Click
photo to play
Length: 5:03
WOLF BLITZER: Britain has
7,500 troops in Iraq. Many fighting in Basra. Let's
go there for a better sense of the situation. And
joining us now, our correspondent Michael Ware. He's
embedded with British forces in Basra in the southern
part of Iraq.
Michael, you've heard of the comments of the British
military commander, General Richard Dannatt,
suggesting that the mere presence of British forces
in Iraq is exacerbating the situation, making it
worse. Does that coincide with what you're seeing and
hearing on the ground?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very much so, Wolf.
I mean, the Brits are struggling to find a fine
balance between their presence contributing to a
stability and a safe and secure environment, yet also
having that presence, as you say, exacerbate attacks.
Indeed, I had a British commander in the field tell
me just a few days ago, before General Dannatt made
his comments that he had redeployed his forces from
their base, because essentially they were a magnet
for attack. They were encouraging attacks in the
province where this commander operates.
I've also just had a conversation with a very senior
British diplomat here in Basra. And he says in many
ways insurgent groups and militias gain political
traction by attacking British forces. This is one of
the currencies of political credibility here in the
south and particularly in Basra.
The British diplomat suggested that after the
withdrawal of British troops, which he's not
suggesting occurs right now, these insurgent and
militia forces will struggle to reclaim that
credibility as they will no longer have a force to
bounce off, that being the Brits.
And the Brits are under daily assault. In the last 24
hours, Brits just here in the city alone have been
attacked seven times by small arms, roadside bombs,
and mortars and 107mm Katyusha rockets -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael, we are showing our viewers pictures
from all over Iraq. You spent a lot of time not only
with British forces, but with U.S. military forces
throughout Iraq over these past three-and-a-half
years. Based on all those conversations, do U.S.
military commanders feel the same way as this British
commander, basically that Iraq, a Muslim country,
doesn't want any foreign forces there?
WARE: Well, it's very clear that the American forces,
indeed, all the coalition forces are seen as
occupiers. That is an almost universal theme
throughout the Arab parts of the country. Plus, there
is the religious factor. It is a very easy call to
arms, both for Sunni and Shia extremists, to attack
coalition forces.
Indeed, al Qaeda describes them as, "this is where
you can come and fight the great Satan itself," that
being America. However, U.S. commanders, whilst they
have echoed this idea from General Dannatt, that the
presence alone of coalition forces encourages
attacks, it is not such a firmly held belief among
American commanders.
They recognize that it is a factor. However, they
believe that their presence still remains for the
greater good, despite any exacerbation of
anti-American sentiment -- Wolf.
BLITZER: What about, Michael, this comment from
General Dannatt suggesting that U.S., British, the
international coalition, they had a pretty good plan
to get rid of Saddam Hussein, to overthrow his
regime, but didn't have much of a plan for the
post-war. In other words, they were relying, in his
words, more on optimism than any real, solid plan.
What do you make of that?
WARE: Well, that's a very commonly held belief. And
you don't have to scratch too deep beneath the
surface to get top American or British commanders,
nor the diplomats, to say that grievous errors were
made in the early part of the occupation of Iraq.
Indeed, there are many disparaging comments that are
made about the original coalition administration
headed by Paul Bremer, key decisions to disband
military forces in Iraq, the introduction of the
de-Baathification program, and essentially this
stripping away of the entire government apparatus.
These people now say that they are paying the price
for these errors. In fact, they are saying that this
has been the legacy that they are encountering and
are still trying to combat today. In fact, one of
these British diplomats said that we are not even at
a standing start in some regards, we are at a
handicap even now -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael Ware is our correspondent on the
scene for us, embedded with British forces right now
in Basra. Michael, be careful, thank you.
WARE: Thank you, Wolf.