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Length: 3:22
ANDERSON COOPER: A bit more perspective now from
CNN's Michael Ware, who is just in from Baghdad. And
we're happy to have him here, safe and sound.
Michael, it's good to see you.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Anderson.
COOPER: What do you make of this, Saudi Arabia,
essentially a threat, saying that they would, maybe,
perhaps, could support Sunni insurgents?
WARE: Well, that's their natural position. They're
not left with any other, really.
And come to the point that Saudi Arabia officially or
unofficially is supporting the Sunni insurgents,
then, Anderson, we're essentially in what General
Abizaid says he most fears at the moment. After 3,000
deaths and 20,000 U.S. casualties, almost four years
of war, he's worried about regional warfare.
So, by the time we see Saudi Arabia play that hand,
it is going to be a terrible, terrible mess. And the
great conundrum is that what's happening in Iraq,
what the U.S. has been doing in Iraq, is
destabilizing its allies in the region, mainly Sunni
Arab nations. And it is emboldening one of America's
primary enemies in the region, Iran.
COOPER: What do you make of the idea of sending more
U.S. troops, and particularly to the Baghdad area,
because, I mean, there are Iraqis now who are talking
about are, well, U.S. troops actually leaving the
Baghdad area, just being on the periphery?
WARE: Well, I know that has been floated by the
national security adviser for Iraq, Dr. Mowaffak
al-Rubaie.
However, you talk to U.S. commanders, and it seems
clear to them, in their private, their frank moments,
that what's needed is more troops, not less, and not
just a Band-Aid. I mean, we saw 2200 extra Marines go
into Al Anbar Province, the very restive western
province, which the U.S. military admits is
essentially in the control of al Qaeda. And it had
very little to no impact on the levels of violence.
So 10- 20- 30- even 50,000 troops doesn't even begin
to get us there.
COOPER: Are you talking Iraq-wide or just in Baghdad?
I mean, if you poured 40,000 troops into Baghdad or
on the periphery of Baghdad, I guess the idea being
secure Baghdad, and then move out from there.
WARE: Yeah, I mean, there's been this focus on
Baghdad. As Baghdad goes, so will the rest of the
country, is essentially the strategy.
My question is, while you focus on Baghdad, what's
happening in al Qaeda-held al Anbar Province? While
we just tread water out there, al Qaeda is getting
stronger. And even in Baghdad, if you pour in more
troops, it depends on their mandate. It depends on
what's the role of the Iraqi security forces, many of
whom, as we well know, are responsible for many of
the killings.
COOPER: Are they getting any better? I mean, you
know, everybody says that is the prime focus of U.S.
policy. You go out with these guys all the time. Are
they -- are they any better?
WARE: No.
If -- if -- honestly, if the Iraqi security forces
really are the way out for America, then the way out
is a long, long way off. These guys are still not
able to operate on their own. That's conceded by the
military. They're still operating at levels far below
combat-effective.
And, many of them, it's unclear what their alliances
are. Certainly, it's not to a national government, as
it would be for an American soldier. Their first
alliance, by and large, is either to their sect,
their militia, or their tribe.
So, in many ways, what we have been doing is training
and arming the various sides of what could be a
full-blown civil war.
COOPER: Wow. Troubling.
Michael Ware, appreciate you being here. Thanks very
much.
Take some time off.