[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 04/23/08: World News From The Middle East

PRESENTER, MALE #1
According to Iraqi security and medical sources, 19 people have been killed and more than 30, including women and children, have been wounded in a US shelling and clashes over the past 24 hours in Sadr City.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
For more than a month, the city of Sadr has witnessed clashes between the US and Iraqi forces on one side and the Mahdi Army militias on the other, killing hundreds of people and injuring hundreds of others.

REPORTER, MALE #2
“Iraqis being carried over the shoulders” are among the most common run images over the television screens in Iraq. By the same token, air raids are among the most used US military actions against what they refer to as “the insurgents.” A formula that the Iraqis continue to pay the toll with their blood on a daily basis.

GUEST, FEMALE #2
The parliamentarians and the ministers need to get up and start working. Meanwhile, the Arab States remain silent; what is this all about?

REPORTER, MALE #2
Dozens of Iraqis were killed and dozens of others were wounded in the latest US raid and clashes in the city of Sadr, where the Sadrists confirmed that Al-Mahdi Army will not be dismantled.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi government and the Americans are determined to hit hard anyone carrying weapons. Amidst this, all talks and negotiations to resolve the most prominently stalled issues in Iraq were rendered useless. The latest round of negotiations took place in Kuwait during Iraq’s neighbors’ conference, which was titled: “helping and supporting Iraq politically, militarily and economically.” The US exerted a tremendous amount of efforts to ensure the success of the conference; however, the Iraqis expressed mixed opinions regarding its success. The Iraqi government said the conference was a success because they have received assurances from participating countries, which promised to reopen their embassies in Baghdad, monitor the borders and reduce Iraq’s debts. However, some believed that the conference was a failure because actions and not words can only be the judge.

GUEST, MALE #3
Iraq’s neighbors don’t wish to see Iraq as a free democratic country. If Iraq becomes a democratic nation, it will affect the authoritarian regimes in the region, especially in Iran.

REPORTER, MALE #2
Meanwhile, the Iraqis are anxiously waiting and hoping that the upcoming days will bring them relief made possible by Iraq’s conferences, which some described as nothing but efforts of patronization toward Baghdad.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Joining us from Baghdad journalist Al-Naser Duraid. Mr. Duraid, what is the current security situation in Sadr City in particular and in Baghdad in general?

GUEST, MALE #4
In fact, the situation in Sadr City varies completely from one period to another and between one stage and another. However, one thing never changes, which is the alienation, oppression, and the harm that the residents of Sadr have endured over the course of history. In most cases, the city of Sadr was forced to pay the ultimate price…the price of political changes and political crises witnessed in the country. Sadr City is one of the territories that continues to pay this political price regardless of the changing of periods, reigns, or stages.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
On the ground, what is the current security situation in the city, following last night’s clashes?

GUEST, MALE #4
Nothing is new to report. As soon as the residents of Sadr experience a security relief suggesting an end to their misery, new clashes erupt in their areas and near their homes. The victims are usually the civilians, the women and the children and the safe families, who have been, for a long time, no longer safe.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Al-Naser Duraid, a journalist from Baghdad, thank you very much. According to security sources, 3 people, including a police officer, were killed and ten others were wounded in two consecutive bombing attacks in the Diwasa Street in central Mosul. One of the attacks was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt and the other was caused by a booby trapped car. In addition, 9 people, including 4 police officers, were wounded in a car bomb explosion that targeted a police patrol car east of Mosul.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The UN who is revaluating its policies in Darfur, is working on ways to combat maritime piracy due to the increase of hijacking of ships by armed groups off the coast of Somalia. France, the United States and Britain are currently working on a draft resolution in the UN Security Council to combat maritime piracy world wide. Until this resolution is passed, the pirates continue hijacking boats and demanding ransoms. The Somali authorities announced that its soldiers freed a Ship from Dubai which was highjacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Crew was freed and five of the hijackers were arrested. The ship was transporting food and brand-new cars to Somalia when it was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Edden. Somali officials vowed to carry out a similar operation to free a Spanish ship that was hijacked in the beginning of the week.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Sudan began the first census of its population in 15 years, which is a requirement of a 2005 peace deal that helped end the civil war between the north and the south. Under the watch of 200 observers, nearly 60,000 census takers began a nationwide survey of the Sudanese population, which is estimated to be 40 million. Meanwhile, Khartoum confirmed that the census is being conducted in cooperation with the UN. However, the people of southern Sudan expressed opposition to the census. In addition, armed groups in Darfur said no census should be conducted until peace can be restored in the region, and described the process as meaningless.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Elsewhere in Africa, the death toll in Somalia has risen to more than 100, during the ongoing clashes that erupted 4 days ago between armed groups on one side and the government backed forces and the Ethiopian army on the other. After fierce clashes, armed groups seized control of the towns of Juda and Dim Soor in southern Somalia. In addition, more than one million people have been displaced due to the ongoing fighting.

