Under the headline "The way to a civil, democratic Iraq," the editorial said if the political powers lose the chance to lead Iraq toward the path of democracy, they would be committing a historically unforgivable sin.
The newspaper compared the situation in Iraq to an orchard with ripe fruits at the time of harvest, yet the owners demand only their sons take part in the harvest in order to get the most benefits.
The national powers, the newspaper said, are in a similar situation: If they worked hand in hand, they could achieve a national revival and ensure the safety and welfare of the Iraqi people.
The call for a civil democracy in Iraq is a noble one and represents the national responsibility for those who support it, the editorial said. Minor powers, such as the Communist Party of Iraq and various media outlets, however, face an uphill battle in the elections unless they exert a massive effort.
"Limited, weak calls from such powers do not guarantee victory or the delivery of a democratic Iraq as opposed to the call for unity from the secular, national, leftist and religious powers who seek a civil and democratic Iraq," the newspaper said.
It said a unified political base is a national and human necessity to bring about change for the better in Iraq.
The editorial said the nobility of the call is not the only way to achieve a civil and democratic Iraq as it must take into consideration the religious and psychological factors defining the social reality of the Iraqi people.
Mistakes made by Iraqi intellectuals who promote a "national campaign" result from their living abroad and the influence of Western democracy on their opinions, the editorial said. These intellectuals, the newspaper said, refer to Iraq as a Western country based on the experiences of leftist and secular movements in France or Italy, a position that runs contrary to the psychological and religious experiences of the people of Iraq.
The editorial said various speeches from secular and leftist leaders called for a civil and democratic Iraq by using such terms as "warfare" and "battling," which reminds people of the oppressive past. It also arouses anger from opposition movements, which call these leaders "figures of the mosques" and accuse them of wasting the wealth of the Iraqi people.
Such accusations come from the insistence of the Islamic political powers to hold fast to their ideologies, the newspaper said.
The editorial also said statements made by the leftist powers in Iraq regarding the call for democracy, while at the same time discrediting the ideologies of the Islamic political powers, contradicted the democratic principle of "respect for others and their opinions."
"The seculars and leftists don't realize that provocation of the Islamic political powers and discrediting their beliefs result in the failure of leftist goals, because large numbers of the public and Parliament follow religious leaders who oppose secularism," the editorial said.
The newspaper added it was wrong to assume divisions inside the Islamic political base would lead to public support for the leftists unless they can prepare suitable grounds for their argument that they are the ones who can bring the necessary changes to Iraq.
The editorial said the people of Iraq live in a state of frustration and regret for electing officials they thought would bring change for the better. Yet, if other powers can't present strong support for true change, the people most likely will elect the same officials in the coming elections.
"The widespread political paranoia has turned Iraqis into people wanted to be 'protected' by those who represent their sects," the London-based paper concluded.
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