Iraq Press Roundup

Al Basaer newspaper in an editorial Tuesday -- "A change needed in the cortex not the core" -- said divisions and accusations within the government were based on an incorrect premise.

The editorial said the incorrect premise brought negative results that could not match the ambitions of the Iraqi people.

"In spite of the fact that half of the Iraqi government's ministers have withdrawn, this government still relies on Bush's support. … It doesn't matter how many ministers manage the government as the head of Iraq is based on a democratic dictatorship and calls for divisions," the paper said.

The paper, which is backed by the Association of Muslim Scholars, said discussions inside the Iraqi government aimed to lengthen its days in power without considering Iraqis' demands.

It said that for the Iraqi government, Iraqis are a means toward an end, using their misery as a ladder.

The paper said a "national reconciliation" is another term for politicians personally gaining by opposing one another and taking some power from "under Maliki's feet."

It said the government for many politicians was a way for some to claim they were part of "change." It added that others use their authority as a way to get on the media and announce they take part in Iraq.

It said the Iraqi people's interests were on nobody's agenda as the U.S. equation filtered through the politicians' interests.

The Saudi-based newspaper said the government's four-sided alliance needs to be arranged to match the new challenges.

It said the Kurds take the highest percentage of the country's budget and oil contracts and try to include as much area as they can into their region.

"The Kurds attempt to join Kirkuk to their region because of how much oil that city has disregarding the interests of the ... majority who live there," it said.

It said Iraqi lawmakers who agreed to give Kirkuk to the Kurdish region could withdraw their assent merely to achieve their personal interests.

The editorial said the Iraqi government calls for reform but the same people stay in power.

"It is a must to mention that reform will not succeed if it takes away from the Iraqi people's suffering," it said.

It also said the Iraqi people's suffering was due to the U.S. presence and the regional interference with Iraq's affairs. The editorial said the obstacle comprised lawmakers who apply the occupier's agenda in order to stay in power and in return get protected by the occupier.

"Changing the outside of the problem is not a solution. The real solution is with what the opposition has been calling for: a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, cancellation of the 'elections' and a real electoral process that involves all the Iraqi people," it said.