Deep mistrust towards US security report

Baghdad: America, Iraq and all countries interested in the Iraq issue and its ramifications are eagerly awaiting the next report from the American ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker and the military commander General David Petraeus.

However, Iraqis themselves have decided to attack the report before its publication.

Sami Abdul Hamid, an Iraqi told Gulf News: "The Petraeus-Crocker report probably means a lot more for Americans than Iraqis themselves, although it speaks about the political and security situation in Iraq.

"The Americans are following the report with great interest to determine their position - whether to stay or withdraw and how to stop the continuing casualties in the American army."

The government-run Sabah newspaper said the "Petraeus-Crocker report should not blame the government in Baghdad; instead it should respect the Iraqi government and its strategy."

Elham Hussain, a university student, told Gulf News: "I just hate talking about the Petraeus-Crocker report because it simply enhances the American tutelage over Iraq.

"The Iraqi government must issue all reports and find solutions to the deteriorating security situation and Americans have to accept the role of cooperating and supporting, not of controlling and guarding".

Sovereignty

The Iraqi political milieux, especially among the Shiite ruling coalition, did not like the recent visit by American president George W Bush visit to the Anbar province and the way Iraqi leaders headed to meet him because it carried certain meanings that detracted from Iraq's sovereignty.

Some political milieux in the Dawa party led by Nouri Al Maliki, told Gulf News that Al Maliki is keen to act as a leader of a sovereign, independent and elected government and that can be inferred from the neighbouring countries conference held in Baghdad a few days ago.

The Iraqi government seemed comfortable because the conference sent a message of independency and sovereignty.

Jalil, an officer at the Interior Ministry, told Gulf News: "Americans think they are the only ones who can bring a solution though they are the main reason for the catastrophic security situation when they left the borders wide open for Al Qaida and other external terrorist elements."

However, Bashar Al Samarae, a teacher at a secondary school, told Gulf News the report was important: "Iraqis are the only ones responsible for their issue. Yet the mistakes committed by the Al Maliki government makes the report important because Americans are the only power that can put pressure on the government to correct the mistakes and this is a bitter but true fact."