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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.