Through the latest developments in Iraq, many parties have expressed fear of a possible coup in the near future, the independent Kul al-Iraq newspaper said Monday.

Does democracy encourage building a military state?

The fear of a coup is legitimate because, as a democratic country, Iraq is tasked with building a civil state with civil institutions. Because the "civil" government of Baghdad has responded to the increased attacks by increasing the presence of the military in the streets, however, many people fear the emergence of a military society.

The government went too far when it forced the media to cover military matters. The emergence of this extreme use of the military has caused fear among the Iraqi public. Another thing that raises the concern of people is the increase in military recruiting. College-educated Iraqis, for example, can get few jobs outside the military, much to the pleasure of the government.

Nevertheless, focusing on military leadership and military institutions leads people to fear a coup against the government as many military leaders are the same officers that forced Iraq into previous wars.

Democracy is meant to establish civil, not military, states.

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The long-term strategic agreement between Baghdad and Washington is disputed inside institutions of both governments and in the Iraqi street.

Signing of the agreement was postponed in July when the political parties vying for seats in the upcoming provincial elections raised their voices in opposition, al-Sabaah newspaper of the Iraqi government said Monday.

The coming agreement and dealing with the United States

The government's next mission is to either demonstrate the need for U.S. forces or call for their immediate departure. The Iraqi Parliament is required to pass one of these two options, and although many would encourage keeping foreign forces in the country, there should be a reminder that as long as these forces are on the ground, the country will continue to be an "occupied country."

The Parliament wants to erase the label of "occupation" from the name of Iraq and blames the Saddam Hussein regime for inviting that label by challenging the United States.

Any agreement with the United States means finding new ways of dealing with Washington apart from military forces. Iraq could be an equal to other Gulf nations that host U.S. military bases and still retain their sovereignty.

Iraqi politicians should befriend the United States for the benefit of the country. Similar to other people in the Gulf, Iraqis want to live a stable life. Moreover, an agreement between the United States and Iraq could organize the presence of the U.S. forces in the streets.

By signing the agreement, Baghdad would reduce the movement of U.S. military vehicles in the street. On the other hand, the people have to remember that some neighboring countries are waiting for the moment when U.S. forces leave in order to increase their interference in Iraqi affairs.

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The independent Addustour newspaper described the strategic long-term agreement between Iraq and the United States as lacking an official illustration that guarantees a stable future for the country.

Under the shadow of the invaders

People mistrust the negotiating parties to the agreement. Many Iraqi negotiators show their approval of the agreement in an attempt to implement their agenda even though it contradicts the ambitions of millions of people. In the meantime, many other negotiators demand getting out of the occupier's "net" and defend Iraqi national principles.

Urging the Iraqi government to sign the agreement, the occupier insists on taking people's right to a life of dignity and preventing them from using their wealth. Washington demands setting up permanent bases in Iraq to keep the occupation under their guardianship, while sanctioning the killing of innocent people.

The strategic agreement, meanwhile, would enable Washington to control Iraqi money in U.S. banks. These and other types of pressures are tools used to force the agreement on the wounded country.

The latest spate of attacks that resulted in the death of dozens of Iraqis is a warning to Iraqi authorities that if they insist on a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces, the security situation in Iraq would deteriorate.

Iraqis have to stand hand-in-hand to defend their country and move past the current crisis by opposing any agenda that impacts the sovereignty of the country.

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