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WOLF BLITZER: More bad
news for the government of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime
minister in Iraq. More members of a major political
bloc are simply pulling out of his cabinet. This bloc
will keep its seats in parliament, but wants nothing,
nothing to do with this cabinet of Nuri al-Maliki.
Joining us now from Baghdad, our correspondent,
Michael Ware. Michael, at least from this vantage
point, it looks like this Iraqi government of Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki slowly but surely is falling
apart. Some Shia coalition partners are leaving.
Sunni partners are leaving.
Big picture -- what's going on?
WARE: Well, Wolf, I mean, really, there's never been
an Iraqi government. I mean it's only ever been a
so-called entity. It's been an apparition from the
beginning, a loose coalition of militias -- most of
them, according to Western intelligence, backed by
Iran -- jammed together. So, really, there has never
been a functioning government here.
It's certainly not delivering services to its people.
I mean, it can't even guarantee running water in its
capital. It can't provide electricity.
Of Maliki's 37 cabinet ministers, 17 just don't show
up for cabinet meetings or are actually boycotting
the government. And we now see yet another political
bloc, that represented by former Prime Minister Ayad
Allawi, today announcing it, too, has withdrawn.
So, effectively, there's four more ministers gone.
Wolf, there is no government here and anyone who says
there is either delusional or trying to spin a line.
There's nothing here for America to work with.
BLITZER: Yesterday John Warner, the Republican
Senator from Virginia, the ranking member of the
Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. has to send a
powerful signal to the Iraqi government and announce
it's starting to withdraw troops, get some of them
home by Christmas, maybe only 5,000.
But on a practical level -- and you've been there
four years plus now, Michael -- what happens when
U.S. forces move out of an area and say to the
Iraqis, you guys take over, you're in charge now?
Practically speaking, what happens?
WARE: Well, that sends a strong signal to the militia
factions who own this country in whichever region
we're particularly talking about where U.S. forces
withdraw that it's game on -- power is yours. I mean
that's what's holding this country together are
militias. I mean, comparisons to Lebanon in the '80s
are not that far off base. So, I'm sorry, but with
all respect to Senator Warner, he is absolutely
kidding himself if, A, withdrawing 5,000 troops is
going to send any kind of a message or, B, that
America can withdraw without serious penalty. The
strongest message withdrawal like that sends is
American defeat. And if you want a clear-cut example
of both the power of that message and what happens on
the ground, just look at Basra in the South. The
Brits have all but been forced to abandon Basra.
And what's happened?
Rival, sparring, brawling Iranian-backed militias
have taken over and it's turning into an absolute
disaster. That's a glimmer of Iraq's future without
American forces.
BLITZER: Pretty depressing information.
Michael Ware, thanks very much for joining us.
WARE: Thanks, Wolf.