Michael Ware

Journalist

PZN: "The business of war in Iraq."


Click photo to play
Length: 3:08


PAULA ZAHN: The outburst of new violence in Iraq. Just hours ago, we learned that two more U.S. marines died in enemy action bringing the American death toll to 21 in only five October days. If that continues, this could become the worst month ever for American casualties.

Also today, Secretary of State Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad, but her arrival was delayed by an eruption of mortar or rocket fire near the airport.

Michael Ware joins us now from Baghdad. So Michael, does anybody think that Secretary Rice's unannounced visit will make any difference on the amount of violence on the ground?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, to be frank the answer is no. I mean, on one level, people would say -- from the military and the Iraqi government -- well, everything that we can do we're doing. I mean we just heard the Iraqi prime minister announce his new four-point plan to bring about reconciliation and to curb some of the sectarian strife, a plan that by and large is -- you know, constitutes establishing new committees.

We see the ongoing Battle of Baghdad with tens of thousands of American and Iraqi troops attempting to reclaim the capital from insurgents, militias and death squads. So Secretary Rice is not going to be able to impact the actual fight on the ground.

What it looks like, she was here with some of the tougher language we heard from her as she was coming into Iraq and while the secretary was here, it seems to have been to read a bit of the riot act to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The U.S. has invested all of its eggs in his basket. They need him to succeed. They need to give him some kind of power against the militias and Iranian-backed parties that by and large control this government. But he's just not delivering, and it's difficult to see how he could. And that seems to be what Secretary Rice was really here to do, hammer him home -- Paula?

ZAHN: Michael, let's come back to those depressing numbers, 21 American soldiers killed so far this month. We said if that pace continues, it could become one of the deadliest months on record. What is the expectation here? Were these random acts of violence or a sign of things to come?

WARE: Oh, Paula, look, this is far from random acts. I mean, there's two things to consider here. One, we are currently in the grip of the fourth holy month of Ramadan offensive. This is the Islamic holy month where each year the insurgents have vowed to launch a massive campaign, particularly against U.S. forces. Every year they vow it, we see them follow through on it. We have that.

Secondly, this is the business of war in Iraq, Paula. We saw more than 72 U.S. troops killed last month alone. The insurgents are at a very strong point right now, and this is what the U.S. troops will have to continue to combat. Paula.

ZAHN: Michael Ware, thanks so much for the update, appreciate it.

PAULA ZAHN: The outburst of new violence in Iraq. Just hours ago, we learned that two more U.S. marines died in enemy action bringing the American death toll to 21 in only five October days. If that continues, this could become the worst month ever for American casualties.

Also today, Secretary of State Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad, but her arrival was delayed by an eruption of mortar or rocket fire near the airport.

Michael Ware joins us now from Baghdad. So Michael, does anybody think that Secretary Rice's unannounced visit will make any difference on the amount of violence on the ground?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, to be frank the answer is no. I mean, on one level, people would say -- from the military and the Iraqi government -- well, everything that we can do we're doing. I mean we just heard the Iraqi prime minister announce his new four-point plan to bring about reconciliation and to curb some of the sectarian strife, a plan that by and large is -- you know, constitutes establishing new committees.

We see the ongoing Battle of Baghdad with tens of thousands of American and Iraqi troops attempting to reclaim the capital from insurgents, militias and death squads. So Secretary Rice is not going to be able to impact the actual fight on the ground.

What it looks like, she was here with some of the tougher language we heard from her as she was coming into Iraq and while the secretary was here, it seems to have been to read a bit of the riot act to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The U.S. has invested all of its eggs in his basket. They need him to succeed. They need to give him some kind of power against the militias and Iranian-backed parties that by and large control this government. But he's just not delivering, and it's difficult to see how he could. And that seems to be what Secretary Rice was really here to do, hammer him home -- Paula?

ZAHN: Michael, let's come back to those depressing numbers, 21 American soldiers killed so far this month. We said if that pace continues, it could become one of the deadliest months on record. What is the expectation here? Were these random acts of violence or a sign of things to come?

WARE: Oh, Paula, look, this is far from random acts. I mean, there's two things to consider here. One, we are currently in the grip of the fourth holy month of Ramadan offensive. This is the Islamic holy month where each year the insurgents have vowed to launch a massive campaign, particularly against U.S. forces. Every year they vow it, we see them follow through on it. We have that.

Secondly, this is the business of war in Iraq, Paula. We saw more than 72 U.S. troops killed last month alone. The insurgents are at a very strong point right now, and this is what the U.S. troops will have to continue to combat. Paula.

ZAHN: Michael Ware, thanks so much for the update, appreciate it.