Link TV - Mosaic Intelligence Report

February 28, 2006

This Week: Iraq Spiraling into a Ring of Fireï¿½ï¿½ International Pressure on Hamas is Failing Islam & The Power Of The Ballot Attacks Against Islam and Muslims Looking Ahead About Us Contact .
Iraq Spiraling into a Ring of Fire Last week, armed Iraqi assailants detonated explosives at the 1,200 year-old Askariya shrine reducing its beautiful golden dome to rubble. This attack, along with others on Shiite holy sites, set off nearly 100 reprisal attacks on Sunni mosques that same day. This has led to an escalation of attacks and counterattacks. Sunni leaders and politicians have withdrawn from negotiations on forming the new government. At a major demonstration, prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric and Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said America and Israel are to blame for the sectarian divisions in Iraq, claiming that the violence will offer further justifications for maintaining the occupation there. Also leading opposition Iraqi Shiite Cleric, Muqtada Al Sadr, blames the United States occupation for the current violence. He recently stated, "My message to the Iraqi people is to stand united and bonded, and not to fall into the Western trap. The West is trying to divide the Iraqi people. As God is my witness, I hereby demand an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the occupation forces from Iraq." According to the Saudi-based Arab News editorial, the current chaos is a result of the wrangling over forming the new Iraqi government. But the paper states that a civil-war scenario may serve the interests of the Bush administration, "this may in the end be what Washington wants, because if Iraq plunges into chaos, it could be the Bush ticket out of the Iraq debacle, albeit paid for in rivers of Iraqi blood as well the utter humiliation of the president's administration and its neo-con agendaï¿½Iraqis really need to understand how they are being manipulated so cynically into injuring themselves and their future." Meanwhile, the London-based Al Hayat newspaper blamed the takfiri terrorists for creating the escalation in violence. Recently, a 26 year-old correspondent for Al Arabiya TV, Atwar Bahjat, and two of her colleagues were murdered by unknown assailants in Iraq. They were kidnapped and later shot to death. Their bodies were left on the side of the road to be found by passersby. According to Reporters without Borders, more than 82 journalists have been killed in Iraq. Fahmi Huwaidi, a prominent Islamic thinker and writer, told MBC TV that he believes that the current violence is temporary. He said that it reveals the irrationality and illogical mentality of the provoked people to commit acts of terrorism, thus victimizing everyone. Huwaidi acknowledged that some imams in Iraq have actually called on citizens to carry out attacks. He said that Muslim imams, like the Shaikh Tantawi of the Azhar University, should do more to stop people from committing these terrorist acts. But whoever is to blame, the sectarian divisions in Iraq seem to be growing wider and some fear that a civil war is underway. However, Iraqi politicians are appealing for calm, enforcing strict daytime and nighttime curfews in order to quell a further escalation in violence. But will such security measures hold? Have Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites crossed the point of no return? Links Al Ahram: After Al Askariya Arab News: Specter of Civil War
International Pressure on Hamas is Failing The victory of Hamas in the recent Palestinian legislative elections stunned the world. But many Arabs in the region were not so surprised with the outcome, but rather confused with the Western reaction. According to Hassan Tahsin of the Saudi Arabia-based Arab News, the West is not willing to accept democracy, Arab style. "The Palestinian people freely made their choice. Hamas won the election. Palestinians have peacefully expressed their conviction that Hamas will be able to stand up to Israel politically," he writes. "The West, however, has refused to accept the outcome of this election by saying that Hamas is a terrorist group ï¿½ terrorist because they are fighting an occupying force and calling for independence for their country." Hamas officials have been traveling the Muslim and Arab world to solicit financial aid. (Mosaic, Friday, Feb. 17) to compensate for lost Western aid and Israeli tax revenue freeze. The United States has threatened to cut off all aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless Hamas recognizes Israel and renounces terrorism. America has even asked the PA to return $50 million in aid that was delivered to the government earlier. Khaled Meshal, the head of the political bureau of Hamas recently wrote that Hamas will not give up its principles for money, "our message to the US and EU governments is this: your attempt to force us to give up our principles or our struggle is in vain." U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is on the counter-offensive in an attempt to convince Arab regimes to isolate Hamas. But Arab media see Rice's visit as a blatant exercise in hypocrisy. According to an editorial from the Lebanese Daily Star, "While promoting democracy and freedom is a worthwhile goal, this policy begins to unravel at the first sign of hypocrisy. How can America be committed to freedom and simultaneously remain