World Opinion Roundup

In his weekly show, washingtonpost.com staff writer Jefferson Morley conducts a freewheeling tour of the best of Internet news sites from Afghanistan to Beijing to Mexico City to Paris to Zimbabwe.

Today Morley discusses reaction to the Iraq handover of power from journalists, pundits and commentators around the world.

Today's Column:Handoff With a Whimper (washingtonpost.com, June 29)

World Opinion Roundup brings the diversity of the global online media to your screen, presenting today's news and views from journalists, pundits and commentators from every continent. We'll talk about America in the eyes of the world, compare journalistic practices, analyze politics and perspectives, examine the nature of news and debate styles of journalism.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Jefferson Morley: Welcome to today's show.

The hasty handover in Baghdad and its implications is topic A. But all queries welcome.

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Greenbelt, Md.: So ... The U.S. press is all ga-ga over the "handover" of Iraq, praising the greatness and wisdom and just general divine inspiration of the whole thing. But wait -- didn't we just have a few (too few) days of mea culpas from this same press about being tricked by the Bushies about the war? Was it just a slow news day for them, or was there at least some sincerity about their groveling? THERE IS NO HANDOVER, people.

Does the international press "get it" that this is just one more scam being run on us all by these pirates, or has the whole world gone mad?

Jefferson Morley: I think there is plenty of skepticism about the realities of the handover in the press, perhaps more in the international media than in the U.S. media.

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Atlantic Beach, Fla.: Interesting article Mr. Morley. I was troubled by the stealthy handover and wondered does it really matter that it happened two days early? The fact that it was done in this manner indicates that security is still an issue. So what's changed?

Jefferson Morley: What has changed is that day to day decision making will be made by Iraqis. Yes, Ayad Allawi, the new prime minister, owes his position to his standing with Americans (the CIA in particular) as much as to Iraqis. But his position is not as weak as say, Hamid Karzai. Allawi is a veteran of the Baath party, the Iraqi intelligence services, a terrorist bombing campaign in Baghdad in 1995, and the Byzantine politicking of Bush's Washington. He is, in the words of one pro-war ideologue in Washington, "a thug." So I don't doubt that he is capable of independent action. The key short term question: will he follow through on his pre-handover hint that Iraq may need martial law.

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Chicago, Ill.: I want to raise the issue of L. Paul Bremer's footwear. I know that this is going to sound -- at first -- like a ridiculous point. But, I am wondering whether it is another indicator of how we view the world -- and how the world views us. I remember reading a few months ago that, rather than wingtips or other dress shoes, Bremer's penchant is for outdoor-type work boots (I guess what many people would recognize as Timberlanes). There he was on the cover of the Chicago Tribune this morning accompanied by Iraq's new president and prime minister, on what was an historic day in their history. From a practical standpoint, I can understand if he's out in the countryside, or in downtown Baghdad, which is likely covered with soot and rubble and unpaved streets (which probably were paved before the war began). In addition, I presume that it's Bremer's way of showing a "can-do", macho kind of persona. However, if this is something that is detected by Iraqis or others, isn't deemed a bit offensive or lacking in respect? What if some foreign dignitary came into the White House or the State Dept. similarly shodden?

Jefferson Morley: Bremer's boots are a trademark. I don't know that any Iraqi has ever made an issue about it.

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Fair Lakes, Va.: Mr. Morley,
Regarding the ethnic cleansing in the Sudan, Andrew Natsios, head of the U.S. Agency for International Aid, said "If nothing changes we will have one million casualties. If things improve we can get it down to about 300,000 deaths".

We are constantly hearing about the negative image the U.S. has in the eyes of the Muslim and Arab world. Do these critics of U.S. policy have any concern for their image, especially when they ignore the actions of the Islamic government of Sudan? The U.S. has made its fair share of mess in the world, but nothing even remotely compares to that which is being conveniently ignored in the Sudan.

Jefferson Morley: There is nothing that unites the commentators of the online world (including from sites you might consider "anti-American) like the unfolding disaster of Darfur. Almost universally, there is a call on the United Nations to act quickly.

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Naperville, Ill.: It seems that the most reported reason for the early turnover of sovereignty was security. It seems that one could also make a strong argument for the reason being political for the administration. It was earlier than the 30th and Bush could have the handover announced while at the NATO Conference, get a better photo op and maybe more publicity on the world stage. Your thoughts?

Jefferson Morley: I don't think the way this thing played in the media was a top consideration. Consider the very excellent piece in this morning's Style section about how artless--now non-'photo-op'--the whole thing was. I think the surprise aspect was a desire to avoid a violent disruption. Remember, there are reports of explosions from inside the Green Zone. Meaning that even with massive barriers and intrusive security, Iraqis who sympathize with the insurgency are inside America's most secure perimeter. With this reality in mind, Bremer and the occupation authority probably preferred not to take a chance.

