[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 06/13/08: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Woman # 1
The UN Security Council condemned the attacks that were launched by Eritrea along the borders with Djibouti, and passed a resolution unanimously calling on both sides to exert self control and withdrew their forces to their original locations. The Arab League also called on Eritrea to withdraw it forces from the border area with Djibouti as a way to end tensions between the two countries.

Reporter, Man # 1
The Arab League’s call on Eritrea to withdraw its forces from the border area with Djibouti is an indication that the fighting has reached the border areas which have been calm since the mid of 1970s. The Arab League’s call comes after the league sent a fact finding committee to the Ras Dumira area where the fighting is going on, but Eritrea refused to receive the committee.

Guest, Man # 2
Regrettably, it is as if Eritrea is living on a different planet. Eritrea steps over international law and has no respect for any organization regardless of whether it is regional or international.
Reporter, Man # 1
The Arab League has tried to resolve the conflict between the two smallest countries in the African Horn, while other players are watching the events unfold with extreme cautious. The big neighbor Ethiopia which was left with no outlet to the Mediterranean Sea since Eritrea separated from it, now completely depends on Djibouti as its only outlet to the sea. It is not expected that Ethiopia will accept losing its only outlet to the sea. We should not forget that Ethiopia and Eritrea were fighting a war between 1998 and 2000.
In addition their struggle to establish influence in Somalia is increasing by the day. The question is will Djibouti become a new battle field for Ethiopia and Eritrea? The situation in Djibouti is different from the situation in Somalia. Djibouti is strategically located near the port of Bab Al Mandep where an important part of the international oil trade takes place, which will compel more players to get involved. Djibouti has American and French military bases, and France and Djibouti have a defense treaty which may affect the course of events between Eritrea and Djibouti. After all, the response of a regional power such as Ethiopia and two international leading powers such as France and the US will be very important.

Presenter, Man # 1
In Amman, Jordanian King Abdullah the second stressed the importance of building bridges between Iraq and the Arab region so that Iraq can play its important Arab role. These comments were made after the Jordanian King met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nure Al Maliki who arrived in Amman yesterday for a two day visit. The Jordanian Prime Minister, Nader Al Zahabi announced that the oil agreement between Jordan and Iraq was renewed for another three years.

Reporter, Man # 2
There are clear indications that the visit of the Iraqi Prime minister Nur Al Mailiki was successful. The Jordanian King Abdullah the second in an unusual step took Al Maliki in his personal car from the royal court to the Royal Hotel in the heart of Amman. King Abdullah the second stressed that Jordan has put all of its capabilities towards the Iraqi government’s plans to maintain security and stability in Iraq. King Abdullah said that the decision to return the Jordanian Ambassador to Baghdad reflect Jordan’s desire to build strong relations with Iraq.

Guest, Man # 3 Maliki
We want cooperation and positive relations with them, and they want cooperation and positive relations with us. If this were to happen which is already the case, then it will be reflected in the political and economic cooperation between us as well as in the international arenas and in all fields.

Reporter, Man # 2
Bilateral issues such as the Jordanian detainees in Iraqi and American prisons, the Iraqis who are residing in Jordan, importing Iraqi oil, the Iraqi debt to Jordan which is equal to $1.3 billion dollars, and the half billion dollars of Iraqi funds that have been frozen in Jordan, all of those have been topics of deep discussion between the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nur Al Miliki, and his Jordanian counter part Nader Al Zahabi.

Guest, Man # 3 Jordanian Prime Minister
Now, the time is more suitable than it was before, thanks to his Excellency the Iraq Prime Minister, we have extended the oil agreement another three years with the same conditions. God willing we will start the implementation. In addition, we discussed other alternatives if a situation emerges under which we can no longer receive oil from Al Seneyeh area for any reason. We discussed other alternatives to provide Jordan with oil at discounted prices.

Guest, Man # 4 Maliki
Our talk was very encouraging about how the Jordanian Ambassador can be returned to Baghdad. Measures have been taken to choose the location and ensure security and stability.

Reporter, Man # 2
A Jordanian official in the royal court told Al Arabiya that King Abdullah the second is trying to make sure that there will be an Arab presence in Iraq without affecting its sovereignty so Iraq can play it important role in the Arab region. Saa’d Al Silawi, Al Arabiyah, Amman.

Presenter, Woman # 1
As controversy over the security agreement with the US increases among Iraqis, the University of
Baghdad held seminars explaining the negative consequences of such an agreement on Iraq and its sovereignty.

Reporter, Man # 1
The University of Baghdad has made an important contribution by holding educational seminars about the future of Iraq. This seminar explains the possible effects of the long term security agreement with Washington on Iraq’s sovereignty and future. The agreement provides the occupation with a suitable environment to achieve its greedy ambitions.

Guest, Man # 2
The University has always provided different activities to serve the community. Some of these activities are about political and legal issues. This agreement is now the focus of the media and politicians, so the university must have a say in this issue.

