Iraq Press Roundup

Sot al-Iraq, an Iraqi news service, had an editorial Wednesday on the impact of appointing Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. Biden is unclear whether he is going to pursue a negative or positive relationship with Iran. This policy, if followed, would decrease the support for presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Would Biden sympathize with Iran?

Biden is in Iran's favor as he indirectly suggested that Tehran could go ahead with its nuclear program. He pledged to "commit" to Iran, which gave the latter the impression that it could go forward with its nuclear program.

Following the policy of "negotiating" with Iran, Biden made Tehran feel that he is its source of support. While U.S. President George Bush announced Iran was part of the "axis of evil," Biden invited so-called Iranian "elected representatives" to have dinner with members of Congress.

These "elected representatives" didn't follow a moderate position, especially regarding the use of Iran's income to obtain weapons and develop their nuclear program.

One of the positions that Biden took was opposing a bipartisan measure to include the Iranian Republican Guards on the list of state-sponsored terrorists. He credited his mistrust of the Bush administration by voting against the measure.

Biden's call for the division of Iraq supports the Iranian view that the goal of the U.S. occupation of Iraq is to divide the country. Biden's announcement made Iran's predictions seem realistic to the rest of the world.

Shabab al-Iraq newspaper highlighted Wednesday the presence of the Peshmerga, the Kurdish official army, and its impact on the public in Kurdistan.

The Peshmerga: A force imposed on weak people

The scene in Kurdistan differs from what the Kurdish parties try to portray. The real situation is demonstrated by oppression, and those who escaped have given the world the real view of life in the region.

Kurdistan, for many reasons, is no more than a mass grave added to the ones in the rest of the country. These mass graves are merely a result of the liberated and honest voices that disagree with authorities by calling for a revival of human values or respect for people's rights.

Kurdish officials consist of a group of people who, with the help of the Peshmerga, are able to oppress the people of Kurdistan, where freedom of the press doesn't exist. There are many laws and restrictions against the media and against writers who reveal the truths behind the walls of the palaces of Kurdish officials.

Kurdish officials contain the media, and sue any outlet that expresses people's honest opinion. In fact, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of Kurdistan control the laws in order to take revenge upon journalists whose writings are critical of either party. Revenge takes the form of suing the outlet, detaining journalists, or forcing them out of the country.

The tool used by Kurdish officials to exact punishment against the people is the Peshmerga, a force above the law. While officials give the militia the right to patrol the streets and oppress the poor, the Peshmerga empowers the officials, in return, through the use of force.

The independent Addustour newspaper discussed the obstacles to signing the long-term strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States.

The long-term strategic agreement and the wrong propaganda

U.S. officials claim "regional" pressures are influencing the direction of the negotiations, a reference to Iran and its control over the political situation in Iraq.

There are many incidents of Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs and its support for various political parties. Although all players of the "game" are aware of Iran's negative interference, they are all oblivious to its serious impact.

Iran's interference in Iraqi affairs wouldn't have happened without the support of Iraqi officials. If that accomplished anything, it encouraged the Iraqi people to grow suspicious of their representatives in the government and Parliament.

On the other hand, refusal by U.S. officials to give Iraqis full control over their part of the negotiation puts the Iraqi government in a position to be mistrusted, accused and void of sovereignty.