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Chantilly, Va.: The terrorists have promised to assassinate Ayad Allawi, the new prime minister. Does the new government already have a "replacement" in place? Thank you.

Jefferson Morley: Interesting question. I don't know if there is a success process written into the law governing the interim government. I will try to find out.

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Clarksburg, Md.: With the handover, do you expect the Iraqi police force to be more proactive in hunting down and fighting the insurgents? Will they view the task any differently now that their leadership, and thus their marching orders, come from Iraqis and not Americans? Or will they continue to shy away from fighting their countrymen?

Jefferson Morley: This is an excellent question that I don't think anybody has the answer to--even the Iraqi police themselves. They will certainly shy from fighting their countrymen in combat type situations where even U.S. soldiers find themselves unable to control the pace of battlefield events. The question, I think, is whether the Iraqi police--and secret police--will act against armed foes of the interim government.

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washingtonpost.com: America's Missed Photo Opportunity (Post, June 29)

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hello Mr. Morley. What is the significance of reports that Paul Bremer hastily departed Iraq once the handover took place? Also, how has the international press interpreted Negroponte being named Iraqi ambassador?

Jefferson Morley: The hastiness of Bremer's departure was much noted in the international press.

As for Negroponte, he is regarded in the overseas online media as the quintessential American proconsul, dating back to his days as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras in the early 1980s. In that post, he turned a blind eye to a CIA-sponsored death squad that eliminated the host government's perceived enemies. With Prime Minister Allawi hinting at martial law, Negroponte may find himself in a similar situation in Baghdad.

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Oakton, Va.: What is the foreign press saying about Fahrenheit 9/11 and how it's playing with Americans. Do they understand that many Americans feel similar to (but maybe not to the extent of) Michael Moore?

Jefferson Morley: There have been several questions about overseas reaction to Farenheit 9-11. Since the film has only shown at the Cannes film festival there isn't much commentary about it yet. Some of the French critics were miffed when Moore's film took home a big prize, feeling that the jury's decision was more political than cinematic.

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Boston, Mass.: I find it interesting that the Bush administration chose such a subdued unceremonial handover, which under better conditions would and should be a grand and important ceremony worthy of the splash surrounding "Mission Accomplished." To me the contrast in ceremony speaks volumes about how badly the administration has handled and miscalculated events there. Thoughts?

Jefferson Morley: The gap between the "Mission Accomplished" photo op and Bremer's bolt for the door is telling. I'm sure it will not go unnoticed.

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Fair Lakes, Va.: "There is nothing that unites the commentators of the online world (including from sites you might consider "anti-American) like the unfolding disaster of Darfur."

More united around the issue of Darfur than blaming the Israelis for the plight of the Palestinians (and of Arabs in general)? Not from my vantage point.

Jefferson Morley: You are correct. Of course, the Sudanese government hasn't been afflicting the people of Darfur for as long as the Israelis have been occupying Palestinian lands. So people have had less time to learn about the Darfur tragedy.

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Oskaloosa, Kans.: You stated that the murderers will not cease killing foreigners until the U.S. withdrawals from positions of influence in Iraq. How can you assert this? These groups are killing non-combatants who are not in any positions of influence. These are al Qaeda-linked organizations which have one stated mission statement which is to kill all Americans. Your subtle indication that withdrawal will remedy this problem is not supported by history or experience.

Jefferson Morley: The strategy of the insurgents is to attack U.S. strategy. The U.S. strategy is to bolster American influence in the country by attracting allies who support the Bush administration's vision of Iraq: a place with a pro-U.S. government, a low tax rate, religious toleration, favorable treatment of foreign investors, dignity for women and the like. By slaughtering innocent Iraqis they hope to prove to any Iraqis who want to align themselves with the United States that they will find the country ungovernable. I never intended to suggest that U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would prevent al Qaeda attacks on Americans elsewhere. It won't.

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Anonymous: U.S. journalists and media are (often justifiably) accused of ignoring the AIDs crisis in sub-Sarahan Africa (particularly Zimbabwe). Do the Europeans or Asians do any better?

Jefferson Morley: Not the Asians, mainly because there are so few cultural, political, or historic ties between Africa and China.

The British do a better of keeping up with developments in Zimbabwe, mainly because it is a former British colony (as Rhodesia).

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17th and I Sts NW, Washington, D.C.: Hi Jeff,

Is anyone out there asking the White House whatever happened to the war in Afghanistan? One would think the "War on Terror" would be focused in the locale of bin Laden, reputedly our main target. Am I missing something? Out to lunch?

Thanks.

Jefferson Morley: There's lot of people asking about Afghanistan. Its just that the White House isn't answering a whole lot. So it doesn't make news.

