Iraq Press Roundup

Al Zaman newspaper Tuesday addressed issues of financing the U.S. occupation in an editorial titled "U.S. costs are the obstacles of the sixth year."

The editorial focused on recent U.S. congressional moves to hold the Iraqi government responsible for some of the costs of U.S. military operations. The most serious call is from Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Levin proposes taking the money from Iraq's account at the U.S. Federal Reserve.

"The same time many experts assure the necessity of distinguishing between the U.S. state money that relies on the taxes and the money coming from the major monopoly in manufacturing, oil, financial institutes and investment projects around the world," it said.

It said the money came from the Saddam era and also from the looting of museums and banks after the invasion.

"Reports from the Iraq Parliament as well as international news agencies have revealed the looting and smuggling was done by Iraqis, Americans and Iranians," it said.

Al Zaman newspaper also said "curtains were dropped" on administrative corruption and smuggling, burning of banks and financial institutes done by top figures in the Iraqi government.

The paper said according to the conventions and agreements that Paul Bremer committed to when he announced the occupation of Iraq, the occupying country is obligated to compensate for the loss of people resulting from the occupation.

The U.S. tendency to charge Iraq for expenses is a serious matter that Iraqi sides are not taking into consideration because of the chaos presented by the militias, explosions and the daily bloodshed.

"This chaos and bloodshed is rooted by the pressure the Iraqi government is facing in order sign the Iraq-American long-term agreement which obligates Iraq to commit to serious financial conditions," it said.

The paper said the increased violence is caused by the oil contracts that allow monopoly of oil without conditions. It said many military experts predict these financial pressures are to prepare to cover for U.S.-Iranian operations.