Iraq Press Roundup

The first sign is a military coup

More than 30 officials in the Iraqi Interior Ministry and other agencies were arrested last week as part of an alleged coup led by former Baath Party officials to overthrow the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The Iraqi government did not consider the aftermath of rushing into the security agreement with the United States as it put the people's wealth in the hands of the occupation, al-Iraq lil-Kul said Monday.

Iraqi lawmakers rushed into the agreement after securing their personal interests and ignoring failures in the government and the suffering of the Iraqi people.

The news of Interior Ministry links to the Baath Party of former dictator Saddam Hussein frightened government officials as the coup allegations emerged shortly after lawmakers signed the deal with Washington. Military and other government spokesmen have denied any links to the former Baath regime or indications a coup was imminent, the newspaper said.

A coup against the Western-backed government, however unlikely, remains a serious fear for lawmakers in Baghdad as political turmoil is simmering in the run-up to provincial elections in January.

U.S. officials warned of a possible coup targeting the Maliki government, and some lawmakers saw it as a warning sign to prepare for their escape.

The coup and Baath Party allegations show that mistrust is aimed not only at the American occupation but also at the Iraqi government itself.

The story of the coup and the phobia of power

Shiites lived in a state of fear during the Sunni regime of Saddam Hussein. When the United States gave authority over Baghdad to the Shiites in 2003, however, that fear was replaced by a fear of losing power, Kitabat said Monday.

Some observers point to the rumors surrounding a possible Baathist-backed coup from the Iraqi Interior Ministry as a sign the Shiites are fearful of losing their grip on Baghdad. The power phobia could also explain why the government has done little in the way of reconstruction, as lawmakers are smuggling funds to secure their place in exile once a coup does develop, the independent paper said.

It is the Shiites who are responsible for threats to the Shiite community and not terrorists, the Kurds or Sunni lawmakers. Conspiracy theories like the coup rumors are reminiscent of the Saddam Hussein era when opposition was eliminated. This new political climate therefore has put the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on edge.

Maliki's consolidation of power in Baghdad is tantamount to the dictatorship under Saddam Hussein, as the premier's Shiite-led government is creating internal divisions that may inevitably lead to an actual military coup.

A coup on paper

The arrest of top-ranking officials in the Iraqi government on false coup accusations only brings about an environment that would make such a violation likely, Addustour said Monday.

Officials arrested 30 members of the Iraqi Interior Ministry just as its leader, Jawad al-Boulani, was preparing to leave the country. This convenient departure highlights the level of conspiracy and backdoor deals among national leaders in Baghdad.

The Iraqi government, however, has made a terrible mistake in arresting senior figures who have sacrificed a great deal for their country. Spending government resources on arresting high-ranking officials on unfounded allegations only weakens the government, the newspaper said.

Arresting top leaders also diminishes their ability to govern, as several of these ministers, despite opinion regarding their methods, were the ones who improved the security situation in Iraq.

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(Edited by Daniel Graeber)