REPORTER, FEMALE #1
Once again, this African nation of Somalia is drowning in the volcano of bloody confrontations that are raging between the government forces, which are backed by the Ethiopian army, and armed groups. Meanwhile, the Somali capital Mogadishu witnessed a fierce battle, which caused extensive property damage to its infrastructure, as rival forces used all types of fire power, including light and heavy artilleries and tanks. What you see in the aftermath of the battle of Mogadishu is destruction, scattered bodies, and hundreds of fleeing residents, who carried some of their light belongings and relocated away from this cycle of violence. Armed with deadly force, the cycle of violence has returned to inflict more harm on the country, fuel its crisis, and add to the suffering of its people. This is the worst cycle of violence yet to hit the country since the toppling of the Islamic Courts regime in 2006. Meanwhile, armed groups seized control of the town of Dim Soor and the coastal town of Juda. The deteriorating security situation has returned to increase the burden on the Somali citizen, who is already suffering from poverty, illness, and harsh living conditions. This is a clear indication that the “War of Liberation” declared by the Somali interim government and the Ethiopian forces against the Islamic Courts started to lose ground to the Somali armed groups, which some believe are the remnants of the Religious Courts or what has become known as the Muslim Youth. Meanwhile, the armed groups or the Muslim Youth are determined to push out what they referred to as the Ethiopian occupation forces in Somalia. In addition, they are rejecting the administration of what they referred to as the weak central government of Somalia that is supported by Addis Ababa.

[Summary]

The UN has been accused of exaggerating the death toll after five years of fighting in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Presenter, FEMAEL #1
The following report is regarding the U.S. arrest of an American engineer, who is being accused of spying for Israel.

Reporter, FEMALE #2
The US Department of Justice confirmed that authorities have arrested an American engineer named Ben-Ami Kadish, who is suspected of disclosing military secrets on nuclear weapons, fighter planes, and missile defense systems to Israel during the 1980s. Kadish faces five charges, including acting as an Israeli agent and making a false statement to investigators. It is not strange for Israel to spy on its ally, the United States. One month after the United States officially recognized the state of Israel in July 1948, this entity created the first spy network in America when it activated the first military attaché, Ephraim Ben Aretz, formed a council of four members, which included himself, the diplomat in Israel’s United Nations office, a professional agent, who would travel between Tel Aviv and New York as well as an American lawyer.
On this day, the famous spy, Jonathan Pollard became known. He had leaked sensitive US national security documents. The person who recruited him was another famous spy, Raphael Eitan, who was able to infiltrate the Institute of Materials and Nuclear Energy in the village of Apollo in Pennsylvania. He was able to obtain highly classified documents and nuclear secrets.
In addition, Larry Franklin was arrested more than a year ago and has relations with AIPAC.
He leaked nuclear intelligence to Israel. There were many others. But the most prominent of them, until today, is the former US Ambassador to Lebanon, David Satterfield, who was linked to the espionage case involving the Jewish organization AIPAC, spying on US national and nuclear security affairs, and which was described as the largest spy scandal between Israel and the United States. He was identified in the indictment as USGO-2.

[Summary]

An 84 year old Jewish-American Army veteran was arrested in New Jersey. The man was accused of passing on U.S. national defense documents to Israel over two decades ago.

Presenter, Man # 1
In an exclusive interview, the Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said that negotiations with Israel are being conducted in complete secrecy and away from the media. He added that the results of these negotiations will be announced regardless if they succeed or fail.

