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Length: 3:56
WOLF BLITZER: The United
States isn't going it alone in Iraq. The president's
strategy certainly depends heavily on the performance
of the Iraqi government and the Iraqi military.
And joining us now from Baghdad, our correspondent,
Michael Ware.
As, you know, Michael, the administration has to
report on these 18 so-called benchmarks, how the
Iraqi government is doing and living up to its part
of the bargain.
Let's go through a few of them and tell me if it's
likely they're going to be able to achieve these
goals. For example, providing three trained and ready
Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations.
So far, I've been told they may have one.
But do you think they're going to have three fully
operational brigades, the Iraqis, in to provide
security to the capital?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that
might be difficult to deliver.
However, that is one of the few benchmarks where the
military may be able to have told the White House in
its report leading to the interim report that there
may have been some progress -- or, even, indeed,
significant progress.
It's clear that the Iraqis are providing some numbers
for the surge in the capital of Baghdad. The
question, though, that remains a mystery and shrouded
behind operational security is whether, in fact, they
have attained the full three brigades.
But that's one where there was some progress. I don't
know if it's a victory, though.
BLITZER: All right, let's talk about another one --
reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and
eliminating militia control of local security. In
other words, doing away with the various militias.
Is that doable in the short-term?
WARE: Oh, no. That's absolutely daydreaming to -- for
anyone in D.C. or the Pentagon to believe that that
could be possible -- this year, next year, even; let
alone by September. I mean the militias have become
the fundamental building blocks of much of the
conflict here and, indeed, are the essential frame of
reference for the shape and nature of political power
as it's defined in this country. Power here,
politically is still marked by the barrel of the gun
and how many men at arms you can command or how you
can turn the streets to violence at your whim.
Now, in terms of sectarian violence here in the
capital of Baghdad, where most of the focus of the
surge is placed, there's been some dampening of some
of the normal indicators on levels of violence.
Nonetheless, we had, what, 500 -- almost 500 executed
bodies found on the streets of the -- just the
capital alone. That doesn't include the rest of the
country.
So, no. An end to sectarian violence or a significant
dampening in it, nor a dismantling of the militias --
no way, Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael Ware, we're going to be watching
this every step of the way, together with you.
Thanks very much for joining us.
WARE: My pleasure.
BLITZER: Insurgents offered a reality check of their
own just a little while ago. A barrage of up to 35
mortar rounds fell inside Baghdad's heavily fortified
Green Zone -- supposedly, the safest part of the
Iraqi capital. The U.S. Embassy says three people,
including a U.S. service member, were killed.
Eighteen people were injured, including five American
citizens.
We're watching this story for you, as well.
Let's go back to Jack in New York for The Cafferty
File -- Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's nothing, in
my opinion, quite like Michael Ware's stuff out of
Iraq.
Do you agree with that?
BLITZER: I do.
CAFFERTY: I mean he has a depth of knowledge about
what's going on over there and can paint in the
subtle shades of gray like nobody else that I've seen
reporting on that war. It's good to have him back on
the program.
BLITZER: And, you know, one thing about Michael I
just want to point out, he's a courageous journalist.
He's been there for four-and- a-half years.
You know what it's like to spend a few days in Iraq?
He's been there for, what, four-and-a-half years with
very limited time off.
CAFFERTY: Yeah, if you look up "tough guy" in the
dictionary, Michael's picture is there, I think. He's
doing yeoman's work, and we're lucky to have
him.