Mosaic News - 2/3/10: World News From The Middle East
US intelligence warns of new attacks
Al Arabiya TV, UAEPresenter, Female #1
U.S. political and intelligence agencies warned of attempted al-Qaeda attacks on the United States in the next few months. These warnings come after U.S. intelligence surveillance found that al-Qaeda is deploying operatives inside and outside the U.S. for new attacks.
Reporter, Male #1
The White House was put on high alert in order to prevent attempted terrorist attacks on the United States. The chief of the U.S. intelligence and security agency said that an attempted terrorist attack on the United States was “certain” in the next few months. The U.S. intelligence agencies are focusing on ways to prevent any possible attacks. This includes the arrests of senior al-Qaeda operatives. CIA Director Leon Panetta said that al-Qaeda is inspiring homegrown extremists to trigger violence and instability in the U.S. According to Fox News, in what was attributed to US officials, al-Qaeda is deploying operatives, including "clean record" recruits with a negligible trail of terrorist contacts, to carry out new attacks on U.S. soil.
Guest, Male #2
The violent extremists’ threat, including that of al-Qaeda, is growing. We were able to counter terrorist attacks engineered by more than one group. However, as we noticed in recent successful terror attacks, identifying groups or individuals using simple attack methods is very hard.
Reporter, Male #1
The annual assessment of the nation’s terror threats by U.S. intelligence officials is not new. However, the report has caused fear and panic over the security threats facing the country, especially since the Christmas Day airline attack in Detroit. The return of al-Qaeda to the international arena and its ability to strike U.S. targets has put the Obama Administration under the spotlight. According to a recent U.S intelligence report, al-Qaeda was able to reorganize itself and adopt new tactics to help it launch new terrorist attacks on Western installations. Al-Qaeda is also using new methods that are becoming hard to detect, including the launch of wide-scale attacks by individuals with a negligible trail of terrorist contacts. In addition, al-Qaeda is seeking to recruit a large number of suicide bombers. Tony Mazra’ni, al-Arabiya.
20 killed in Karbala
Al Jazeera, QatarPresenter, Female #1
The Chair of the Iraqi High Electoral Commission, Hamdeya al-Husseini said that the Parliament’s Anti-Discrimination Committee will allow candidates subject to the Accountability and Justice Law to take part in the upcoming elections. Al-Husseini added that the commission postponed a review of the complaints, which were filed by the 500 candidates barred from taking part in the upcoming elections next March due to their affiliations with the outlawed Baath Party. On the ground, the Iraqi police said that 20 people were killed and more than a hundred wounded in a motorcycle bomb attack in Karbala. This is the second such attack in three days, targeting Shia pilgrims.
Reporter, Male #1
The strict security measures enforced by nearly 30,000 Iraqi police and security officers, in and around the city of Karbala, didn’t stop what most feared from happening: Dozens of Shia pilgrims were killed and dozens of others were wounded while en-route to the holy city of Karbala to mark the annual Arbaeen of al-Hussein, May God bless him. According to the Iraqi police, the Karbala blast, which coincided with other attacks on Shia pilgrims in Baghdad, was carried out by a bomb that was planted in a carriage pulled by a motorcycle. The bomb was detonated near the east entrance of Karbala. This is the second powerful attack in three days to target Shia pilgrims, following the suicide attack in a way station for female visitors heading to Karbala. Dozens of people were killed and dozens of others were wounded in the blast, which took place in the area of Bab al-Sham northeast of Baghdad. The latest attacks come after warnings by the Baghdad Command Center of new explosive materials being developed by an armed group. The bomb-detection agencies have not been able to identify these new explosives. The Iraqi government is holding those it described as “Takfiris, Saddamists, and Baathists” responsible for the latest attacks. However, many are accusing the government and its security institutions of negligence, especially after the surfacing of reports on the ineffectiveness of bomb-detection devices used by Iraqi security forces. These accusations could be politically motivated, especially as the Iraqi political blocs are expected to launch their election campaigns in the next few days.
