[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 10/19/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Male #1
The death toll in the bomb attack on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has risen to 42. The blast took place in the city of Shirbaz in the southeastern part of the country. Tehran accused several countries of taking part in the attack, with Islamabad getting the “lion’s share” of the responsibility. The Iranian parliament held a special session today to weigh their options in pursuing the attackers. Some leaned toward launching an offensive along the Pakistani border. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards warned that their actions will be “swift and deadly.” Iran accused Washington and London of masterminding the attack. From Tehran, Reda al-Basha reports.

Reporter, Male #2
The death toll in the bomb attack on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has risen to 42. The attack targeted a group of Sunnis and Shiites in the city of Shirbaz in southeastern Iran. More than 50 people were wounded in the blast. Among the victims were leaders of the Revolutionary Guards. In response, the elite forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards vowed to take “swift action and use deadly force.” This is the second attack on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in 5 months. Tehran held several Western countries, including the US and Britain, responsible for the attack.

Guest, Male #3
The US President said his country is reaching out to the Iranians. However he has blood on his hands since the US is implicated in the terrorist attacks in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan. There is clear evidence that the US is supporting terrorist groups in the region. This shows a great deal of American hostility against our nation.

Reporter, Male #2
Iran also held several neighboring countries responsible for the attack. The Iranian foreign ministry has summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran. Tehran demanded Pakistan admit responsibility for the attack. Members of the Iranian parliament said that the foreign conspiracy will not break the willpower of Iranian nation. The parliament also called for more control over the borders.

Guest, Male #4
The bomb attack on the city of Shirbaz indicates that security measures along Iranian borders are not adequate. This requires us to change our security plans and put more pressure on Pakistan to maintain control over its border areas, as the arrogant powers are trying to destabilize the Iranian nation.

Reporter, Male #2
This is the most powerful attack launched against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in years. The instability of Iran’s neighbors will definitely cast a shadow on Iranian internal affairs. According to Iranian politicians, the bomb attack on Shirbaz will not reflect negatively on the relations between Sunni and Shiite residents in the city. However, it will stir doubt over the ability of Iranian security forces to control the “Triangle of Death” that borders Pakistan and Afghanistan. Reda Al-Basha, Dubai TV, Tehran.

[Summary]

In a province southeastern Iran, people are mourning the victims of a Sunday terrorist attack. Khameini said Iran will punish the perpetrators.

Presenter, Female #1
The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Shirzadian, said that his country will not stop producing low-enriched uranium even if they obtain nuclear energy from abroad.

Presenter, Male #1
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, held a meeting today in Vienna to discuss what was agreed upon in Geneva early in the month. Along with Iran, the US, Russia, and China also attended the IAEA meeting. The delegations will discuss the possibility of increasing the level of Iran’s uranium to be enriched abroad.

Reporter, Male #2
The negotiations of the world’s leading powers with Iran over its nuclear program have moved from Geneva to Vienna. Two weeks ago, Iran held talks with what have become known as the G-5-plus-1 world powers in Geneva. Washington and Tehran described the talks as “constructive,” a signal of positive signs in the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. According to reports leaked from the Vienna meeting, Tehran has agreed to send nearly 80% of its low-enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment. Tehran also agreed to open its new nuclear sites in Qom to international inspectors. Iran was able to dodge a diplomatic blow which could have landed it with stricter sanctions. By the same token, Tehran was able to maintain its right to enrich uranium inside its own borders. Tehran reiterated its right to enrich uranium before the start of the Vienna talks. Tehran confirmed that it will not stop enriching uranium inside the country even if obtains nuclear energy from abroad. The spokesman for the Atomic energy Organization of Iran confirmed that his country will increase the level of uranium enrichment in the event that nuclear talks collapse. In addition, the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeated on many occasions that his country will not freeze its uranium enrichment program. Ahmadinejad further said that the West, not Tehran, will lose in the event that new rounds of nuclear talks fail. According to Western diplomats and political analysts, Iran believes that halting uranium enrichment is a red line that can’t be crossed for both foreign and internal circumstances. The possibility of halting uranium enrichment is very dim as it might put Iran in a weak position and undermine the credibility of those in Iran who are being described as “conservatives.” However, Iran’s decision to enrich some of its uranium abroad will help Tehran maintain its radical position at the national level and appease conservatives while helping the country avoid further international isolation. The Vienna talks were technical in terms of employing the correct mechanism to help transfer Iranian uranium abroad. The talks also aimed to specify a timetable for the transfer of Iranian uranium abroad and to determine the quantity to be enriched and how to treat it. This gives Iran an additional opportunity to benefit from the changing attitudes of the world’s leading powers, including Russia and China, over its nuclear program.

