Iraq Press Roundup

Shabab Al Iraq newspaper carried an editorial Thursday titled "Will Iraqi forces succeed in suppressing the violence around Baghdad?"

"Today, in a widespread security operation, Iraqi forces backed by the U.S. forces have succeeded in cleansing those areas (in and around southern Baghdad) from the remaining terrorists, with the help of local armed tribesmen."

It said that according to U.S. reports on attacks, violence has fallen in Baghdad after tribesmen and tribal leaders took on al-Qaida. The editorial quoted Brig. Gen. Rick Lynch as saying the increase in the number of U.S. troops is Baghdad had contributed to the decrease of car bombs and armed groups entering the area.

"Are the U.S. troops going to stay in Baghdad long enough to guarantee the decrease of attacks?" it asked.

The paper also cited President Bush as saying that if the security situation in Iraq improves, between 20,000 and 30,000 troops will leave the country by the middle of next year.

The paper said hundreds of Iraqis had demanded that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki get rid of forces from the Awakening Council, tribesmen armed and backed by the United States to fight al-Qaida; Iraqis accuse them of being terrorists, the paper said.

The paper also said that the number of Iraqi prisoners being detained without trial in U.S. jails in Iraq would likely be easy targets for radicalization by insurgent groups.

Al Sabah Al Jadeed newspaper carried an editorial with the headline "Iraqi affairs in the U.S. media."

It said whether the situation in Iraq turned out to be in the interest of the GOP or if the next U.S. administration was forced to respect public opinion and end the war in Iraq, an immediate withdrawal would be refused even by Democrats.

"Most of the people who criticize the war on Iraq and most of the opposition is convinced that a U.S. withdrawal is not the solution in the present time or in even 10 years unless Iraqi forces are able to manage themselves without U.S. support," the paper said.

It said the U.S. media called for the support of the Awakening Councils, and adapting military and diplomatic strategies that could end the daily mass killings in Iraq.

"It is a correlation: Security and reconstruction are necessary to replace joblessness and the increase in crime," it said.

It said the victories the Awakening Councils achieved in Iraq against al-Qaida reminded the American people that these councils should be considered "friendly forces."

It cited The New York Times, The Washington Post, International Herald Tribune and USA Today as lauding the Awakening Councils.

Al Sabah Al Jadeed said though there is sympathy for the Awakening Council tribesmen in the areas they operate in, these councils still face negative media campaigns.

"The weekly Sunday Times described the Awakening Councils as 'organized hatred campaigns' between two enemies: al-Qaida which accuses the Awakening Councils of being 'agents of the infidel occupier' and those who want to get rid of al-Qaida only to have others as their caliphs."

The paper said: "What should be taken into account is what is being accomplished on the ground, which many failed to accomplish."