Iraqi insurgents continue attacks against US troops
Al-Rafidain, IraqPresenter, Male #1
Peace be upon you, we start our news here in al-Rafidain with the security situation in the country. One person was killed and six others were injured in two separate attacks in southern Baghdad. Also, an Iraqi government investigator was injured when a sticky bomb attached to his car blew up in western Baghdad. In addition, two Iraqi soldiers were injured in western Mosul, in the center of Ninawa province. Al-Btera military airport in Southern al-Amarah, in the center of Ninawa province, was attacked by three missiles. Meanwhile, random arrests continue. Government forces arrested 10 people during a military operation carried out in Dyalah; they said that the individuals are wanted. At the same time, American occupation forces arrested one person during an operation in al-Meqdadiya. Meanwhile, government forces and the police found two weapon caches in Mosul. Polices sources said that government forces found the first cache in the neighborhood of Nablus in western Mosul. The second cache was found in Hammam al-Alil, south of the city. The police said that the two caches contained ammunition, detonation devices, many hand grenades and other weapons. Meanwhile, the security and defense community at the parliament attributed the rise of violence in the recent period to the corruption of some military leaders and the dysfunctional explosive-detection equipment. Members of the committee said that the ability of some groups to go through checkpoints, reach sensitive areas and destroy hotels in Baghdad undoubtedly proves that the security agencies have been infiltrated. They added that some of those who work within the security agencies are corrupt and can bribed with cash. Meanwhile, Iranian forces shelled a number of villages in Qandel Mountain. According to knowledgeable sources, the shelling continued and included villages in Fashler in the province of Sulaimaniya. We do not have any information about the level destruction there. It is worth mentioning that Iran violates the Iraqi territory by shelling border areas in northern Iraq every once in a while, while the government stays completely silent and does nothing. In other news, the American army announced that one soldier was killed allegedly in a non-combatant incident in southern Iraq. The Pentagon claims that this raises the death toll of the American occupation soldiers to 4,375 since the beginning of the occupation of Iraq in 2003. The number includes five others who were killed this month. However, according to other American institutions including the US Veterans Affairs, more than 33 thousands Americans have been killed so far, as claimed on their website. Meanwhile, the Iraqi resistance continues to carry out sophisticated armed operations against the occupation. The religious body of the Ansar al-Sunna organization claimed responsibility for the attack on an American armory in al-Basan, east of Baghdad. Members of the human rights committee in the current parliament said that many prisoners are being subjected to physical and psychological torture. The committee said that prison authorities are unprofessional and accused them of being behind the dangerous human rights violations of prisoners. They also said that corruption is wide-spread in most executive branches and especially in the human rights ministry.
President of Iraqi Kurdistan praises US
Alsumaria TV, IraqPresenter, Female #1
The bureau of the Kurdistan Regional Government representatives in Washington held a dinner banquet to welcome Masoud Barzani, president of the Iraq Kurdistan Region. A number of American political, diplomatic and academic figures attended the event. President Barzani greatly praised the position of the American people and the US administration in liberating the Iraqi people, in particular the people of Kurdistan, from the dictatorship. He hoped that the US continues its support of the Iraqi people in order to build a democratic, federal and diverse country. In a related development, US Vice President Joseph Biden held a lunch banquet for President Barzani and the delegation that accompanied him. The president of Kurdistan Region visited the Pentagon, where he discussed the general situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The two confirmed that more collaboration between the Region and the United States will take place in order to accomplish the deterrence plans set up to stop terrorism and stabilize the situation in Iraq. Some representatives considered the deployment of joint forces from the armies of Iraq, the US and the Kurdish Peshmerga in conflict areas to be a violation of the constitution. Others considered it to be an outstanding step towards achieving security, as long as there are no political agendas behind it. Ali Qais has more details.
Reporter, Male #1
Some representatives described the role of the Iraqi army as non-existent in terms of having control over conflict zones. Peshmarga forces are the only ones who have control over these areas. The constitution stipulates that Peshmarga can only exist inside the Kurdistan Region and at the border between the region and the conflict zones. Some members of parliament considered the presence of Peshmarga forces in these areas to be a violation of the constitution.
Guest, Male #1
The Iraqi army does not have any control over Kirkuk or east of the city, nor does it even exist there. The Peshmarga forces do not allow the army to go through this area.
Guest, Male #2
The Peshmarga forces can be deployed at the region’s border near the conflict zones, but not inside those areas. It may lead to resentment.
Reporter, Male #1
Other representatives believe that the deployment of joint forces in the conflict areas is a good step towards achieving security, as long as it is for security purposes, and not for some political agenda or economic greed.
Guest, Male #3
Deploying any forces for political or constitutional reasons may be interpreted in a certain way. The stability of the country should not be obtained in a way that increases people’s concerns about each other.
Reporter, Male #1
Politicians believe that the presence of the Peshmarga forces will increase resentment in the conflict areas, and they consider that to be part of the problem, not the solution. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the US forces General Steve Lanza reiterated that the work of the Peshmarga forces and the Iraqi forces will help building mutual trust and bridge the huge gap between them. Ali Qais, al-Sumaria Channel.
Sha'ath in Gaza
Dubai TV, UAEPresenter, Female #1
Fatah Central Committee member Nabil Shaath arrived to Gaza today to hold meetings with leaders from Hamas and other Palestinian factions with the objective of speeding up the national reconciliation process. Shaath is expected to achieve tangible results during his visit, especially considering that the Egyptian mediation agreement does not demand Fatah or Hamas to compromise their principles. This has created a pessimistic environment, which means that the two sides may attend the Arab League after they reconcile. Shaath went to Gaza even though it was attacked by Israeli planes. Yesterday, they attacked an area in Rafah that has tunnels, along the border with Egypt, injuring three people working in these tunnels. The occupation planes also launched three missiles towards Gaza International Airport, south of Gaza. This comes as Israel was carrying out military maneuvers in preparation for a possible war on Syria. Barak confirmed that Netanyahu’s government is committed to the two-state solution, due to the racial motives of maintaining Israel a Jewish state. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that war with Syria may brake if a peace agreement is not reached with Damascus. Barak gave a speech yesterday at the Herzliya Conference which addresses Israeli security issues. Barak said that if the two-state solution fails, Israel will be faced with two options: it can become either a bi-national or an apartheid state.
