Presenter, Male #1
Iraqi resistance factions affirmed that the US administration’s decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq is the result of what they describe as their persisting Jihad that has lasted over 7 years.

Presenter, Female #1
However, political observers believe that the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq will place the resistance factions in front of new challenges.

Reporter, Male #1
Iraqi resistance groups, along with the insurgent forces fighting against the occupation, consider the schedule of US withdrawal from Iraq as their own victory. They believe that it would not have been achieved had it not been for the high price that was paid by the US, both financially and morally. At the same time, they also believe that the partial withdrawal does not change the nature of the remaining troops, viewing them as occupation forces, and that their presence does not alter the situation, seeing that it is imposed by the war’s developments. According to political observers, the withdrawal of US combatant troops will place the resistance factions in front of new challenges related to their military operations, political agendas and public relations. Their chance of directly targeting US forces will be largely limited after August 31st. A large-scale US troop withdrawal from cities was carried out in July, 2009. Perhaps most of the factions’ list of bombing operations, targeting the remaining US bases and camps, will be reduced in the upcoming period. Military experts believe that the effects of these operations will be limited. Most resistance groups, except for al-Qaeda and Ansar al-Islam, have been recently attempting to neutralize Iraqi forces. They forbid their supporters from putting the Iraqi forces on the list of targets, as long as these forces does not initiate any attacks against them or join the US forces in military operations. But today, these factions will find themselves in front of the Iraqi forces, which are responsible for increasing security measures, protecting the political process and providing a safe environment for 93 military bases and camps housing about 50,000 soldiers, who are scheduled to pullout by the end of 2011. Under these pressures, will the factions seek to unify their goals and create a new slogan to be added to the slogans against the occupation? The reality indicates that if the resistance groups agree on the slogan of “liberation”, then they will have different perspectives and insights for it. Therefore, they have not been able, nor will they be able to create an agenda that brings them all together. Some consider the factions’ concentration on an ideological, methodological and maybe national basis to be an achievement. Others consider it a prelude to a competition to fill the void that the US withdrawal will leave, which may later turn into a fight for dominance and influence. They mention the fight that took place nearly 3 years ago between al-Qaeda and other factions when they believed that the Americans’ defeat was imminent.

Presenter, Male #1
The Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance said that it has managed to destroy a US military vehicle, announcing the end of a campaign that lasted 100 days, and concluded with the withdrawal of US combatant troops from Iraq.

Presenter, Female #1
The Front released a video showing one of its members throwing an explosive device at a US vehicle. Meanwhile, the Men of the Naqshbandi Order in Iraq said that it managed to destroy a US vehicle by detonating an explosive device. The authenticity of both videos has not been confirmed by a third party.

Presenter, Female #1
The Security Council has unanimously approved Lebanon’s request to extend UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon. This one-year extension will last until the end of August, 2011. The mandate and the number of forces will remain the same. This comes after parliament adopted a resolution in which UNIFIL’s role in Lebanon was described as positive. From Lebanon, this report by Ali Hashem.

Reporter, Male # 1
Four years have passed on since the Second Lebanon War ended. On the surface, calm here seems to be the master of the situation. However, behind the mound, a barrel of gunpowder is hiding, and it could explode at any moment. Last month’s clashes in the town of el-Adeisse is evidence of it. Resolution 1701 ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel. It is implemented by the United Nations forces that are spread along the Blue Line, which was agreed upon as a way to determine southern Lebanon’s borders. We are now on a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon. The forces will roam around some towns near the Blue Line. Is the Blue Line behind the fence?

Guest, Male # 2 (Captain Mendoza, UNIFIL)
The Blue Line is here, it is delineated by the fence. But in other places, it’s behind the fence, between the Blue Line and the technical fence.

Reporter, Male # 1
Along the Blue Line, thousands of international soldiers patrol in their vehicles, safeguarding the calm. However, at times, they become one of the reasons for the tension. On more than one occasion, these forces were criticized by some in the South, who accused it of implementing a special agenda on their land. A claim that has been repeatedly denied by the forces. Even if the tension can have negative repercussions on the ground, it usually does not have any connection to the presence of these forces. Despite everything else, the Lebanese state insists on renewing the UNIFIL mandate. In addition, Hezbollah, despite its criticism, does not seem to want the forces to leave.

