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Length: 1:47
LOU DOBBS: President Bush
today cited progress in Al Anbar Province and Diyala
Province as examples of what can be achieved. The
president also said he believes Iraqi Prime Minister
al-Maliki understands the need for political
reconciliation.
But the prospects for such reconciliation remain
uncertain at best, as Michael Ware now reports from
Baghdad. Michael?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, with the
interim report on the war delivered to Congress and
President Bush's remarks, the big picture or state of
play of the war has been brought into sharp focus.
Despite what Congress is being told, the truth that
emerges is that essentially Iraq is a failing state,
riven by sectarian and other agendas, with many
powerful factions within this government not sharing
American interests and indeed opposed to them. That's
why many of the congressional benchmarks that have
been set either have not been met or are most likely
not going to be met.
That has left the administration with few successes
to highlight. Indeed, the president pointed to Anbar
Province and the work of the tribes in combating al
Qaeda. This has nothing to do with the Iraqi
government and more to do with an American deal with
the Sunni/Baath insurgency.
This is a deal which, while successful against al
Qaeda, is deeply troubling for the Shia-dominated
government which America accuses of having links to
Iran. Very much, this is a mixed bag. And it's very
clear that, whatever is being said in D.C., there is
still a long, long way to go before there's any kind
of victory -- Lou.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DOBBS: Michael Ware reporting from
Baghdad.