Iraq Press Roundup

Iraqis continue to suffer under the U.S. occupation, with no end in sight. The evil U.S. projects in Iraq, occupation and sectarianism, are ignored in the mainstream media. The lies about the weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein's relationship with al-Qaida and the fallacy of creating a democratic state are coming to the surface, the London-based newspaper Azzaman said Friday.

Iraqis and possibilities to ease the crisis

The Iraqi people are stilling paying the price for the decisions of former civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer, such as disbanding the Iraqi army, failing to secure the borders and creating sectarian and social divisions in the country.

Blame is laid on Bremer for creating a condition whereby the Iranians were able to meddle in Iraqi affairs because of deals between Washington and Tehran regarding the occupation of Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iraqi lawmakers who stayed in the country while opposing the former regime find themselves marginalized in the new Iraq because they ultimately lost their battle with Saddam. The United States had supported the Shiite Iraqis who were exiled in Iran, after all, especially during the Iran-Iraq War.

The U.S. occupation of Iraq paved the way for sectarian parties to gain legitimacy in past elections and in the constitution because the overseers cared little about dividing the country so long as Washington has its hands on Iraqi oil, the paper said.

Occupation and sectarianism could be replaced, however, by embracing Iraqi nationalism, something that would do little to help the sectarian figures in Baghdad.

Resolving the security situation in Iraq is something many people in the country find untenable. The liberal al-Ahali newspaper Friday equated resolving the security situation in Iraq with rebuilding the economy.

The economy and the increase in violence

The various military campaigns ordered by the Iraqi government against the armed militias have done little to restore security. The lack of effective economic or redevelopment programs in the country has caused an increase in violence. Baghdad narrowed its focus to military campaigns, leaving educational and economic reform largely sidelined.

Meanwhile, security is impossible to maintain, given the strategy currently embraced by the central government. Terrorism has resurfaced in many areas because of the lack of a viable employment strategy, the newspaper suggested.

As a result, many Iraqi cities once again are plagued by organized criminal gangs that carry out violent attacks against the people. Baghdad has a broader responsibility to incorporate economic development into its strategy aimed at restoring security to the entire country.

Corruption has run rampant in Iraq since the U.S. occupation in 2003. Corruption in finance is one of the most complex issues facing modern-day Iraq, al-Adala newspaper of the Shiite Dawa Party said Friday.

Corruption and strategies for abatement

Corruption has a negative influence on the reconstruction of Iraq and leads to slow redevelopment. Following the invasion of 2003, corruption reached its highest rate ever as the laws punishing such behavior were relaxed.

In addition, the manipulation of the principles of democracy by the Iraqi people and continued demands for immunity have helped bring corruption to pandemic levels. This has slowed down any hope of swift development in Iraq, the newspaper said.

Corruption escalated especially in the first few years following the fall of Baghdad as the prohibitions against taking bribes and other mismanagement largely faded from view.

The solution lies in persuading the most corrupt to come to terms with the harmful effects their actions have on Iraq, as educational seminars are increasingly warning of punishment from God because of such action.