Guest, Male # 3 (Ali Fayyad, Hezbollah representative in Lebanese parliament)
Hezbollah is not opposed to extending UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon. However, it is an opportunity to reaffirm a number of positions and ideas that express the Lebanese view of resolution 1701. Perhaps, it is also the right time to highlight the report that came out of the investigation into the heroic Adeisse confrontation. Because, according to what has been reported, even though it hasn’t been officially published yet, this report adopts the Israeli narrative.

Reporter, Male # 1
Hezbollah might have many questions. However, Israel also has questions, which it sends to UNIFIL, over the underground presence of the military party’s forces close to the border. This is the town of Ghajar that Lebanon is demanding that Israel leave. It is one of many challenges faced by UNIFIL in this region. And perhaps, it is one of the challenges that seems, until now, impossible to solve.

Presenter, Female #1
Prior to the start of the direct negotiations with the Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to reassure the Israeli right on the settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu appeared at a gathering of the Likud Party, which he heads, and confirmed his commitment to having the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and guarantee the security of the Hebrew state. On the other hand, Netanyahu considered Likud the only party capable of taking bold steps to achieve real peace with the Palestinians. Preparations for direct talks took place during a secret meeting held between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak during the latter’s visit to the Jordanian capital, Amman, last Sunday. According to the Israeli radio, the meeting, which was held in a private house in Amman, consisted of discussions over security arrangements in the West Bank. The meeting was held in concurrence with the launch of the negotiations.

Presenter, Female #1
The ongoing controversy in the United States around the building of a mosque, the Cordoba House, near Ground Zero, in the center of New York, has adopted a political facet. This is what the president and founder of The Cordoba Initiative, Feisal Abdul Rauf, confirmed in a special interview with Dubai TV’s news department. Abdul Rauf, who is touring the Gulf to gain support for his plan to build the Islamic center and mosque in the center of Manhattan, renewed his call for improving relations between Muslims and the West. The center will cost 100 million dollars.

Guest, Male # 1 (Feisal Abdul Rauf, President and founder of The Cordoba Initiative)
It is two blocks from Ground Zero, and for this reason, a small number of people were opposed to the construction of the mosque. It is a cultural center, and anyone can become a member. Those who objected to the plan want to politicize it and use it as reason for division. What we need today is a new outlook. As I said in my book, a new way of looking at Muslims, and at the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the West, and the entire world.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making final preparations for tomorrow’s departure for Washington and the launch of direct peace talks on September 2nd. There is intense controversy in the Netanyahu-led government on the settlement issue, despite Netanyahu’s assurances that he will not be discussing the end to the settlement freeze during the summit.

Presenter, Female #1
The director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, visited a refugee camp for Pakistan’s flood victims. The UN official reaffirmed the importance of preventing the spread of epidemics among the refugees.

Reporter, Male #1
This baby came into the world to witness the disastrous floods and begin her life story with the miseries that her displaced family is enduring. The floods have forced them to flee to this graveyard. And as young as this baby is, she has to bear the burden of deprivation and disease. But despite all the suffering, the face of the disaster-stricken mother glows due to her bundle of joy. Her siblings are also happy to welcome their newborn sister.

Guest, Female #1
I am happy to have given birth to my daughter. But I’m sad for what happened to us. We lost everything. Here we are, next to the dead in a graveyard.

Reporter, Male #1
This graveyard does not only tell stories of the dead. Othman, an old man in his 70s, was carried by his family to this graveyard as well, not to be buried but to escape death. He has been grappling with tuberculosis for a while now, and his wife Sondri looks after him and tries to ease his pain. In this graveyard, there is no shelter, food or medicine. And the lack of transportation confines Othman to the bed.

Guest, Female #2
We lost everything except for the clothes that we’re wearing. We don’t have any money to treat my husband, or to buy food.

Reporter, Male #1
Their age difference keeps them apart, but suffering keeps them together. Othman’s sad condition is similar to that of many flood victims. In this graveyard, both the dead and the living are silent, and suffering is still written on the faces of these disaster-afflicted people. After joining the dead, they will join the hundreds of displaced. Life and death no longer means much to these people, after having lost everything they had.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, angry people have defied curfew to hold demonstrations following the killing of another young protestor. Thousands of paramilitary troops were deployed to maintain law and order. Each death has triggered further protests in defiance of strict all-day curfews. Since June 11th, 65 protestors and bystanders have been killed by security forces.

