Main focus of Thursday, July 2, 2009

US troops withdraw from Iraq

The US has begun with the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq. By midnight on Tuesday the soldiers had moved out of the cities and villages. Six years after the war began Iraq has regained an important part of its sovereignty. The government has declared June 30 a national public holiday.

Karjalainen - Finland

The eastern Finnish daily Karjalainen welcomes the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq but notes that enduring peace is still a long way off: "The withdrawal of troops from Baghdad has strengthened the Iraqis' national pride. The war in Iraq was begun with justifications that have proved to be false, and it was supposed to be short and effective. The battles and violence of these past six years have been a hard test for the Americans, Iraqis and the US's allies. The economic price of the war is incalculable but it has driven the United States into immense debt. Iraq has given America a new generation of young war veterans who will go through life with chaotic memories of war. … Iraq is now in a phase in which the path to democracy will be found within the country - or not be found at all. The fear of violence lives on because this is a fragile peace. In the elections next January the Iraqis will decide which direction their future takes." (02/07/2009)

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Diena - Latvia

The daily Diena sees the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq as a sign of stabilisation and democratisation in the country: "The Iraqis have cause to celebrate. Only two and a half years ago, rocked by ethnic violence and terrorist attacks, the country was on the verge of civil war and ruin. Now things are relatively calm, even if there are still terrorist attacks and they have even become more frequent in the last few days. Notwithstanding, the political forces now compete in parliamentary elections rather than street battles. For President George W. Bush the war and occupation of Iraq six years ago were part of the war on global terrorism. The US's explanation for the war was called into question above all in the US itself, and the mistakes of the first phase of the war were obvious. Yet the great majority of Iraqis shows no regrets about the fall of Saddam Hussein and the freedom it brought. Now the responsibility for the security of the country is being passed on to an Iraqi government." (02/07/2009)

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ABC - Spain

The US troops leave Iraq in a better state than they found it in, writes the conservative daily ABC: "The Iraqis are justifiably happily celebrating the begin of the withdrawal of US troops. A survey of the results six years after the invasion and the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein reveals more light than shadows. Above all we can see a clear hope for the future of a country that is governed by democratic principles and that is seen as peaceful and prosperous in a region where such qualities are unfortunately seldom. For sure, during the occupation many mistakes were made and great dangers still loom on the horizon. But it cannot be denied that the situation in Iraq is improving and that the majority of leaders confront each other in a legitimate way and at a political and democratic level instead of going about killing each other." (02/07/2009)

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Népszabadság - Hungary

Commenting on the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq the left-liberal weekly Népszabadság writes: "The US troops have withdrawn to their bases in Iraq. They are confident that the law enforcement agencies in independent and democratic Iraq are already in a position to ensure public security. If not they will return. … Today Iraq is apparently a half-way stable and democratic country. Saddam Hussein's brutal dictatorship is a distant memory. But what the Iraqis will no doubt remember is the wealth the country once enjoyed thanks to oil. During Saddam Hussein's times Iraq produced quantities of oil the likes of which one only reads about in fairytales. In the past six years not a cent has been invested in oil production. … With time this will also change. Once security has been ensured capital will begin to flow into the country. For Iraq is sitting on the world's third-largest oil reserves." (02/07/2009)

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Corriere del Ticino - Switzerland

The liberal daily Corriere del Ticino comments on the economic situation in Iraq after the withdrawal of the US troops: "Iraq's main difficulty in constructing its Eldorado is that foreign oil companies still view the situation in the country as too uncertain and unstable for long-term investments. If anything, they prefer to cautiously start up joint ventures. That's also what we've seen with the only significant partnership to speak of, between British Petroleum and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) for the development of the oil fields in Rumalia in southern Iraq. Without doubt the Chinese are the more eager of the two, which reflects China's unquenchable thirst for oil. ... It also shows that [the Chinese] are the most willing to close deals with a promising country like Iraq even before any signs of lasting stability appear." (02/07/2009)

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