EDITORIAL: Syria Inhibits Iraq
By Ismail Zaer
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed, May 16, 2005) Normally we would be happy to hear that Syria has revised its stance towards Iraq. But in the current situation we feel bitter. We do not accept Syrian ignorance over the current state of affairs in Iraq. We hoped the Syrians would open their arms wide and help us out of our current difficulties. Instead, they send intelligence agents thinking that by doing so they might defeat the Americans. This policy has taken the region to the edge of the abyss. It is important to put the interests of the people above the interests of the rulers and their parties. Saddam made this mistake before. Why is Syria repeating it now?
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed is an independent daily paper.)

OPINION: Journalists Should Seek Truth
By Basim al-Sheikh
(Addustour, May 16, 2005) The profession of journalism is a big responsibility and should be practiced by honourable people. Journalists should be impartial, avoiding plagiarism and libel; they should favour neither one side nor the other. A journalist should be ethical and never use his authority to defame the reputation of others. He is supposed to protect human rights or risk dishonouring the profession. Some Baathists have penetrated the world of journalism and are trying to poison public opinion. We are trying to establish a state powered by law, because we were fed up with dictatorship. We will never allow the law of jungle to dominate again. It has already gone, and there is no way of having it back.
(Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh.)

Cartoon of the Day

OPINION: Student Standards Deteriorate
By Saleem Rasool
(Al-Bayan, May 18, 2005) My friend, an intermediate schoolteacher, convinced me to visit the hall where they correct final exam papers. He wanted me to see in person the low standards of many of the students, some of who cannot even write their names in Arabic. I was shocked that there are some intermediate level students who should still be in primary school as they cannot read or write. I asked one how he passed the baccalaureate exam, and he explained that teachers helped by providing answers to the exam questions, which the students then copied. Teachers must work hard to raise the standards of the students. I hope there are some who might strongly respond to this appeal.
(The Islamic Dawa Party, chaired by Vice-President Ibrahim al-Jafari issues Al-Bayan four times weekly.)

OPINION: Newsweek Scandal
By Samer al-Mishal
(Baghdad, May 18, 2005) The US magazine Newsweek recently reported that American soldiers in Guantanamo Bay humiliated Islam by tearing out the Holy Koran and throwing it into the toilet. This news has provoked the Muslims who demonstrated in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. They clashed with the police and 15 of the demonstrators died. On May 16, the magazine apologised to the families of the victims, retracting the story and saying the source they relied on was weak. Fifteen people died due to the mistake of a journalist from Newsweek, a leading magazine with a great impact both in America and internationally. The victims of journalism are not necessarily those who died; they are those who suffer libel and plagiarism. Some newspapers use defamation on purpose to increase their sales. There must be laws to prevent this. Before writing a single word, we must remember if we ignore ethics we will become journalistic terrorists.
(Baghdad is a daily newspaper issued by the Iraqi National Accord.)

EDITORIAL: Efforts to Provoke Sectarian War
By Mohammed Abdul Jabbar al-Shaboot
(Al-Sabah, May 19, 2005) There are certain bodies trying to provoke a sectarian conflict in Iraq; both Sunni and Shia have been killed. Their killers are neither Sunni nor Shia, but a third body working for a sectarian war between the two dominant groups, not because they are biased towards one group or the other, but because they hate Iraq and oppose its struggle for a free and fair life under the umbrella of a democratic, constitutional and stable state. Iraq consists of different spectrums: Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Christians and Muslims. We were shy to ask people whether they were Shia or Sunni, because we consider all Iraqis as being part of one nation regardless of their ethnic background. Sunnis are married to Shia, Kurds to Arabs. There is no discrimination between the people on a sectarian or ethnic basis. This third party seems unwilling to have Iraq united and stable. They tried bombing, explosions, and assassinations and are now trying a sectarian war. They will be disappointed because Iraqis know that strength lies in unity.
(Al-Sabah is a daily independent publicly owned newspaper.)

OPINION: Political Weakness Leads to Chaos
By Fatih Abdul Salam
(Azzaman, May 19, 2005) The current wave of assassinations indicates the weakness of the political process. Iraq has been overwhelmed by military operations in the last two years under the guise of eliminating terrorism. The basic official security motto should be to stop assassinations by any means and order members of the public to stop helping terrorists. Assassination is a sign of political weakness rather than of security weakness. Some officials have contributed to that weakness under the pretense of serving Iraq's best interests.
(London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.)