The head of media and culture department in the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET) Dr. Muthanna Hareth al Dhari spoke to Al Shuruq Newspaper published in Tunisia.

Following is the text of interview:

Al Shuruq - Let's start Dr. Muthanna, with the field of security situation ... What is your interpretation of the escalation of killings in Iraq these days and those who stand behind these bombings according to you opinion?

Dr. Muthanna: In fact this escalation of violence is not new that had already began a few months ago where we have seen the notice of the violence in several provinces in the north and west of Iraq...

From our side we have warned of this and said that the failure of the ruling political forces in place after the municipal elections will lead to the waterfalls of blood... and that is exactly what is happening now...

Therefore, we consider today is painful and from our perspective these forces are seeking to regroup and reorder at the eve of the elections ...It cannot do so only through the sectarian works...

Today, there are signs of national sentiment brings the Iraqis together. There is an attempt to crowd by creating sectarian political and security events in the Iraqi arena, which is currently experiencing a conflict between the blocs and parties for influence ahead of the election...

There is a power struggle between Dawa Party and the Islamic Council threatening each other to hold the ruling coalition ... Therefore, they respond in such a bloody way hoping to find a ride in the blood of Iraq to realize their dreams. Of course, today the Iraqi arena is open to all possibilities. Therefore, we do not rule out the involvement of foreign bodies in the bomb attacks in particular Iran... We also do not rule out the involvement of Mossad in these crimes.

Al Shuruq - You have blamed the government agencies of being behind the bombings, but these same parties blamed you, the Baath Party and al-Qaeda for involvement in this work...What is your position and your explanation for that?

Dr. Muthanna: Indeed, these charges are a continuation of the same series, which began in 2006 in order to settle accounts with the Association of Muslim Scholars and its Secretary General ... This issue has started to target the buildings of Association in Iraq and the assassination of one of its leaders... Then they issued an arrest warrant for Sheikh Harith al-Dari that followed by other arrest warrants ... The accusations went on from day to day...

When al-Maliki government has failed in achieving its objectives, then they have taken a decision to benefit using the name of Sheikh Harith al-Dari in everything that is happening in Iraq....However the wit in this topic is that this government put this time Dhari, the Baath Party and al Qaeda in one basket... This contradiction is the proof of the failure of this government and its (policy)…It is the proof that there are intentions directed against the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET) and its Secretary General .. They know that there is pressure and activities scaring them; so they are trying to cover up with the promotion of the miserable and ridiculous accusations..

The occupation and some ruling powers in Baghdad try through media propaganda to distort the resistance with the sectarian violence and terrorism...

Al Shuruq - How was the resistance able to «protect» itself from such slanders?

Dr. Muthanna: Iraqi Resistance can protect themselves through an understanding of the nature of the battle in Iraq today ... After awakening (Sahwa) project, the resistance realized (implemented) clear division putting line between them and terrorism, and launched in another perspective depends on the media arena...

Resistance distanced itself much about from this subject and its evidence is that the Iraqi street confirms the maturity of the resistance...I think that what happened has given fix testimony on the maturity and awareness of the resistance... Resistance can protect themselves through the painful strikes to the occupation...

We in the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET) here speak objectively about resistance and we have always been self-critics about the resistance...Resistance was able to make a breakthrough forcing the occupation to withdraw, but we do not deny that the occupation could circumvent the resistance across Sahwa (Awakening) plot. However since 2008 the resistance has begun to re-growing pace and keeps to date on the good rates of its operations against the enemy...

Al Shuruq - Today there is talk about a significant reduction in the resistance operations...What is the truth and your explanation?

Dr. Muthanna: Incidentally I would say that Veterans Association issued a report saying that there were 164.000 (onehundredandsixtyfourthousand) operations of Iraqi Resistance since the beginning of 2008...This is the proof that there is a very big job of resistance but do not forget that there are other processes undeclared at the media due to the blockade imposed on the activity of the resistance. However I say that the rates of the daily operations of the resistance are not less than 50 processes.

Today there is still the upper hand of the resistance ...It is correct there has been a decline, but the resistance started to overcome...

Al Shuruq - War in the end is the policy by other means, as German strategist Clausewitz says how to paint the resistance political program to the recruitment of its field achievements to which you referred to?

Dr. Muthanna: Resistance today moved to a new phase of political work to the processions of armed action, cooperation and coordination with the forces opposing the occupation. The basic rule for the resistance is to continue the armed struggle and at the same time to participate in the political effort by forcing the occupation to accept its terms...

Al Shuruq - News have strongly arouse in these days about negotiations between the occupation and the resistance. What is the fact and what about the political framework for this dialogue?

Dr. Muthanna: It is not a dialogue between the resistance and the Americans but it is a dialogue between a group of resistance and the Americans...

The rest of the resistance factions said theirs about the topic saying: “It is not yet time to negotiate and maintain that position. It is also the position of us in the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET/AMSI)...

Iraqi Resistance said that the dialogue will not be with the occupation without the consent of all the resistance factions and consultation with the national forces against the occupation...Today, there are attempts to bring the resistance under the roof of the occupation, but these attempts failed more than once... Who consents his/her self to be under this roof, tell them that history will not merciful ...

Al Shuruq - You spoke about mobility and tactics to draw a new map of the forces in the Iraqi arena ... What is the balance of power...and where the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET)  realigned at the midst of this movement?

Dr. Muthanna: Mobility exists on both sides within the political process and beyond. In the political process today there is a heated conflict over quotas and chairs, where each party tries to bite the share of the other party... Everyone is trying to take his share of the cake and I think that this situation will trigger bloody conflicts to come...

On the other hand, outside of the political process there are not interested forces… They know that those are (politicians) are competing under the roof of the occupation... These forces have four parameters, namely:

1- the liberation of Iraq

2- to maintain the unity of Iraq

3- to preserve the Arab identity of Iraq

4- to  preserve the wealth of Iraq

Al Shuruq - How do you see to the ongoing escalation in Kirkuk file... What is the fact and nature of the political crisis in this oil-rich region?

Dr. Muthanna: Kirkuk is a miniature of Iraq representing all the Iraqi mosaic... In which all Iraqis of various ethnic backgrounds and colors... There's also a large part of the wealth... The conflict is between the great political forces...and sharing the wealth…

The problem in this region is that the Kurds are acting according to their will as if Kirkuk is not Iraqi territory ... According to our view, we see that Kirkuk is for all Iraqis...This problem cannot be solved unless the people of Kirkuk can sit briefly on the table away from external interventions that made things complicated and ignite Kirkuk.

Al Shuruq - You mentioned that today in Iraq there two photographs: image occupation and its agents on the one hand ...The image of the resistance and forces opposed to the occupation on the other hand ... In which way the Arabs head for their bets on the Iraqi file today?

Dr. Muthanna: The Arabs are very unfortunately in a range of two ranges not in these and not in those...Arab officials today want to do something but they cannot because of their loss of will and lack of access to an appropriate mechanism for dealing with the situation in Iraq...They agree with us on the unity of Iraq, but there is fear of some on Iraq to be strong... 

The Arabs are trying to put pressure on the resistance forces to engage in the political process in accordance with the terms of the occupation ..This is the reality, unfortunately.

This interview is translated for HEYET Net English section.  © 2009