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Length: 3:33
SUZANNE MALVEAUX: And as
we look at what impact this war funds battle might
have on the troops, what effect might it have on the
efforts to calm Iraq's cauldron of violence?
Moments ago, I spoke with CNN's Michael Ware.
He's in Baghdad, and he's covered this war since the
very beginning.
Thanks for joining us, Michael.
Now, obviously Congress, as well as the
administration, they're at loggerheads over whether
or not the troops should withdraw, whether or not
they should withdraw funds, as well.
And we've heard from -- from Vice President Cheney,
and President Bush, saying look, this emboldens the
insurgents here.
Do they pay any attention to this at all? Is that
even true?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what I can
tell you from the outset, Suzanne, is that, say, for
example, by some bizarre political miracle, Congress
was able to impose a real timeline, a real deadline
on the U.S. presence here or on the funding for the
war here. Now that absolutely would play completely
into the hands of America's identified enemies, al
Qaeda and Iran. That would be handing the entire
advantage to them. That's why that can never really
happen.
But in terms of the broader debate, in terms of, you
know, taking the temperature of the American mood, of
the American public, adhering to what's going on in
Congress, looking at the Congressional elections,
absolutely do the insurgents, do al Qaeda and does
Iran and its proxy organizations in Iraq pay
attention?
Yes, for sure. I mean they know that the most certain
way to strike at their enemy is to strike at his
support back home. And, indeed, they monitor these
things. They know that, you know, what's happening in
D.C. doesn't really relate to the ground. This is
just political artifice.
Nonetheless, it does tell them about the pressure
points to apply. And we saw from 2003 the Baathist
insurgents saying from the beginning this war will
not be won on the battlefield, it will be won on that
-- pointing to a TV screen.
That's where this war will be won -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Do you think the president, as well as the
vice president, then, are actually correct -- they're
accurate -- when they describe to the American
people, saying, look, all of this infighting is
weakening our position overseas, specifically in
Baghdad?
WARE: Oh, absolutely. I mean it's very clear -- it's
been evident since the mid-term elections that
America is in a period of strategic malaise.
Essentially, America does not have one rock-solid
strategy. There's no one clear way forward to U.S.
victory.
There's a lot of infighting. There's a lot of debate.
Now in a pluralist democracy, that's seen as a
healthy thing.
But when you're fighting a war, you want a clear and
concise direction. You want everyone on the same page
and you want your enemy to know that you shalt not
falter.
Now, that's precisely the opposite message that
America is sending to its opponents here in the
region. And, quite frankly, that's why America's
rivals in the Middle East are becoming so much
stronger and the concept of American empire or
American presence is becoming so much weaker.
MALVEAUX: Thank you very much, Michael Ware, from
Baghdad.