AAM: More on the video

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SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: One insurgent group in Iraq, excuse me, says it wants to negotiate with U.S. forces, a spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq. Let's take a look at the videotape here. As you can see, his face is obscured. This video, by the way, obtained on Sunday by CNN. Well on this tape he lays out the set of conditions that would end the group's participation in the insurgency.

Let's get right to CNN's Michael Ware. He's in Baghdad this morning.

Hey, Michael, good morning.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Yes, what we have is this taped response from CNN's questions forwarded through known Islamic Army of Iraq channels. What we see on tape is purported to be Ibrahim al-Shimary, the official spokesman of this group.

Now this group comes from and indeed is one of the leading members of one of the most powerful blocs within the insurgency. And at a time with spiraling violence and an increasing death toll among U.S. soldiers and Iraqis, we have the Iraqi -- the Islamic Army of Iraq reiterating its offer to negotiate with U.S. forces. This, as we lead into the midterm elections.

The spokesman also talked about the nature of the insurgency with rare insight into the structure of his organization and the role of al Qaeda. But he also speaks about one of the great motivating factors behind the Sunni insurgency, saying that a byproduct of the U.S. occupation is an entrenching of Iranian influence in Iraq, a deep-seated fear of the Sunnis, and now a driving force sustaining the insurgency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IBRAHIM AL-SHIMARY, ISLAMIC ARMY OF IRAQ (through translator): America and Iran have occupied Iraq. America is the disease that caused the infection which is the Iranian occupation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARE: He also brings a reality check with regards to the sectarian violence here in Iraq, saying that his faction of the insurgency is not directly opposed to the Shia; however, they will respond if attacked. It's a very, very savvy interview by this spokesman, displaying a keen awareness of domestic American politics -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: At the same time, Michael, this group, which is the Islamic Army of Iraq, how big are they? I mean, and to what degree would negotiating, realistically, with one insurgent group make a difference with all the insurgent groups that are operating in Iraq right now?

WARE: Well, this is a very key organization. It comes from a broad alliance of Sunni insurgent groups which represents part of the main body of the Sunni insurgency.

Now, as we all know, al Qaeda is responsible for the spectacular suicide bombings and has led the way in inflaming the sectarian violence, yet the daily drip-feed of attacks against U.S. forces and against Iraqi security force allies is carried out by the Sunni insurgents, former Ba'athists, former members of Saddam's military and security apparatus. Now this group represents an alliance of that body of the insurgency. And to back it up, they have also provided us rather graphic and rare footage of their operations against U.S. forces -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Michael Ware for us this morning.

Thanks, Michael. He's reporting from Baghdad.


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MILES O'BRIEN: Here's a look at what CNN correspondents all around the world are covering today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Michael Ware in Baghdad.

A key faction of the Sunni insurgency has reiterated its call to negotiate or open dialogue with U.S. forces. In a videotaped question and answer with CNN, the spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq says the group is prepared to talk with U.S. commanders. The spokesman, Ibrahim al-Shimary, also discusses the role of al Qaeda in the country, the sectarian violence in Iraq, and the nature of the Sunni insurgency.

(END VIDEOTAPE)


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SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: One insurgent group in Iraq says it wants to negotiate with U.S. forces. A spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq -- if we take the videotape here, you can see that he's covered up his face in the video. And this video was obtained on Sunday by CNN. This spokesman spells out a set of conditions that would end the group's participation in the insurgency. Let's get right to CNN's Michael Ware. He's in Baghdad for us.

Michael, good morning.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Yes, we've had a very rare opportunity to gain access to the Islamic Army of Iraq insurgent organization. This is the leading insurgent group among a broad faction of the insurgency responsible for many of the attacks against U.S. forces. We effectively were able to conduct an interview with the spokesman of this group by forwarding questions and having that videotaped response come back.

Now, it's fascinating stuff. Here in this month, October, only 16 days old, already at least 49 U.S. deaths, with a rising death count against Iraqi civilians and security forces as well, as we see the Ramadan offensive. Here he comes out and says with a lead-up to the midterm elections reiterates the group's offer to hold negotiations or discussions with U.S. forces.

He also gives us a window into the structure of his organization and the role of al Qaeda in the insurgency. He also gives a reality check on the sectarian violence, all throughout making many very savvy American cultural references from the Vietnam War, to Watergate, to President Bush's "mission accomplished" statement.

But he also talked about one of the motivating factors behind the Sunni insurgency, and that's fear of Iranian interference. He says very clearly to CNN that a byproduct of the U.S. occupation is the entrenchment of Iranian influence here in Iraq. And he says this is one of the major motivating forces that is sustaining the insurgency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IBRAHIM AL-SHIMARY (through translator): America and Iran have occupied Iraq. America is the disease that caused the infection, which is the Iranian occupation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARE: So this is a very, very savvy address to the people of America. So in this interview, we hear this key insurgent group talking directly to the people of America, asking them to question President Bush's record on Iraq. He certainly vows that the insurgency is going nowhere, yet reiterates the chance to discuss what effectively would be cease-fire or peace talks.

Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Michael Ware for us in Baghdad. Thanks, Michael.