Guest, Male #1
The simple truth is that if we established one state to the west of the Jordan River, this state will end up being non-Jewish or undemocratic. Millions of Palestinians will vote which will make Israel a bi-national state. If the Palestinians are deprived of voting rights, this state will be an apartheid state. None of these options serve our Zionist dream.
Presenter, Female #1
The Herzliya Conference held yesterday was attended by the most senior Palestinian representatives. Prime Minister Salam Fayad attended the conference and reiterated that the Palestinian Authority is committed to resuming peace talks even without a complete halt of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He said that for the sake of peace, Palestinian land occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem, is where the future Palestinian state should be established. The participation of Fayad in the conference generated a storm of criticism by Palestinian factions because the Herzliya Conference tends to address Israel’s security policies, which are usually achieved by carrying out more aggression against the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation stopped maritime activities and deployed troops to comb costal areas along the Mediterranean Sea to make sure that there weren’t any more explosives. Tow barrels filled with 15-20 kilograms of explosives each were found off the coast of Askelon and Ashdod. Salah al-Deen Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committee, claimed responsibility for the explosive barrels and vowed to take more action.
Israel searches for explosive barrels
IBA, IsraelBeaches in the south of the country remain closed following yesterday’s discovery of two bombs that arrived from Gaza by way of the sea. Security forces today continue to comb the country’s beaches to possibly find more improvised explosive devices. The two devices that washed up on the shores in the south of the country yesterday each contained some 80 kilograms of explosive materials could have caused much death and damage had they not been found in time.
Court ordered to rule again on Bashir genocide charge
BBC Arabic, UKPresenter, male #1
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court requested that the previous decision to drop genocide charges levied against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir be reconsidered. Al-Bashir faced accusations of having committed crimes against humanity and war crimes last year, in addition to planning assassinations, torture, rape and forced migration in the Darfur region in Western Sudan. However, the Court’s judges decided in the beginning that they do not have sufficient evidence to charge the Sudanese president with genocide.
Reporter, Male #2
This is the moment that Ocampo has been waiting for. The judges of the International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber reversed their decision to drop genocide charges levied against the Sudanese president.
Guest, Man # 3
“The chamber concluded” that the logical reason that made Mr. al-Bashir deliberately commit genocide still “has not been established”.
Reporter, Man # 2
The accusations against al-Bashir consist of seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in March of last year; they include killing, torture, and rape. The judges must decide on whether to add the genocide charges to the list. The court had decided to drop these charges for lack of evidence showing that the Sudanese government was trying to annihilate the tribes of Fur, Masalet and Zawaya last March. The court, however, charged the Sudanese president at the time with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC's chief prosecutor, appealed the court’s decision saying that he had provided sufficient evidence to consider the genocide charges, regardless if they were added to the list of charges or not. Muhammad Said Mahfuz, BBC.
Presenter, male #1
To comment on the Sudanese affair, we are joined by political science professor from Westminster University, Dr Abdel al-Wahab al-Afamndi. We welcome you. Let me first ask you about the new decision of the Appeals Chamber. What were the motivations? Were they political, judicial or humanitarian reasons?
Guest, Man # 4
The reasons include these three categories. When the International Criminal Court was established, people had high expectations. They hoped that it would spread justice and so on. The court’s chief prosecutor decided to use Sudan as an example to show that the court can seek justice.
Presenter, Man # 1
But there were other leaders who were charged in the past.
Guest, Man # 4
Yes, but these cases did not generate a lot of media attention. The chief prosecutor wanted a case that would enable the court to say that we have accomplished something. The International Criminal Court’s annual budget is 100 million Euros. The court can not afford to only try individuals of a lower caliber who can be tried in other countries. The ICC wanted to use Sudan as an example, but it backfired. Now, African and other third world nations question the legitimacy of the ICC. Therefore, the case against the Sudanese president has been transformed into a political struggle. The ICC is trying to prove that genocide did take place because that would justify its decision to use Sudan as an example.
Iran: rocket with animals sent into space
Press TV, IranIran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled 3 new satellites which have been designed and built domestically. This has opened a new chapter in Iran’s space program and if Iran continues to pull off more successes in the field, it will soon stand among the top 5 countries possessing modern space technology. The launch of Kavoshgar-3 carried living creatures into space for the first time, and according to officials, they may come back home alive.
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