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Length: 3:06
WOLF BLITZER: As
lawmakers here in Washington debate whether it's time
for a timetable in Iraq, the death toll rises among
U.S. troops and Iraqis alike.
Joining us now in Baghdad, our correspondent, Michael
Ware. Michael, we heard from General Abizaid before
the Armed Services Committee suggesting the U.S.
military can still stabilize the situation in Iraq
and does not -- repeat -- does not need more U.S.
troops on the ground right now.
How does that stack up to what you're seeing on the
ground?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it sounds very
much, Wolf, like a political answer. I mean it seems
that General Abizaid, despite all the information
that he has at his fingertips and his personal
experience, is talking about a completely other
dimension.
I mean, the violence here in Iraq, for ordinary
Iraqis, is palpable. And for U.S. troops, six U.S.
servicemen died on Tuesday alone. So far this month,
41 Americans have been killed here in Iraq.
It really doesn't feel like stabilization. And if
General Abizaid can see a way to put this genie of
sectarian violence, insurgent attacks and foreign
interference, particularly by Iran, back in the
bottle, then he clearly knows something that the
commanders and diplomats here on the ground are not
sharing.
BLITZER: Michael, 24 hours ago we were talking about
that brazen kidnapping of scores of Iraqis at that
Ministry of Education complex in Baghdad.
What's the latest information? How many of those
kidnapped remain captive?
WARE: Well, the figures still continue to vary
radically, depending on whom you're talking to. But
most recently we heard from the Minister of Higher
Education. And he said that from among his staff --
now, that does not include any civilians or visitors
who happened to be hauled within the grab -- that
among his staff, around 40 still remain unaccounted
for. And it turns out that that the assurances
overnight from the Ministry of Interior that almost
all the victims, all the kidnapped hostages had been
released, are not entirely true.
So it just further deepens the mystery and further
adds to the suspicion that points to, if not the
Ministry of Interior itself, then certainly
associated rogue or militant elements within the
government security forces or the closely affiliated
militias.
BLITZER: And those being the Shia militia, the Mahdi
Militia of Muqtada al-Sadr, I assume, target suspect
number one.
Michael, thanks very much for joining us.
WARE: Wolf, it's my pleasure.