Presenter, Female #1
Joining us from Vienna is our correspondent, Hussam Shehadat. Are there any indications regarding the outcome of the talks underway in Vienna?

Correspondent, Male #3
The negotiations started today in Vienna. These are important and influential talks in the history of negotiations between the West and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program. The G-5-plus-1 nations have reached a tentative agreement with Iran. The Geneva talks are being described as difficult. The West is seeking to transfer nearly 75% of the total quantity of its low-enriched uranium outside Iran for further enrichment. First they will bring the uranium to Russia where it will be enriched to a level of 19.75%. Then it will be taken to France where it will be transformed into nuclear rods. The rods will then be taken to Iran to be used in the Iranian nuclear facility for medical purposes.

[Summary]

An investigation was launched into the weekend explosions in southern Lebanon. Preliminary findings indicate that Israel may have planted alleged spying devices in Lebanese territory after the 2006 war.

Presenter, Female #1
The Afghan committee designated to review the violations in the presidential elections said the Afghan president Hamid Karzai did not win enough votes to be elected outright, which requires 51% of the vote. This report opened the doors to a re-election between Karzai and his main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah. The committee explained there were votes that were not valid at the 210 ballot centers. Regarding misconceptions and violations in the presidential elections, which took place in August, the committee revealed clear evidence in its report of forged votes at the ballot centers. The head of the US military command center, General David Petraeus, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. They discussed the support that the US provided to Pakistan in the military campaign against Pakistan’s Taliban fighters in the Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan. The Pakistani army said that 2 of its soldiers and 18 armed Taliban fighters were killed in the last 24 hours.

Reporter, Male #1
Perhaps this young man has been forced to leave his memories behind. He leaves them, heading to battles in a war where he does not even know who the opposing sides are. Thousands of women, children, and seniors gathered up their belongings and their sheep to escape from their villages in Waziristan, which became an ugly battlefield over night. The Pakistani army continues to conduct air and ground raids on what it considers the Taliban’s strongholds. According to experts, the Pakistani, Arab and foreign Taliban fighters are defending their strongholds with determination. Neither side spared any weapons in the battle: the Pakistani air force launched raids targeting Mehsud tribes and the towns in the areas of Duha and Makin, and the Taliban used heavy and medium weapons in response. Military sources said that a number of strongholds were destroyed in the battle and dozens of armed Taliban members were killed, but the remaining soldiers will advance with caution.

Guest, Male #1
“The army took its time because” everything happens in its own time. The siege will eventually pay off. There are elements in the Taliban that we wanted to weaken by targeting their strongholds and hideouts, in order to separate the members from one another inside the group.

Reporter, Male #1
This chaotic scene in Rawalpindi was transformed into a memorial service. Friends and relatives of the soldiers who were at a military base several days ago are here mourning their loss. Hassan Raza came here to mourn his martyr friend, as he called him.

Guest, Male #2
The military is capable of confronting the armed groups and all the terrorists. God willing, the army will triumph in this battle.

Reporter, Male #1
According to experts, the military should start before winter in order to achieve its goals. This means the military operations will last another 6 to 8 weeks. The results of military operations are always subject to unexpected events, nonetheless, the number of refugees and displaced civilians will increase. Muhammed Sa’ed Mahfud, BBC.

