Iraq Press Roundup

The Kurdish Al Ittihad Newspaper published an editorial titled "Iraqis' consensus" that said Iraqi political parties usually disagree on principle, to show they have the power to say no to their political rivals, which it called a "permanent policy."

"Some of the political powers mean to use obstinacy as a mean of existence," the paper of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party said.

It said that this principle, however, was "infiltrated" when the Iraqi political powers agreed, either by announcement or silence, on the necessity of the long-term Iraqi-American military and security relationship, an agreement that could allow for a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq.

"This consensus," the editorial said, "is the first step towards building a security and political strategy in the new state of Iraq to identify the features and role of this state, whether in its internal or external policies."

This "consensus" was reached in Iraq, despite different interpretations from Iraq's neighbors, the paper wrote.

It added other countries oppose such a U.S.-Iraq relationship because, they claim, it will be "dangerous" for the political system of Iraq.

The paper also said that because of "the absence of trust and political stability among some Iraqi political sides, which make some sides afraid of the political success of one side, which could lead to marginalize the other side," there came the "consensus" that all sides need a "strong, mutual side," to impose political and security stableness.

The paper declared that only the United States is able to perform this role.

It added that the kind of relationship the state of Iraq should try to maintain is the one that would bring external protection and achieve internal and political stability.

"As the case with any other relationships, Iraqis have to remember that they would have rights but also duties," the paper said.

The paper concluded that Iraq's political parties should not define the word "sovereignty" with having authority over others.

"The meaning of sovereignty," the paper said, "means the advantages and stability that a people of a state would get."

It also predicted media from other countries would say that Iraq isn't sovereign if it has a U.S. agreement, but countered that those countries have given up a big part of their "sovereignty" so that they achieve stability and development, and to get protection of a strong international side that prevents regional coups against them, referring to non-democratic countries.

The Iraqi Hezbollah Party Newspaper published an editorial headlined, "The occupier's scrap metal to arm the Iraqi army," claiming that Iraq's army is being equipped with old equipment.

It said the United States will keep its forces in Iraq until Iraqi forces are able to fight al-Qaida on their own.

The editorial said the United States would involve the Iraqi forces if they had better equipment and suggested equipping them with the equipment that the U.S. forces are going to leave behind before leaving Iraq.

"The scrap metal that the U.S. and Multi-National Forces are going to leave behind will be arms for the Iraqi army taking in consideration that these vehicles and equipments were made during the Cold War, which means that they are expired," the paper wrote.

It added that it gives a clear picture of what these powers think, which is the same ideology that British colonialism used a hundred years ago.

"Britain, which promised its people of freedom and independence during the decades of illiteracy and under the Turkish occupation, it marketed its useless weapons to the newborn countries," the paper said.

It also said that although the United States wants to arm and train the Iraqi army, it doesn't sell Iraq developed equipment, adding that Iraq has the capacity to buy new developed weapons so that the Iraqi army is capable of defending the country.