Kitabat newspaper in an editorial headlined "Long-term occupation" on Thursday said Iraqi politicians on Nov. 26 signed a cooperation statement with the United States on the long-term U.S. presence in Iraq.
"Signing this agreement came after it became impossible to demand from United Nations an extension for the occupation forces to stay in Iraq but in order for the invasion to have a legitimate reason to stay, it was necessary to find a substitute that gives the U.S. a good impression that differs from reality," the paper said.
It said Iraq might be in need of such an agreement to be embraced by the international community yet this move needs re-evaluation.
"It is illogical to think that the U.S. would give up 'the cake,' which is our beloved country or leave the region that is considered the basis of stability for and source of energy," it said.
On the content of the "agreement," the paper said it presents U.S. support in political, security and economic issues.
"The U.S. is going to support the Iraqi Constitution. ... The U.S. will also support ... good relationships with the regional countries, which means Iraq is going to be forced to have ties to Israel," the editorial said.
It said that according to one article in the agreement, there will be another agreement that will oblige the United States to withdraw from Iraq.
"Even before the announcement of this second agreement, we all know that the U.S. will have to withdraw leaving military bases behind that would have around 50,000 U.S. troops, which means there will be at least no less than five military bases on the Iraqi land with airports and other institutes," it said.
Shabab Al Iraq newspaper had an editorial Thursday with the headline, "The U.S. departure."
It said that a year ago many didn't imagine there would be news announcing the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Iraq or that the U.S. administration would withdraw its forces from Diyala city, north of Baghdad, where there has been severe fighting between insurgents and U.S. troops.
It said the U.S. military announced a widespread military campaign on Diyala as it is connected with Iran through long borders, Saladin province from the west, and Mosul and Ramadi.
"The decision to withdraw 5,000 troops was taken with no regard to the idea there should be a replacement force for the most dangerous city in Iraq," it said.
The paper also ascribed this withdrawal to the worsened psychological situation of U.S. soldiers, adding the withdrawal will "open the door" to more withdrawals.
"The U.S. will entirely leave Iraq and admit the failure of the global project that planned to have Iraq as a base for all the other 'liberations' in the region … but with the withdrawal, the U.S. admits that it holds a losing hand," the paper said.