Guest, Man # 2
We at the University of Baghdad decided to hold this seminar to show the danger of such an agreement. This agreement is important and is a dangerous agreement for Iraq and its future.

Reporter, Man # 1
The occupation has a narrow definition of sovereignty when it comes to Iraq and countries in the region. It is using political and military pressure in order to transform the Iraqi territories into a launching pad. While the interests, agenda and objectives of the occupation will be served, the Iraqi interests will not.

Guest, Man # 3
The professors have explained that America does not have a balanced standard in the way it views the sovereignty of others.Those who believe in America are not considered terrorists, but those who oppose its policies, strategies, and its blood shed in the region and the world including Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, are considered terrorists.

Reporter, Man # 1
This ambiguous security agreement has secret objectives but clear implications. It reflects a military failure and wrong polices in Iraq which explains why it is completely rejected by Iraq.

Guest, Man # 4
All Iraqi groups and segments of the population agree on the need to prevent the passage of this long term security agreement with the occupation in the Iraqi parliament. This consensus was expressed in a clear manner in a series of seminars that were organized to show the negative consequences of the agreement on Iraq and its future. From the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Hydar Qasem, Al Alam.

Presenter, Man # 1
The police uncovered a factory making explosive devices in a home in the heart of Basra.
The owner of the house who was forced to migrate outside the country notified authorities that armed groups had taken his home and that they have been storing weapons in it. The police found 1300 grams of the highly explosive C4, ammunition for light weapons, and DVDs with interrogations of civilians on them, as well as armed operations that were carried out by the armed group. Meanwhile, reconstruction in Basra began following Operation Knights' Assault which the Iraqi army carried out to eliminate the armed groups and establish stability there. The infrastructure in the city is being rebuilt using a fund allocated by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nur Al Maliki. The fund which is equivalent to $100 million was distributed among 129 service projects.

Reporter, Man # 2
As soon as the military operations in Basra ended, the magnitude of destruction was revealed. This compelled the Iraqi government to launch a campaign to reconstruct Basra and its infrastructure. The Iraqi Justice Minister Safaa Al Safi who is in charge of reconstructing the city, held a press conference and announced that 120 million Iraqi dinars were allocated to Basra by Nur Al Maliki, which is equivalent to $100 million.
The money was distributed among 129 service projects.

Guest, Man # 3
These projects include different sectors including health and education sectors as well as municipality services such as water.

Reporter, Man # 2
The Basra province took on the ambitious role of planting 500 million trees all throughout Iraq. One million trees will be planted in Basra.

Guest, Man # 5
A large number of these trees will go to Basra to make it a green city. There are large areas that must be included in the budget.

Reporter, Man # 2
The residents of Basra which have been burdened with an acute shortage of water and electricity have mixed feelings over what the government is doing, depending on their living conditions.

Guest, Man # 6
Basra residents do not have electricity or water. This is all taking place in this hot weather. What can we do?

Guest, Woman # 1
All of this is unnecessary. We do not need trees and so on.

Guest, Man # 7
Planting trees is important. But there are also other important things. Several things must be done at the same time.

Guest, Man # 8
Corruption is wide spread in the Basra province. Basra suffers greatly

Reporter, Man # 2
The $100 million dollars are not enough to fix the destruction that was caused by the latest armed operation not to mention the destruction that was there to begin with. However, this money will definitely return some of the city’s glory from the past, when rivers, trees and gardens extended as far as the eye can see.Ali Khalaf, Al Arabiya, Al Basra.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Israel submerged Gaza in a blood bath from the north to the south. The people of Gaza woke up to yet another bloody day. Occupation forces’ aircrafts carried an operation against Palestinian resistance fighters. Three people were martyred and several others were injured. This offensive stirred feelings of revenge in the hearts of Palestinians. Politically, the Prime Minister of the ousted Palestinian government, Ismaeel Haniyah, defined Hamas’ conditions for a truce: lifting the siege and opening the border crossings.
Zuheir Saqallah reports from Gaza.

Reporter, MALE, #1
Gaza woke up to another bloody day. Israel’s raids did not spare the city for one hour, sweeping it from the north to the south, killing and injuring dozens. Most of them were resistance fighters, who held their positions on the northern and eastern borders of Gaza.
The quick Israeli offensive stirred up the Palestinians’ desire for revenge.

Guest, FEMALE, #2
We stick to the path of resistance. I will not tell anyone to give up: We have to kick them out of our holy land.

Guest, MALE, #2
We will continue to perform jihad until the last drop of blood drips from our chaste bodies.

Guest, MALE, #3
We will face them with all our power and will. Palestinian blood will lead to defeat- or rather it will lead our nation to victory, God willing.

