Iraq Press Roundup

Al Mashriq newspaper Monday reported that the commander of security forces in southern Iraq accused London and Washington of failing in the country.

The report quoted Mohan al-Freiji as saying the United States and Britain were "failures in rebuilding the demolished infrastructure” in Iraq and in finding job opportunities for youths, the paper said.

"I don't think the Americans and the British have done enough; they should have provided jobs to the young people, we wouldn't have had this phenomenon where lack of money forced people to get involved with militias," he told the paper.

In another report on the front page, Al Mashriq said Iraqi Ambassador to Washington Samir Sumaidaie criticized Britain for withdrawing from Basra while praising the United States for its "unique responsibility toward his country."

He said Iraq was to get more support from the British so militias don't take control, but "now the Iraqi security forces have to take responsibility of the security situation.”

Al Mada newspaper reported Monday that Moqtada Sadr’s allies in Basra pledged at a conference to preserve security in the city.

In details, the paper said representatives of parties and movements in Basra signed an "agreement of honor" that contains eight articles to "preserve a safe and stable Basra." In the agreement, all agreed to support security forces, coordinate among entities, respect law and reject forgiving Baathists.

Abdul Razaq al-Nidawi, the Sadr office chief in Basra, in a statement also warned U.S. troops against entering the city.

"Freezing the Mahdi Army doesn't mean a stop to resisting the occupier,” he said in a statement Friday. “We have been very patient with the British forces till they left, there will be no more patience with the U.S. forces if they think they can enter Basra.”

Al Sabah newspaper in an editorial titled "Different Signs" spoke about Gen. David Petraeus’ report.

The paper said U.S. institutes were evaluating the situation in Iraq to prepare for the Crocker-Petraeus report in the middle of the month. The editorial said though the report won't be a turning point for the war, it will have an effect that can't be denied in the U.S. Congress.

"For example, some of the signs that are going to be used in the evaluation will be that there is a clear decrease of car-bomb explosions in Baghdad," it said.

"This is a good sign if we consider that 2006 was the start of the civil war's flames.”

Another sign is the decrease of the number of civilian deaths in Baghdad that fell to 400 people in August compared to 1,621 in February 2006.

"Many people relate the decrease to widespread internal displacement operations that are carried on," the paper commented.

Internal displacement, the editorial said, changed the sectarian map in Baghdad. In addition to that, several millions left Iraq.

On the other side, the paper said the U.S. Army began to arm Sunni tribesmen who at some point "have pointed their guns at U.S. troops." These Sunni tribesmen have been working together with U.S. troops to get rid of al-Qaida.