Iraq Press Roundup

The Association of Muslim Scholars' Al Basaer newspaper said in its editorial Wednesday that President Bush has divided the people of Iraq into five groups according to the five political groups in Iraq.

The editorial, titled "The occupier's treatment will drive them to hell," was based on comments made by Harith al-Dhari, the head of the Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars, to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

In the editorial, Dhari presented the U.S. occupation of Iraq as a "disease," saying the only treatment for such a disease is for occupation forces to leave Iraq.

"The occupation of Iraq," the editorial said, "is the main reason for the disasters and problems Iraqis suffer from today."

He said the current political process in Iraq is the "official cover" for a long-term presence of occupation forces and this political process is the way to enforce the occupier's presence in Iraq and the region.

The editorial said that the political process will lead Iraq into a wrong path as only a limited number of Iraqi politicians rule Iraq and make decisions.

"Bush has given control over Iraq to five sides -- two Shiite parties, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council and the Dawa Party; the two Kurdish parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party; and the Sunni Islamic Party," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

The newspaper said the Iraqi political process was built on these parties, and those who opposed them were killed.

The newspaper said that if the Iraqi government doesn't pass laws such as the oil law and the long-term security agreement with the United States, which negatively affects the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and takes away the wealth of the Iraqi people, Bush could threaten to replace the government.

The editorial also discussed the position of the Awakening Councils and their position in regard to the security situation in Iraq.

The editorial said the Awakening Councils were created by the Americans in Iraq and comprise Iraqis who hate al-Qaida, Iraqis who don't have jobs, Iraqis who look for money regardless of the source of such money, and some Iraqi politicians who aim to "satisfy" the occupier.

"These Iraqi figures have served the occupation forces and helped them to achieve their goals greatly," Dhari said.

He also predicted that the Awakening Councils -- just as they suddenly appeared -- will disappear at any moment.

"This is a hope for Bush and allows him to keep the occupation forces in Iraq," he said in the editorial.

"(Nouri) al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, and those prior to him … wanted to be rid of the Iraqi resistance, but they were never, and will never be able to, regardless of the plots they set up," the editorial said.