Reporter, MALE, #1
In spite of the tragic situation, the Palestinian appears as if carrying a rifle in one hand and an olive branch in the other. But the events witnessed by Gaza on a daily basis raise the question: Will the political efforts defeat the escalation on the ground, or will they amount to nothing? Efforts to establish a state of calm which would supposedly stop the offensives and lift the siege from Gaza are stuck in their place. Israel is stalling in taking a final decision. The Jewish State asked for clarification from Egypt regarding particular issues, most notably: the imprisoned Israeli soldier in Gaza.

Guest, MALE, #4 (Ismaeel Haniyah)
There has been an exchange based on a particular vision. Calm in exchange for lifting the siege, opening the borders, and stopping the offensives against the Palestinian people. If they accept these conditions, then it will pass. If Egypt succeeds in its attempts, then it will pass.

Reporter, MALE, #1
The Palestinians’ readiness for calm comes under specific conditions which provide them with the minimal level of an honorable life. But Israel meets all the exerted efforts with arrogance that insists on the policy of collective punishment. Zuheir Saqalla, Dubai TV, Gaza.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
In Gaza, a confession by a Hamas member revealed a small piece of information about yesterday’s explosion in Bait Lahiya. The explosion’s death toll has risen to 8 people, including one female child. An official statement by the Ezzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades declared the death of one of its field leaders, after getting injured during the house explosion. According to the statement, there were preparations taking place inside the house to carry out an operation against Israel. This Palestinian confession was confirmed by Israel, with Tel Aviv denying any responsibility for the events in Bait Lahiya.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Our reporter Kristina Habeeb interviewed the head of political and public affairs for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Mina Schtruger. He confirmed that the International forces will establish an office in Tel Aviv, towards a complete implementation of resolution 1701.

Reporter, FMEALE, #1
The issue of establishing a UNIFIL office in Israel surfaced two months and a half before the renewal date of the Interim Force working in Southern Lebanon. According to a reporter for “Al-Akhbar” newspaper in New York; the office will be established in coordination with Prime Minister Fouad al Siniora. UNIFIL was surprised by the media hype surrounding this topic. It announced that the decision to establish the office was adopted in September 2006.

Guest, MALE, #2
(speaks in English)

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
(Speaks in English)

Guest, MALE, #2
(speaks in English)

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
But the issue does not stop at establishing a UNIFIL office in Tel Aviv. There is talk about changing the duties of the interim forces, in ways that would allow Israel to breach the sovereignty of Lebanon. Schtruger affirmed that any modification to the given duties is the responsibility of the Security Council. However, he said he doubted any fundamental changes to the duties. Meanwhile, the sky over Lebanon is a playing field for the aircrafts of an enemy which does not let any opportunity go by without violating their air space.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
(speaks in English)

Guest, MALE, #2
(speaks in English)

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
According to Schtruger, work is underway for a quick Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Ghajar village.

[Summary]

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are entitled to challenge their detention.

In what's described as a "farewell tour," President Bush is on a six-country European visit. Included in his agenda is asking his hosts to make greater contributions to Afghanistan -- both in money and troops, as well as the ongoing issue of Iran's nuclear program.

When asked about Iran at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Bush repeated his standard refrain of, "all options are on the table."

The president has used this statement frequently in the past, but it seems to have lost its luster since used at the Rose Garden in 2006 when responding to reporters about Iran's nuclear file and Ahmadinejad's defiance regarding it. At that time, analysts and pundits predicted an attack on Iran was imminent.

This time however, the buzz was missing, and his veiled threat to Iran seems of little concern to Ahmadinejad. If anything the Iranian president has been mocking Bush's threats, saying "Bush's time is up, and he was not able to harm even one centimeter of our land." He went on to describe an attack on Iran by Bush as "wishful thinking."

Obviously Mr. Bush did not make a direct threat about attacking Iran; many experts would argue the "all options on the table" slogan can mean many things. There is the economic sanctions option, the United Nations option, the diplomacy option, the IAEA option and the list goes on. But in the Middle East, Bush's words mean only one thing: the military option. This is how most journalist colleagues of mine interpret it whenever Bush or Rice makes such statements. They always ask me "is Bush going to attack Iran?", as if I were a guru on the Bush administration's war intentions.

Their fears however, are legitimate. Despite all the Bush administration's woes -- the Iraqi debacle, the economy, oil prices, and most recently the US Supreme Court's decision on Guantanamo prisoners -- the administration's surrogates continue to rattle the saber towards Iran in the U.S. media. Just last night I was watching FOX news and talk about hitting Iran was ongoing.

What will happen if the U.S. even drops one bomb on Iran?

All oil exports from Iran will cease, removing close to twenty million barrels of oil from world markets within days. Iran would stop traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by attacking oil tankers. It may even attack key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other Gulf countries with its arsenal of Chinese Silkworm missiles.

If people are lamenting over gas prices approaching five dollars, I guarantee you that they will top off $10.00 at the pump and more than $200 a barrel within hours of an attack. The US can't afford to attack Iran and Ahmadinejad knows this. That's why he has a grin on his face.