AMMAN, Jordan, May 30 (UPI) -- Arab press roundup for May 30:
Iraq's al-Sabah commented Tuesday on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government, questioning whether it will succeed in ensuring the ministries will not be partisan. The daily, which describes itself as independent and as having the largest circulation in the country, said people are saying that Maliki will not be able to make his ministers "and their violence" accountable, like those from his Shiite alliance, nor can he make those from the Kurdish alliance accountable. It also asked whether Maliki will continue telling his allies everything during every diplomatic visit. His best bet in achieving a successful rule, the paper argued, is in the thousands of poor "in one of the richest countries, and distancing himself from the secret kitchens where deals are being made by those struggling" for power. The commentary said it was better for the government to move out of the U.S.-protected Green Zone in Baghdad, adding that "it has been said in the past those who rule Baghdad rule the world, and today it said that those who rule Baghdad rule only the Green Zone." It insisted that a government that cannot protect itself cannot protect the people.
Lebanon's an-Nahar commented the Israeli-Lebanese military escalation in southern Lebanon has an important Iranian dimension and comes amid the "very enriched Iranian messages to America." The mass-circulation daily said this week is supposed to be crucial for Iran's nuclear program as the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council are planning to negotiate with Iran. It added Iran is trying to grab an American and Western recognition for its right to enrich uranium, saying that although Washington so far seems to be avoiding direct negotiations with Tehran, there are indications it is willing to indirectly negotiate through the Europeans. It argued that Iran does not want a confrontation with America and that it is aware the American weaknesses in Iraq gives it (Tehran) more strength. "Every diplomatic and/or field message will be its enriched bet for that dialogue that Iran is seeking," it said.
Syria's al-Thawra daily said the recent confrontations in Lebanon refute those who are trying to disarm the Lebanese resistance by claiming that Israel no longer poses a threat to the country. The government-run paper said after the Lebanese "arena has been exposed, Israel will not hesitate to detonate the Lebanese situation through a series of escalating steps through assassinations and aggression." It argued it will not be difficult now for the Israeli, American and French intelligence services to penetrate Lebanon. The Israeli military assault on Lebanon over the weekend, the daily insisted, was not just one Israeli aggression. It opined it was to launch another phase in Israel's dealing with the Lebanese situation "that resulted from reckless positions by those who were deluded into believing that falling in the American lap can protect them from the Israeli stings." Everyone knows, it said, that all the developments in Lebanon are aimed at disarming the resistance through an act of revenge planned by Israel and executed by the American administration with the collusion of some Lebanese parties.
The United Arab Emirates' al-Khaleej commented the bloody confrontations in the Somali capital for the past three weeks came because the poorest people in the world are asked to pay the price for the American suspicion of sheltering foreign terrorists. The pro-government daily said this message was circulated in the past in Waziristan in Pakistan, saying the bloody confrontations there and in Somalia are being carried out by "Washington's agents who are exercising the worst kind of terrorism in the name of fighting terror." The paper complained that instead of helping the new Somali government and gathering international assistance, the United States hired militia warlords and provided them with weapons and money to ignite war, "as if the country did not have enough of 16 years of war and destruction." The commentary said that Somalia is the southern gateway to the Arab world and thus requires urgent Arab action to save it from slipping further into civil strife. It called on Arabs to intervene in disarming all the militias and help the institutional foundations of the new government, which it said is still paralyzed a year and a half after its formation. It urged international efforts to rebuild the African country.
Bahrain's Akhbar al-Khaleej called for a one-month truce around the turbulent region to give a chance for the people of the world to watch the World Cup games that start next month in Germany. "We hope the fighters in Iraq will declare a one-month truce and for the fighting between Israel and southern Lebanon to reach a cease-fire," it said. "We hope the exchange of accusations between the parliament members and the press in Bahrain will stop for one month and wish the campaigns between Iran and America over nuclear weapons stops for at least one month." The commentator also hoped the world would stop talking about politics and war to give the people a chance to watch and enjoy "the most beautiful and honest games because politics will be with us everyday, but the World Cup visits us only once every four years." Enough politics and headaches during the "mondiale," it insisted, saying that enjoyment of soccer matches is healthy for the body and mind.
