In the new Iraq, the people are allowed to express either complete rejection of the electoral process or back whichever candidate they choose.

The Iraqi newspaper Addastour said Friday that as the date for the provincial elections draws near, new alliances and new political skirmishes emerge as parties scramble for power.

The increase in violent attacks in Iraq has brought about many different theories. While many people think the wave of violence hitting the streets of Baghdad and elsewhere is a sign of things to come, others still believe that military presence will have a positive impact on the security situation.

The Iraqi people hear many promises from their government, their representatives in Parliament as well as their political parties. Promises without implementation push people to act against the government.

Iraqi newspapers discuss the U.S. coming elections on a daily basis. The focus is on the position of the nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties toward the U.S. presence in Iraq.

Negotiations over the long-term strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States are ongoing, but more important than the discussions themselves are the Iraqi parties involved.

Application of the laws passed by the Iraqi Parliament, the Presidency Council and the Cabinet has been faced with many obstacles and complications and many haven't been passed by their deadlines.

The visit by U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois to Iraq is considered a positive and useful move for his future, despite the fact that he might not become the next U.S. president.

Early this month King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Iraq for the first time since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Many Iraqi newspapers handled the visit and credited political and economical developments as justification for the first visit to Iraq by an Arab head of state.