Iraq Press Roundup

The deadline to sign the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq is drawing near. The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, has presented its amended version to the White House for consideration.

The Iraqi government's al-Sabbah newspaper said Monday that Maliki exhibited leadership in his disputes over the draft presented by Washington, dispelling any rumors the Iraqi government was hobbled by sectarianism and anti-national agendas.

The SOFA is a ripe fruit

The Iraqi Parliament was tasked with handling the Washington draft in order to address the more serious issues of stepping away from Iranian influence and focusing more on Iraqi national interests rather than partisan disputes.

Over the last few months, divisions among the various political blocs emerged during SOFA negotiations. These divisions worsened as lawmakers lined up in defense or in opposition to the security arrangement. The growing rift in the Iraqi political scene drew a picture of a self-interested legislative body at a time when projects like the SOFA were needed to preserve Iraqi sovereignty and the needs of the people.

Several politicians had come out in opposition to the agreement, saying it suppressed the powers of the Iraqi government and paved the way toward destabilization and escalated violence.

By running opposed to the SOFA, however, Iraqi politicians could move to marginalize the central government and bolster the influence of American forces in the country, the newspaper said.

Al-Adala newspaper of the Shiite Dawa Party said Monday there would be huge progress on implementing the Status of Forces Agreement if Washington agreed to the proposed Iraqi amendments.

Amendments

Iraqi lawmakers have devoted a great deal of time to amendments to the bilateral pact set to replace the U.N. mandate for Iraq, which expires at the end of the year. Baghdad has sought to preserve national sovereignty and considerations for its people in the security pact. State sovereignty, however, must not be a matter for negotiation, the newspaper said.

To no surprise, Baghdad in its negotiations haggled over minor expressions and the language used in the agreement, ensuring all steps were made to benefit the people of Iraq.

Meanwhile, the matter of U.S. troop presence in the country was another point of contention to Iraqi lawmakers. According to the current provision, when the U.N. mandate expires, U.S. troops will be limited in their movement throughout the country, something all Iraqis welcome.

The liberal al-Ahali newspaper Monday pointed to Article 5 of the Status of Forces Agreement as an important aspect of the provision, as it deals with bilateral economic collaboration, reconstruction and the cooperation in the energy sector.

The Iraqi-U.S. agreement is a chance to build the country.

Apart from the political and military factors surrounding the agreement, there are matters in the provision that would benefit Iraq if it were to sign on to the measure, the paper said.

Iraq remains a vulnerable country as it struggles to emerge from the years of dictatorship under Saddam Hussein and the terrorist attacks during the past five years. Article 5 of the SOFA, however, gives positive signs that Iraq will become a viable country in the region.

Iraqi leaders need to be objective when evaluating the articles of the SOFA and put aside their personal ideologies in order to invest in the interests of the Iraqi people. For that matter, Iraq needs strategic agreements not only with the United States, but also with Europe, Britain and Japan, because it is time for Iraq to restore its diplomatic relations in order to revive the war-torn country.

Iraqi officials and the members of Parliament are obligated to base their decisions on the best interests of the Iraqi people and their economy, the newspaper said. After all, it is about time that the Iraqi people live in dignity after years of misery.