Presenter, Female #1
The following report is about the various Nobel Prizes and the US president being chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Reporter, Male #1
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel prizes that the Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel established. We still don’t know why he chose peace as one of the themes for his prizes. For instance, one can easily explain why Nobel founded the prizes for chemistry and physics; he himself was a chemistry engineer. Perhaps some would explain that Nobel chose the theme of peace because he invented dynamite, which was not used until after he died. This prize is given out annually in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The Parliament of Norway assigns a committee to select candidates for the prize according to Nobel’s will. The first reaction to Barack Obama’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize came from the president himself. He expressed astonishment at receiving the prize; his close allies in London, Paris and Germany, and even closer friends in Moscow were also surprised. Obama said there are more qualified individuals for this precious prize, which has deep roots in the movement for world peace. The US president a long and rocky path ahead of him, regarding the issue of world peace and to transform his words into actions. Obama’s recent speech at the University of Cairo echoed throughout the Arab and Islamic world. Many people agreed that his words were very pleasing. Until today, the speech and its content were nothing but words. Obama’s speech at the UN General Assembly, which discussed reducing the nuclear weapons of the major powers, was only sweet talk for the purpose of appeasing those who advocate for a peaceful world. We are not at all moving forward efficiently regarding the Palestine-Israel peace process, the war on terrorism, or the two nuclear crises in Iran and North Korea. The US president, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also talked about his deep concern for global warming and what it could eventually lead to if the USA continues on the same path as that of George Bush Junior. Obama also expressed condemnation of ignoring the problems facing our planet, which is being threatened by global warming that could bring grave danger to human beings. The question remains: has the special committee for selecting the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize become content with mere words without actions? Clearly, intentions are meant to justify their actions, and everyone should be held accountable for their actions.

Presenter, Man #1
The fate of Lebanese border villages is uncertain due to politics and their geographic location. Although they are not allowed to smuggle products from Syria, smuggling has become a normal routine. We leave you with Salma Al Haj.

Reporter, Woman #1
Under the darkness of night an economy thrives on these mountainous roads. Some of these roads are difficult to reach but others have the clear markings of large trucks transporting all the things big villages need. Consecutive Lebanese governments refused to include these villages in their development projects, which forced the villages to look to Syria for help. Yumta, Baka, Deir Al Ashayer, and Halwa are some of the border villages surrounded by mountains. The border of that Lebanese villages share with Syria is open, which explains why villagers have turned to smuggling and bribery to earn a living.

Guest, Man #3
Smuggling takes place along the entire Syrian-Lebanese border. It is very hard for security forces to control the border. There are many mountains and the smugglers are good at hiding.

Guest, Man #4
Life is difficult here. The young men that live here have no other option but to get involved in smuggling.

Guest, Man #5
If we have a country then we can live like normal people. People are smuggling small things like cans of beer, but some big shots are smuggling a lot more than that. They should look for the big shots that do the smuggling, not the people.

Reporter, Woman #1
What are they smuggling?

Guest, Man #6
They smuggle beer, gas and other things.

Reporter, Woman #1
If you lose your job will you become a smuggler?

Guest, Man #6
Yes because we live in difficult circumstances.

Guest, Man #4
No one acknowledges smuggling but everybody see smuggling taking place on main roads day and night. This is not a secret. It is difficult to control the border with Syria.

Reporter, Woman #1
The mafia incident in the Sultan area in the Beqa' raised questions. Security forces in charge of fighting the smuggling of tobacco managed to intercept trucks carrying it.

Guest, Man # 8
I do not think that the Lebanese authorities have complete control on the ground.

Reporter, Woman #1
Can we say that smugglers cooperate with individuals working in customs enforcement?

Guest, Man #8
I do not have specific information but this happens in all countries. This is very possible, why not?

Reporter, Woman #1
Smuggling also reflects the lack of development in border villages. The residents of these border villages are the victims of politics, which has forced them to use their geographic location to make ends meet. They did not acknowledge the border although it is controlled by armed guards. However, there are questions that many people want answered.

Guest, Man #9 (police)
There is not a single country that can control its borders 100 percent. However, we have not recorded any major violations at the border. This information is based on citations issued by the customs enforcement agency.

Reporter, Woman #1
How did these big trucks manage to arrive in Sultan Yaqub? This means they have crossed several Lebanese custom checkpoints!

Guest, Man #9 (police)
We have not received a report from the customs agency so we can verify the incident. I do not think that smuggling is taking place across the border.

Guest, Man #3
The border that cuts through the mountains is open. We noticed that trucks were passing by and saw their markings in the roads.

Reporter, Woman #1
During our interview with customs officials, we decided to refrain from asking some of the questions we originally had in mind. How can smuggled goods be transported to the heart of Lebanon and how can these products pass through several customs checkpoints? And what about the illegal fines, which are actually bribes, that citizens have to pay in exchange for customs officials letting smuggled goods pass through? However, they refute these allegations saying that talk is cheap. Salama Al Haj, New TV.