Presenter, Female #1
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, has assured neighboring countries that the Bushehr power plant possesses the highest nuclear safety levels. In an interview with al-Alam, Salehi confirmed that the station is designed to protect itself, by itself.

Guest, Male # 1 (Ali Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran)
It is designed in a way that prevents the occurrence of any incidents. In case anything happens, it can protect itself. I mean, it’s not Chernobyl, America’s Three Mile Island, or other plants in which something happened. God forbid, God forbid, God forbid, in case something happens, the plant will protect itself and the incident will remain in place, I mean, it will be local, and very limited. Limited as in limited by the building itself.

Presenter, Female #1
Salehi clarified that the transfer of fuel into the Bushehr nuclear plant is ongoing, and that nearly half of the fuel rods have been supplied. Salehi expects this phase to be completed within 10 days.

Guest, Male # 1 (Ali Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran)
Until now, we have transferred more than 60 fuel rods to build the plant’s original structure. In addition, as you have seen, the transfer is a very slow process. It can take hours to transfer fuel from the outside to the building. It will take another 10-15 days to complete the transfer of the 163 fuel rods to the plant.

Presenter, Female #1
Salehi confirmed that Iran will complete the production of the required nuclear fuel for the Tehran plant within one year. He disclosed that Iran has produced 25 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium.

Guest, Male # 1 (Ali Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran)
As for Tehran’s fuel, Iran continues to produce fuel, as in manufacture fuel, for the Tehran plant. God willing, this will happen. God willing, God willing, in one year. So far, we have produced 25 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium.

Reporter, Female #1
A Russian delegation, representing various Islamic organizations, embarked on a landmark visit to China. The delegation met with representatives of the Islamic Association of China and toured a number of ancient Chinese cities. In an interview with our Russia Today correspondent Wafa al-Dawi, the head of the Russian Islamic Cultural Center, Abdul Wahid Niazev, said that cooperation between Russian Muslims and their Chinese counterparts may move Chinese-Russian relations forward.

Correspondent, Female # 2
Welcome to our program. I would like to introduce Mr. Abdul Wahid Niazev, the head of Russia’s Islamic Cultural Center. Mr. Abdul Wahid, welcome.

Guest, Male #1 (Abdul Wahid Niazev, head of Russia’s Islamic Cultural Center)
May God’s Peace, mercy, and blessing be upon you!

Correspondent, Female # 2
A few days ago, a Russian delegation, representing various Islamic organizations, including yours, returned from Moscow. What was the objective of your visit, and was it successful? Were you able to address all the issues you outlined before departing to Beijing?

Guest, Male #1 (Abdul Wahid Niazev, head of Russia’s Islamic Cultural Center)
The objective of our visit is to help boost our relations with Chinese Muslims.There’s an apparent similarity between Russia and China in terms of hosting Islamic societies, as both countries are home to large Islamic communities. The number of Muslims living in Russia exceeds 23 millions. In contrast, the number of Chinese Muslims stands at 40 million. Both Russia and China are multi-religious and multi-ethnic nations. Like in China, Muslims live across the various parts of Russia, and their history is more than 1,000 years old. For example, two mosques, one in southern Dagestan and the other in southern China, were built at the dawn of Islam. The age of Islam in Russia and China is more than 14 centuries old. The nations of Islam in Russia and China are facing a similar set of circumstances. Both nations oppose conflicts fueled by separatists. We, on behalf of the Russian Mufties Council, have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Association of China. We agreed to hold periodic educational and cultural exchanges. In addition to launching exchange student programs between our institutes of jurisprudence. One of the main objectives of our visits was to take a first hand look at the conditions of Muslims, following the tragic incidents that occurred in the Xinjiang region. We received valuable and reassuring information from the Chinese side, confirming that the incidents were contained and they didn’t turn to ethnic and religious clashes.


** Mosaic News is produced by Jamal Dajani. Contact: mosaicnews{at}linktv{dot}org