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| Iraq-Jordan |
| IWPR Daily Review of Indigenous Iraqi Press |
| 2004-05-01 |
| EFL Editorial: Salvation Lies in Forgiveness and Reconciliation (Azzaman, 25 Apr 04) - Reconsidering de-baathification is a step in the right direction. Dissolving the army led to a state of chaos and its members became unemployed and an easy target for saboteurs who exploited the injustice of this decision. De-baathification coincided with an atmosphere of political gamesmanship on the part of powers which wanted to settle their political conflicts by persecuting Baathists. This resulted in losing vast efficiencies that either left Iraq or disappeared for fear of organised assassinations practiced by the militias of political parties that are supposed to respect the law. So, mass punishment of all Baathists was unfair. Everyone must realise that no one can eliminate the other. If that were possible, Baathists would have been able to do it over the past three and a half decades. All rivals must realise that Iraq’s salvation lies in creating an atmosphere of forgiveness and reconciliation. (London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.) Editorial: Selectivity Required in De-Baathification (Al-Bayan, 27 Apr 04) - De-baathification does not include everyone who ever joined the party. Those who were forced to join and those who joined merely out of greed are excluded, if they were not criminal. Those who were dismissed because of their Baathist connections have the right to appeal. Of course, some even succeeded in covering their Baathist affiliation. As to Mr. Paul Bremer’s proposal of restoring Baathists, it was exaggerated by media outlets and pictured as a quick return of Baathists to power. No one wants to de-Baathify someone merely for his Baathist affiliation. Mr. Paul Bremer’s proposal was restricted to the application of de-Baathification policy. But, what is dangerous is to talk of changing the policy itself towards Baathists because this could lead to a possible coup and resumption of power by Baathists. Thousands of victims’ families are now silent because they are waiting for the courts to punish criminal Baathists. If they became desperate for justice, they will take their rights by their own hands. (Al-Bayan is issued thrice weekly by the Islamic Dawa Party, chaired by Ibrahim al-Jafari, Governing Council member.) -snip- cartoon of the day Opinion: Sectarianism No Basis for the Military By Khalid al-Qishtini (Asharq al-Awsat, 26 Apr 04) - Appointing a Sunni chief of staff, a Shia assistant, and a Kurdish general inspector is a disgusting formation for the Iraqi army. And what about Faili Kurds and Turkomen? Distributing posts on a sectarian basis leads to the Lebanonisation of Iraq, and this is a style promoted by those who are avid for our oil and land. Good Iraqis must reject and bury this style in its cradle. The best solution is adopting positive sectarianism instead of negative sectarianism, that is, Sunnis and Shia should show solidarity in distributing posts. Marriage between different sects is also a way of ending sectarian and racial discrimination. It is applied in Iraq and it reflects forgiveness and secularism of Iraqis who totally ignore sectarian and religious discrepancies. (London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi independent paper, is issued daily.) Editorial: Haste Makes Waste, Especially for Iraqis By Basim al-Sheikh (Addustour, 28 Apr 04) - It seems that haste has been the distinctive feature of the Governing Council’s work. One of its members said that adopting the new Iraqi flag was the result of a hasty and pressing mechanism. He justified this under the pretext of the approaching date of Iraq’s participation in the next Olympic Games and the need for a flag to be raised among other flags. Similar statements were made when the interim law was approved. The justification was the need to consider the status quo to save Iraqis’ unity. The same state of haste accompanied formation of the GC when sects and currents were ignored under the pretext of the urgent need for a leading body to fill the gap. If things go like that, perhaps all the next steps will be accompanied by haste, beginning with formation of the interim government, power and security file transfer, electing the parliament, and so forth. This will lead to an unsatisfactory situation to Iraqis. (Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh.) Editorial: There Is No Part-Sovereignty (Al-Adala, 29 Apr 04) - Statements by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Washington will give Iraq an incomplete sovereignty is strange for sovereignty is either complete or there is no sovereignty at all. Sovereignty does not mean that a strong side imposes its dictations on the weaker one then says you are free to make the decisions you desire. Hence, restoring sovereignty must not be restricted by conditions. It is supposed that the Iraqi side be given sovereignty first and then will specify its own conditions according to its own interests. (Al-Adala is issued thrice weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.) Opinion: UN Envoy Takes Sides By Juma Salman (Al-Mutamar, 27 Apr 04) - The UN contradicts itself: it imposed unjust sanctions on the people of Iraq and now it sympathises with them. The dirty UN employees are double agents: they were spies for the Americans and also received bribes from the former regime. Now, al-Akhdhar al-Ibrahimi impudently said he would resign if US troops did not grant large participation for Sunnis in the next government. He refused to hold elections, claiming that the situation is not suitable, as if we have to wait forever because the situation will not get better as long as al-Ibrahimi and his American masters do not want that. This behaviour of al-Ibrahimi is sectarian and racial and it is the same dirty role he played in Lebanon. Besides, he flagrantly intervenes in our people’s rights by deposing a member from the Governing Council and neutralizing another. Why is the call for restoring Baathists is proposed now? Is it an agreement between the US and UN to give power back to Baathists? Perhaps Ibrahimi and UN employees are not yet satisfied with the former regime’s bribes. (Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.) Editorial: Technocratic Rule Our Hope for the Future (Al-Mashriq, 26 Apr 04) - Discussions are being held behind closed doors concerning the formation of an interim government and nobody can predict the nature of this government. After ages of oppression and chaos, it seems that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It has been reported that al-Akhdhar al-Ibrahimi wants a technocrat government and the Americans blessed this step although it does not appeal to some parties - each of which thinks it is the one that must lead Iraq. I would support al-Ibrahimi if he compensated us with an unbiased government that gives the upper hand to knowledgeable people, and the lower hand to illiterates, even if they represent symbols for their supporters. The former regime prioritized loyalty to efficiency, and according to this criterion illiterate people occupied hot seats. The only hope we have for future is a technocratic government. (Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments.) |
| Posted by:Super Hose |