A roundup of commentary from Arab newspapers September 27.
Saddam trial 'black comedy'
Jordan's Al Arab Al Yawm said in a commentary that Baghdad is living through a stage only fit for the corrupt, bandits, killers, and militias that leave behind unidentified bodies.
The paper, which describes itself as an independent daily that provides "the other opinion," said that corruption has even been imposed on the judiciary by the "militiamen," adding that it was the "most dangerous form of wrecking social life in Iraq."
The daily complained that the proceedings of the "Anfal" trial against toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and the "Dujail" case before it, was a sham that harms the sanctity of justice and human rights, because it is "closer to a black comedy ... and farthest away from justice, integrity, and neutrality."
The Jordanian paper said that the Anfal trial was a result of the new regime imposed by the American-British occupation in the name of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
"What is happening in the trial is a result of the spreading chaos and violence embedded in the occupation, and summarizes a reality of the miserable Iraqi truth that saddens all those who love Iraq, the Arab country that has become a lost paradise."
Neutral Hariri probe
Lebanon's An Nahar commented that the recent probe report by International Independent Investigation Commissioner Serge Brammertz on the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri neither satisfies nor provokes any party.
The anti-Syrian daily added, however, that it also leaves no room for criticism. It said that new leads and indications of progress made regarding the investigation please those eager to find out the truth of who killed Hariri.
The mass-circulation paper's commentary argued that since the report lacked mention of clear suspects, it also pleases those who do not want the truth to emerge and gives them hope for more time to "bet on changes that will make the probe meaningless."
Report after report since Hariri's assassination in February 2005 had not provided results, the paper said, although "it gave us more confidence in a serious and professional process."
Professional Hariri assassination probe
Oman's Al Watan said that Brammertz's latest report on Hariri's assassination was very professional, indicating dynamics and cautions not to fall into a political trap that would obstruct the investigation.
The pro-government daily guessed that Brammertz's professionalism may have not satisfied some parties because it did not record accusations against Syria in the case. It said that the UN-appointed Belgian investigator presented two significant eyewitness reports, including the possibility that the explosion targeting Hariri's convoy may have come from the air, adding that only Israel and the United States had such technology.
The other vision that Brammertz presented, the paper added, was the possibility of a suicide bombing that would have required preparation by a high-level apparatus "that might not have been available except in very advanced countries."
The commentary praised Brammertz's professionalism, saying that he had set up a tent at the site where Hariri's convoy was bombed to truly investigate what happened, adding that he knows how to discern between credible and false information.
Saudi, unlike Qatar, is transparent
Saudi Arabia's Okaz daily blasted reports "promoted in the Israeli and Qatari media" about secret contacts between Saudi and Israeli officials.
The semi-official paper added in its editorial that the oil-rich Arab kingdom had always been transparent about its policies with its people, friends, and foes, and never entertained an open policy with a secret one. "That's why no one can believe the allegations ... which don't serve the interests" of those promoting these claims, it said.
The mass-circulation daily accused the "Qatari-Israeli media" of trying to "obscure the great role carried out by the kingdom in international politics, a role that relies on transparency and clarity, unlike the political hypocrisy that some politicians try to exercise in international forums, appearing as if they are defending Arab rights, while their states sign agreements and exchange visits with the enemies of Arabs and Muslims," in obvious reference to Qatar's relations with Israel.
The paper said that while it was not surprised by the Israeli media's broadcasting of such allegations, "it is surprising and painful for the media in a brotherly Arab Gulf country to relay these fabricated lies."
Bush put America in more danger
The London-based Al Quds Al Arabi commented that President George W. Bush insists on remaining in denial over a recent US intelligence report that affirmed that the invasion and occupation of Iraq had multiplied terrorism and its threats.
The independent Palestinian-owned daily said that if Bush does not want to see the accuracy of this report, he should look at the facts on the ground and see that Al Qaeda has expanded and become stronger and more dangerous than before.
It argued that while the war on Afghanistan weakened the organization, the occupation of Iraq was a "valuable gift for Al Qaeda because it provided a more appropriate environment to establish training camps for volunteers from the Muslim world, and a weapons store of more than 50 million pieces and five tons of ammunition."
The daily, with Arab nationalist trends, pointed out that Al Qaeda carried out only one operation before the occupation of Iraq, but has since managed to launch bloody attacks in Madrid, London, Istanbul, Casablanca, Riyadh, and Amman, in addition to hundreds of attacks inside Iraq.
It said that while Bush was right to say that the occupation of Iraq prevented Al Qaeda elements from attacking the United States, Al Qaeda no longer needed to target America because of the presence of 150,000 US troops in Iraq.
"President Bush put his country in more danger after his invasion of Iraq," it stressed, "and his war on terror moves from one failure to bigger failures."
Review of Arab Editorials
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