U.S. President-elect Barack Obama used the war in Iraq as an effective campaign tool, leading to his victory in the elections.

The provincial councils and possibilities of change

The U.S.-Iraqi security agreement remained on the front page of Iraqi newspapers for the third straight day Wednesday.

Iraqis reacted to the election of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the 44th president of the United States with mixed sentiments. While many see the policies of an Obama administration as the foundation for an American revival, others think their interests will be ruined by his presidency.

More than five years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraqis are still paying the price for their "freedom." This puts the United States in a position where it is unwelcome in other countries and its claims of defending human rights and democracy are resisted.

Washington does not spend billions of dollars, devote thousands of lives or risk its reputation unless its "basket" is full of benefits in the Status of Forces Agreement, the Sunni al-Mashriq newspaper said Monday.

Several countries with strong ties to the United States fear getting caught up in the downward spiral of the U.S. economy, Sot al-Iraq news service said Tuesday.

Iraqis were conditioned to behave in certain ways throughout the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein, but many other foreign phenomena have appeared in the Iraqi society after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Some analysts and politicians claim the number of violent attacks has decreased in Iraq, but through the last two weeks, several explosions have taken place in Baghdad and elsewhere in the country.