Guest, Man # 2 Abbas
The Jordanian King Abdullah II is exerting efforts by talking to the Americans, the Europeans and others. He is exerting efforts in talking to them. He is also trying to help us, so an agreement could be reached. We do not announce what is happening between us and the Israelis because so far we have not reached something tangible that we can announce. We want to make an announcement when we reach an agreement. If we do not reach an agreement we will also make an announcement. We do not like to negotiate in front of the media because the media may foil what we can potentially reach if it has access to the negotiations as they unfold. Therefore we say that whatever we negotiate will stay between us until we reach an agreement. We will make an announcement regardless if we reach or do not reach an agreement.

Correspondent , Man # 3
Without revealing the details; do you feel that they have made some compromises?

Guest, Man # 2 Abbas
So far we can’t talk about compromises because it is not about compromises. It is about reaching a mutual agreement based on understanding. They must accept our point of view pertaining to international law. The implementation of international law does necessitate a country to make compromises. For example, we accept international law to the letter, therefore the Israelis must also share with us this view so we can reach an agreement. However we need all efforts to reach an agreement because we have differences over how international law should be implemented.

Presenter, Man # 1
President Abbas said that the issue of the Palestinian refugees will be resolved especially in Lebanon, confirming that not a single Palestinian refugee will remain in Lebanon.

Correspondent , Man # 3
How can the Problem of the Palestinian refugees be resolved?

Guest, Man # 2 Abbas
We have been being discussing the issue of the refugees with the Israeli side. In our mind as the Palestinian Authority, God’s willing the problem of the refugees especially in those living in Lebanon will be resolved in a way that is satisfactory to the Lebanese. We do not want the Palestinian refugees to be a controversial topic between our Lebanese brothers. Pertaining to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, there will be no refugees in Lebanon. This is important because the Lebanese should know that their future will not be affected by the presence of Palestinian refugees. This is what we have been trying to achieve and this is what we want.
I think that this is a source of relief to the Lebanese. In more precise words, the Palestinian refugees will not be naturalized in Lebanon.

Correspondent, Man # 3
Did you tell this to the Lebanese prime Minster?

Guest, Man # 2 Abbas
I told this to the Lebanese; YES.

Presenter, Man # 1
Al Arabiya channel learned that the Jordanian King met today with the American president, George Bush for one hour in which they discussed the situation in the Middle East and the possibilities of achieving peace. The Jordanian King then held a meeting with president Abbas who just arrived to the US capital.

Presenter, Man # 1
Joining us from Damascus is Dr. Muhammad Nazal, from Hamas’ political office.
Dr Muhammad how do you describe the two meetings with Cater?

Guest, Man # 3
In the name of God the merciful and most compassionate. The meetings that took place with the former American president Jimmy Carter were positive, frank, and transparent. The meetings were warm; the two sides expressed their views on a number of topics pertaining to the Palestinian plight and the region. I think that these meetings were a strong blow to the American administration, the Zionist enemy and some of the of the Palestinian and regional parties that have tried during the past period to isolate Hamas politically in addition to the economic siege that was imposed on the Palestinian people and the Hamas movement. These meetings are a blow to these conspirators. I think that the topics that were discussed during the two meetings reflect the important Palestinian issues. Brother Khaeld Meshaal talked during these two meetings about Hamas’ positions and its views of the discussed issues.

Presenter, Man # 1
Dr Muhammad, some say that Carter was not an official American envoy; so how can he help in these three important issues: the ceasefire, the prisoners’ exchange and the siege.

Guest, Man # 3
Carter told Mesha’al that he had no political authority; and Mesha’al told him yes you do not have any political authority but you have moral authority. Today, Jimmy Carter is an important political figure; he was the president of the US at one point. One can’t ignore the political or the moral weight of Carter who possess a great deal of respect from many people even in the US.
In Palestine, we remember that Cater presided over the election’s monitoring committee. At the time he said that the Palestinian elections were among the most transparent elections that he ever watched. Thus, we are not relying on the political authority that Carter does not have, instead we are relying on his moral authority and his prestige. Regardless of the negative points that Cater has and every one has negative points in his political performance, we must acknowledge that Carter has taken a number of positive and daring positions such as the publication of his book, in which he condemned the Israeli apartheid policy. He described the siege imposed on Gaza as an immoral crime; he insisted on going to Damascus to meet with brother Khaled Meshaal; he said that the resistance is a legitimate Palestinian right and he condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
These positions make us respect and appreciate Jimmy Carter despite our differences with him on some political issues.

[Summary]

Addressing a large crowd of people, Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, stated that the Iranian nation will regain all its rights, relying on logic, unity, and resistance.