for absolute authorities to make 
general claims.  There is, after all, the minimum level of human 
rights and constitutional rights that must be upheld and 
preserved....  There is no moral shame in drawing the red lines for 
freedom of expression.  This line, incidentally, does guarantee an 
extensive space for freedom.  Any anti-terrorism law or penalties 
law must provide citizens, parliamentarians or regular people, with 
every right to criticize the government and its policies, and even 
the ability to sympathize with terrorist groups, so long it does not 
constitute a call for violence....  Terrorism, the shapeless 
phenomenon that is getting increasingly complicated and dangerous, 
is reaching out its heinous hand to Jordan, and we are concerned 
that there are those on the inside who are willing to receive it. 
That is why Jordan and not the government needs a very accurate and 
legislatively disciplined anti-terrorism law that is protects the 
Jordanian citizen from terrorism and protect his civil and political 
rights all at the same time.  It is not an easy process but it can 
be done with openness and responsible national dialogue among the 
various sectors in Jordan." 
RUBINSTEIN