quiet about Israel's continued illegal occupation of Palestinian territories? How can the U.S. promote human rights and at the same time allow the torture of Arab prisoners, many of whom have been held in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay for years without charge or trial?" Israel sees opposition to Hamas weakening after its leaders were invited to Moscow and Turkey to discuss the future plans for the Palestinian people. (Mosaic Feb 17) So does this mean that international pressure on Hamas is failing? Recent reports show that the Israeli-American strategy of isolating Hamas economically and politically is failing. The European Union has authorized the transfer of 120 million Euros to help the Palestinian Authority meet its payroll. Other governments are also promising aid to the Palestinians such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran. Skeptical Arab observers point to this as further evidence that the United States really does not want to support democracy in the Middle East, only regimes that serve American interests. Additionaly, some within the Israeli society have been warning against such a policy. Yossi Ben Ari, writes for the Common Ground News service, that perhaps negotiating with Hamas is a wiser policy choice. "Is it really in Israel's best interest to let those unique and limited relations with the Palestinians, so recently constructed, simply evaporate? Can Israel really ignore a potential collapse of Palestinian society and starvation of its population? Won't the repercussions ricochet in a boomerang curve right back to Israel? Wise policy can save everyone a lot of trouble. That's why Israel needs to open a negotiation channel with any future Hamas government." Hamas' victory represents a wider pattern that has been taking place throughout the Middle East. Arab populations are returning to religion as an answer to their social and political problems. In other words, Arabs want to put Islam back into politics and they want to do it democratically. In an editorial entitled, "How Hamas can Save the World," by Abdel Aziz Saeed and Benjamin Janson, in the Dar Al Hayat newspaper, the authors place Hamas responsible for showing the world that Islam and Democracy are compatible. The success of Hamas might spread into other countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and topple many Arab regimes through "the power of the ballot." Links Arab News: Hamas Exposes Hollowness of Democratic Claims The Daily Star: U.S. Hypocrisy Hangs Over Rice's Middle East Trip Dar Al Hayat: How Hamas Can Save the World (Arabic) Asharq Al Awsat: Where Will This Escalation Lead?
Islam & The Power Of The Ballot Vying for power, today many Muslim groups have turned in their machine guns for ballot boxes. All signs indicate that their strategy is working. For example, in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood now plays a leading role as an opposition movement, whose candidates made strong gains in legislative elections this past December. The Brotherhood won 88 out 444 elected parliamentary seats or 20% of the total. This is a huge gain from the 12 seats it held in the previous government. The Muslim Brotherhood is a banned organization in Egypt; however, their leadership has managed to circumvent this ban by fielding independent candidates. The organization is popular among Egyptians for its support of the poor classes through building social institutions such as hospitals, pharmacies, and schools. Legal opposition parties only won 14 seats in the latest elections.ï¿½ Last June, the militia group and political party Hezbollah, swept southern Lebanon in the parliamentary elections, capturing all 23 seats from the region. The Lebanese credit Hezbollah, which acts as political party and resistance militia, for forcing the Israeli military to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000, after nearly 20 years occupation. Hezbollah has also been recognized for providing transparent governance in the south as well as for building major institutions and infrastructure in the region such as schools and hospitals. Iraq is another instance where Islamic parties have taken deeper root. The country was invaded and asked to create a new government from scratch. The caretaker government wrote a constitution, making Islam a governing principle. Iraqi citizens overwhelmingly voted for it. In December, Iraqis voted in the United Iraqi Alliance, a coalition of Shiite religious groups, over the main secular party, the Iraqi National List. Right next door, in Iran, the people voted in a conservative Islamist for President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ï¿½ Whether the West likes it or not, the slow wheels of democracy are churning out a more religious and conservative Middle East. Islamic groups are stepping out from underneath the shadows of the fringe into the mainstream. But the question remains, will these groups advance greater freedom, democracy and equality in the region? Will women and minorities be negatively affected? Perhaps it is too early to tell. One thing is certain: Arabs have experimented with secular governments and most believe that these Western-made projects have failed in bringing them positive change, employment opportunities and a better quality of life. Thus, they are naturally returning to a model of governance that is familiar and has worked for them in the past.