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Kennesaw, Ga.: Is the reluctance of European governments to do anything about the genocide in Darfur due to European business dealings with the Sudanese government? Or is it rather because Europeans are frightened of Arab reaction against efforts to stop a genocide that is being perpetrated by Arabs?

Jefferson Morley: I don't know that European business interests drive the politics of Darfur. If you have any seen any articles in the online media that make this case, I would like to read them.

Europeans are not afraid of criticizing Arabs over Darfur. They have been calling for multilateral action--and soon.

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Quezon City, Philippines : So where is Bush and company looking next?
At his delivery in Istanbul, Mr. Bush still fails to convince that he abides by the democracy he continues to describe. He has lured leaders of other countries into forgetting the sentiments of their people, and look where it has gotten them in terms of security.
Is he maintaining his place in the polls because Americans admire him for getting away with anything?

Jefferson Morley: The Americans who support President Bush tend to see him as a decisive leader in a uncertain world. His steady decline in approval rating in the wake of serial Iraq failures (post-war looting, weapons of mass destruction and Abu Ghraib) suggests that American do not admire these actions.

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St. Louis, Mo.: Has the international press said much about the Canadian elections? Does Europe much follow Canadian politics?

Jefferson Morley: "No" and "no" would be the correct answers to your question

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Frankfurt, Germany: Where are the opportunities for fair and accurate coverage after the handover? It's hard not to notice the sometimes dramatic difference between the tone set in the U.S. and international news outlets, which kinda makes me wonder if there's anyone out there getting the story straight.

Jefferson Morley: The difficulties of covering Iraq remain daunting. For a good description of those difficulties, you might want to read a piece by Phil Bennett, the Post's assistant managing editor for foreign news. I'll try to post a link to it below.

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Des Moines, Iowa: Are the Brits, Germans and French eager see Fahrenheit 9/11 or is it a yawner from their perspectives? And, do you think strong support of the film overseas could influence U.S. voters in Nov. or do many people here give much of a rip about what our "allies" are saying about this?

Jefferson Morley: I think the movie will be a hit in Europe too.

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Oxford, U.K.: I'm a U.S. student at Oxford. It's well known that most Europeans hope Bush will be defeated in November. Many Brits flat-out hate him. However, I'm wondering if, given the American "independent" streak, this might not actually help him. America prides itself on not going with the flow on the death penalty, national health insurance, paid parental leave, and so much more. A few years ago, when Texas executed a joint British/U.S. citizen, the British embassy tried to intervene, saying Britain had no death penalty and most Brits strongly opposed it. The answer was, tough. Do you think U.S. voters might take this same approach? Sure hope not, but I'd welcome your views. Thank you very much.

Jefferson Morley: I think there is an unilateralist impulse in American public opinion that says "the hell with what others think, America will do what it needs to do." But there is also the Jeffersonian impulse in America to show "a decent respect for the opinions of mankind." With the unilateralist project in Iraq having come up short on so many of its goals, the Jeffersonian impulse will be relatively more credible than in years past, I think.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Mr. Morley,

I saw that Jacques Chirac has chided President Bush for saying that Turkey should be admitted to the European Union. Chirac's reaction was something to the effect that E.U. membership is no more Bush's business than USA-Mexico relations are France's. How did Bush's comments regarding Turkey joining the E.U. play in the rest of Europe, or is it not viewed as that big of a deal?

Jefferson Morley: Bush's comments were big in Turkey, naturally. But on the continent, resistance to Turkish entry to the EU is strong and the U.S. position well-known. What Bush said did not make big news that I saw.

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Anonymous: Why does the media always leave out details?

I'm sorry. But the "sovereignity" given to Iraq is not really sovereign. All the council members were unelected and appointed. They must follow an interim constitution written by American authorities and even after the elections (if ever held), some provisions have to remain in place for five years.

Additionally, a majority of Iraqis are STILL living without power and AC in 106+ heat.

Thousands of innocent Iraqis have died, either by American stray bombs or insurgent attacks.

This "transfer" is really a way to get the heat off of Bush in an election year. They think when something goes wrong, they can blame the American-installed Iraqi government. It might work, unfortunately. Many Americans are gullible and the media has turned into stenographers.

I thank the heavens for the Internet and even your column. It seems nowadays the only way to get the truth is to read sites outside the United States.

Thank you for letting me have my say.

Jefferson Morley: Thanks for your kind word about the column. All me to express a reservation about these sweeping assertions--"the media".... "always" .... "the details."

In fact, the details that you speak of are available in detail to any careful reader of The Washington Post.

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Jefferson Morley: I am going to have to sign off a few minutes early today.

Thanks for the questions. Look for the next column on Thursday morning.

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washingtonpost.com: The Press: Too Far From the Story? (Post, June 6)

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