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Length: 3:21
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
is the man that the United States is counting on to
take control of the violence in Iraq. Eventually, the
theory goes, that will allow U.S. troops to come
home. Well, this morning, an exclusive interview with
the Iraqi leader. He spoke to CNN's Michael Ware, who
joins us this morning.
Good morning, Michael.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning,
Soledad.
Yes, we've just spoken to the prime minister of Iraq.
The man who America is looking to as the way out of
this country for American troops.
Now the focus very much is on the security situation
here in the capital Baghdad. When we met with Prime
Minister al-Maliki, this is very much what he wanted
to talk about. How he believes the new strategy that
he and American commanders have launched upon will
begin to curb the violence. Now while he says with
more American support he believes his forces can take
over in three to six months -- something he's said
before -- what he also said, more surprisingly, is
that if it goes the other way, he might ask for an
escalation of American troops.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER, (through
translator): One of the major issues for President
Bush's plan, which we consider a support to our
Baghdad security plan, is the extent to which there's
a need for additional troops, American and
multinational, to support the operations and we agree
this will be assessed by those in the field. The
military commanders. And if their assessment is for
more, we will ask for these troops. But we believe
that the existing number, with a slight addition,
with do the job. But if there seems to be more need,
we will ask for more troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now, one of the key targets of these troops, of
course, are the militias that seem to have taken this
country by a death grip. That's certainly dominating
the government of this prime minister. We asked him
specifically about the rebel anti-American cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr, who does have an outstanding arrest
warrant against him.
Now the Americans will very much be looking to the
prime minister in how he handles Muqtada, the man who
put the prime minister into his job, to test the true
value of his commitment against the militias. When we
asked what he was going to do with Muqtada, this is
what the prime minister had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL-MALIKI: I will apply the law to everyone, as I
said. On militias, political parties, on the
participants in the political process. The law rules.
And who is on my side in respecting the law and the
government's will, will be an ally and a partner. And
those who rebel against the law and the government's
will, will be a foe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now it's difficult to read into that just
exactly what he means, but he did, in fact, then go
on to say that Muqtada al-Sadr, despite American
intelligence claims of his violence against U.S.
troops, had become potentially a model for other
militias to follow in joining the political process,
given recent commitments to disarm and lower the
levels of violence.
The prime minister also said all of the neighboring
countries -- particularly Iran, Turkey, Jordan --
want to interfere in Iraq. And, indeed, he said he
would not correct American intelligence when they say
Iran is working to kill U.S. soldiers.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: A fascinating interview. Michael Ware for
us this morning with that.
Thanks, Michael.
Miles.
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Length: 2:29
MILES O'BRIEN: CNN's
Michael Ware has as much experience reporting on Iraq
as anybody. We'll bring him in now. He has an
exclusive interview with the Iraqi Prime Minister
al-Maliki.
But before we get to that, I want to ask you,
Michael, about the allegations of Iranian meddling.
And perhaps even staging this daring attack. What's
the word on the street there in Baghdad about this?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT: Well,
obviously, Miles, information is so scant about this
attack that it's impossible to say for sure just who
has pulled this off. Clearly, Al Qaeda has to be
considered, as do Sunni insurgents. Yet, given where
it happened and given the nature of it, perhaps there
is reason to be looking towards Shia militia.
Now, many of these Shia militia, according to
American intelligence, are backed, supported, armed,
and trained by Iran. Now, indeed, U.S. military
intelligence says the Iranians are working to kill
American soldiers.
And in our interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki today, he said that, in fact, not only can
he not rule it out, he believes that, yes, in fact,
that is happening. He says Iranians are targeting
Americans, and Americans are targeting Iranians in
his own country.
Now, whilst the mood generally in Washington may be
for withdrawal of American troops, Prime Minister
Maliki says he believes a new strategy will work, but
he is showing signs of strain in the relationship
with Washington. He was critical of past mistakes. He
said more support means they could take over quicker
here in Iraq, but he also kept the door open for an
escalation. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOURI AL-MALIKI, PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ (through
translator): One of the major issues for President
Bush's plan, which we consider a support to our
Baghdad security plan, is the extent to which there's
a need for additional troops, American and
multi-national, to support the operations.
And we agree this will be assessed by those in the
field, the military commanders. And if their
assessment is for more, we will ask for these troops.
We believe that the existing number, with a slight
addition, will do the job, but if there seems to be
more need, we will ask for more troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: So it was rather a grim picture that the Iraqi
prime minister was painting. He believes that there
is still a way forward. Yet, clearly not everything
is going well, and the relationship with Washington
is becoming more and more prickly, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Michael Ware, live from Baghdad.
Soledad.