Attacks Against Islam and Muslims The recent publishing of cartoons defaming the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper had aï¿½huge ripple effect in the Muslim World. Thousands of Muslims worldwide continue to protest these caricatures. (Mosaic Feb. 8) Some protests have turned bloody and dozens of people have been killed and injured. Many in the Middle East were perplexed as to why such cartoons were published, and then republished by other European papers. For many observers, such actions under the pretext of free expression were a clear indication of the growing anti-Islam sentiment that is percolating in Europe. To other observers, the violent Muslim reactions to the cartoons were a result of regional and political battles rather than just cartoon chaos. One commentator, writing for Middle East Times says, "The most recent events are stark evidence that the West has no inkling of what the Muslim world is really about, nor what burden of responsibility comes with the right to freedom of expression." Another commentator for Asharq Alawsat, Ahmed Al-Rebai says that governments must intervene to protect what is religiously sacred.He wrote,ï¿½"it is time for the wise in governments and civil society institutions to move and propose an international code that considers insulting the religious symbols of all religions as a racist act and hostility toward any religion or culture like anti-Semitism, for which the Jews managed to win international resolutions." As if to add more insult to injury, the Australian based, SBS television released a flood of new, grossly graphic Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse photos that have never been seen before. These gut wrenching photos have added fuel to a raging wildfire in the Islamic world. One Iraqi man told Abu Dhabi TV, "The Americans say they support democracy, freedom and human rights.ï¿½. According to what we see and hear, in their country, they treat prisoners well. But in our country, they humiliate our prisoners."ï¿½ Such photos came out only days after a video was released showing British soldiers brutally beating unarmed Iraqi youths. The man behind the camera sounded a bit too sadistic with his shouts of joy and encouragement, saying "C'mon, you're gonna get it!" In America, such anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment expresses itself in more subtle ways. The recent take-over deal of a Dubai-based company, Dubai Ports World, of the management ofï¿½six of the nation's ports has stirred controversy. U.S. politicians say that concerns about national security should prohibit an Arab-owned company from overseeing the country's ports. U.S. President George Bush has vowed to veto any legislation that does this. "This is a company that has played by the rules, that has been cooperative with the United States, a country that's an ally in the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through," Bush said. But Arabs see politicians concern over the ports issue as blatant bias. Abdul Khaleq Abdulla, a political scientist at Emirates University, told the Associated Press, "We don't like the tone of this. Many of us see a hint of racism there, disguised as security concern." In a recent editorial in the Egyptian Al Ahram, the paper sarcastically commented on the Americans being defensive about who controls terminals at their ports while the American military is in virtual control of the entire Arabian Gulf region with the presence of its troops, ships and military installations. Perhaps the Arabs are the ones who should be defensive? Links USA Today: Understanding the Outrage New America Media: Cartoon Protests Turned Violent Asharq Alawsat:ï¿½The Wise Need to Intervene Al Jazeera: Was the Iraq War Religiously Motivated? Middle East Times: The Need for Mutual Understanding Asharq Alawsat: Freedom of Expression or Cultural Racism?
Looking Aheadï¿½. Iraq: The Path to Peace or Civil War? The violence in Iraq continues to ebb and flow. Sectarian differences are becoming more defined. The violence seemed to reach its peak with the attack on two holy shrine mosques in Samarra. The government still has not been established and all signs indicate that the country is on the brink of a civil war. But will Iraqi religious leaders (Shiite and Sunni) and politicians be able to restore peace to the war-torn country? Much of the violence seems related to the withdrawal of American troops. Both Shiites and Sunnis have called for an endï¿½to the American occupation. With the increase of American and Iraqi casualties, Washington will be more pressured to withdraw from Iraq. However, many in the Middle East question whether the increased violence could be used as an excuse for the occupation to remain. Things to look for in the news: Statements by Iraqi or US politicians about forming a new government or US troop withdrawal. Increased attacks on US troops, Iraqi police and religious holy sites. Agreements between Shiites and Sunnis over the formation of the government. Iranian Nuclear File Will Iran Avoid Sanctions in the Security Council on its Nuclear File? International pressure on Iran to cooperate in talks on its nuclear file seems to have worked. Several months ago Iran resumed enriching uranium for its nuclear reactors in defiance of international consensus and its voluntary suspension of enrichment. Conservative Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made defiant statements against the United States and Israel.ï¿½ Recent reports indicate that Iran has reached an agreement with a Russian proposal for a joint uranium-enrichment program to be located in Russia to be used for nuclear energy in Iran. Things recently heated up when Iran threatened to launch missiles against Israel's nuclear reactor in Dimona if Tehran's nuclear facilities were attacked. The International Atomic Energy Agency is meeting on March 6th to discuss whether to refer the Iranian file to the United Nations Security Council, which could lead to harsh economic sanctions on Iran. How will this diplomatic row end? Things to look for in the news: Statements by the Iranian President regarding Iran's nuclear future. March 6th meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Major announcement on an agreement between Tehran and Moscow on uranium enrichment. Israeli official statements warning against a nuclear Iran.
ABOUT US The Mosaic Intelligence Report (MIR) is a periodical newsletter which will bring you the most important news and views from the Middle East. Relying on Mosaic broadcasts and Middle Eastern press, MIR will highlight issues and events that you don't see in mainstream Western media. Mosaic: World News from the Middle East features selections from daily TV news programs produced by national broadcasters throughout the Middle East. The news reports are presented unedited and translated, when necessary, into English. ï¿½ Mosaic includes television news broadcasts from selected national and regional entities. Some of the broadcasters are state controlled and others are private networks, often affiliated with political factions. These news reports are regularly watched by 280 million people in 22 countries all over the Middle East. Mosaic is supported by various grants, foundations and viewers like you. Mosaic is broadcast on Link TV. Link TV broadcasts programs that engage, educate and activate viewers to become involved in the world. These programs provide a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the U.S. media. Link TV connects American viewers with people at the heart of breaking events, organizations in the forefront of social change and the cultures of an increasingly global community.
Contacts Jamal Dajani Director of Middle Eastern Programming PO Box 2008 San Francisco, CA 94126-2008 Send your comments to mosaicnews@linktv.org