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The following are excerpts from an Iranian TV drama. Three Iranians who deliver medicine to Iraqis are arrested by the American forces and framed as members of Al-Qa'ida. Channel 1 of the Iranian TV aired this episode on April 1, 2005
Richard Quest: Iranians have been strongly against establishing democracy in Iraq, they resort [to] anything to shove the country into instability. Recent reports from Iraq reveal that three Iranian nationals named as Taqi, Javad, and 'Ezzat, who were linked to Al-Qa'ida terrorist group, produced clashes and unrest in Iraq based on a premeditated plan. The three, headed by Taqi, a "top-shot" in Al-Qa'ida, crossed into Iraq illegally and had in mind to blow up an important U.S. base in the country. The group was after upsetting order in various regions in Najaf and Karbala. Preliminary investigation from Taqi showed he was inspired by vengeance toward U.S. forces. He said resistance against U.S. forces will continue.
Taqi's wife: What is he saying?
Taqi's daughter: Wait a minute, Mother.
Richard Quest:...of American troops from Iraq...
Taqi's wife: You're killing me. Tell me what he's saying.
Taqi's daughter: I didn't understand everything. But from what I understood, he says the Americans have arrested Father and the boys as Al-Qa'ida forces.
Taqi's wife: Good God, what is Al-Qa'ida?
Taqi's daughter: How should I put it... that Father and the boys are terrorists.
Taqi's wife: Terrorists?! How dare he say your father and the boys are terrorists? He's a terrorist, and his father, and grandfather too. I'll report him to the police. I'll tear him to pieces. What is this? Can they do whatever they feel like?
Taqi's daughter: Mother, what does this have to do with the police?
Taqi's wife: I'll go and complain to anybody in charge.
Taqi's daughter: Mother, calm down, let me hear what he's saying.
David Channer: Hello, I'm David Channer, reporting from CNN in the US headquarter in Iraq. Today three members of Al-Qa'ida carried a truck of weapons into Iraq illegally.
Taqi's daughter: Were Father and the boys supposed to take weapons to Iraq?
Taqi's wife: No, they were only carrying medicine.
Taqi's daughter: This guy says that Father and the boys took weapons into Iraq, and that they are therefore members of Al-Qa'ida.
American officer: Our forces arrested three members of Al-Qa'ida after they attacked one of the U.S. headquarters in Iraq.
David Channer: Thank you, sir. the incident will be fully covered in the upcoming news. This is David Channer, CNN, Iraq.
Taqi's wife: So your father lied to us? I sensed there was something fishy about this trip.
Taqi's daughter: I don't think Father lied.
Taqi's wife: So where have all those weapons come from?
Taqi's daughter: Mother, they probably framed them. This is what the Americans always do.
Taqi's wife:So will they take them to jail?
Taqi's daughter: I don't know, Mother, we should ask them.
___American officer: What about the three guys?
Is their questioning over?Interpreter: Not yet, sir.
American officer: If they got nothing to say, send them to Abu Ghureib prison. There they have to talk for sure.
Interpreter: It's not safe around Abu Ghureib now.
American officer: What do you mean?
Interpreter: The rebels have...surrounded the prison.
American officer: Alright. Use backup forces.
Interpreter: Give me two days. I will get the information you want.
American officer: Uh-uh, two days is too much. Send them to Abu Ghureib if they don't confess till tomorrow.
Interpreter: Do you want to lose the honor [of] arresting them by sending them to Abu Ghureib?
American officer: You're right! So try to get more information out of them.
Interpreter: Yes, sir, don't worry.
American officer: You got a good future.
Interpreter: Thank you, sir.
American officer: Tea or coffee, my friend?
Interpreter: Tea, please.
American soldier: Yes, sir.
___American officer: Can I have a look at the list of POWs?
Red Cross official: Sure, here you are.
American officer: You, the Red Cross forces, take everything too seriously.
Red Cross official: We are just doing our job.
American officer: OK. So you shouldn't get upset if I do my own job too.
Red Cross official: I don't know what you mean.
American officer: Hold on a minute. This is the real list.
Red Cross official: Your hostility with Iranians seems endless, doesn't it?
American officer: Sort of. We gave Saddam the honor of destroying Iranians, but that jerk couldn't make it.
Red Cross official: He not only failed, but he's also your prisoner now.
American officer: A bad politician is a dead one, isn't he?
Red Cross official: You mean Saddam?
American officer: Saddam and his cronies [had] better die. Perhaps this is true of Saddam, but you think you can destroy Iranians by crossing their names out?
American officer: When a name is crossed out, it means there's no name. You know what I mean?
Red Cross official: Definitely. I do know what you mean.
American officer: Great. Would you like more coffee?
Red Cross official: With sugar, please.
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