Click
photo to play
Length: 3:04
LOU DOBBS: Good evening,
everybody.
New questions tonight about why the United States is
supporting Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki and
his government. The central question is whether
al-Maliki is loyal to the United States or loyal to
both Iran and Muqtada al-Sadr and the Shia over any
concept of the Iraqi nation. In an exclusive
interview with CNN, the Iraqi prime minister today
told the United States to end its proxy war against
Iran.
Meanwhile, President Bush is making an urgent new
attempt to stop the widening rebellion within his own
party over the conduct of this war. Leading
Republicans are worried the Senate could pass
resolutions that oppose the president's policies in
Iraq.
Michael Ware tonight reports from Baghdad on the
problems the new U.S. strategy in Iraq faces because
of the Iraqi prime minister.
Jamie McIntyre... tonight he reports from the
Pentagon on the latest evidence of Iran's support for
the radical Islamist insurgency and direct attacks on
our troops. And Dana Bash tonight reporting from
Capitol Hill on the Republican backlash against the
president's conduct of this war.
First, Michael Ware from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki left the door open today in an
interview for the possibility of an escalation and an
increase in American troops. While the prime minister
believes the new strategy now under way will work, he
was critical of past American mistakes that he says
have prolonged and deepened this conflict.
He also said that with more support, his forces could
take over within three to six months. Nonetheless, if
things do not improve, he said, then there may be a
need to bring in more American forces
NURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through
translator): One of the major issues for President
Bush's plan, which we consider support to our Baghdad
security plan, is the extent to which there is 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.
WARE: One the key challenges for those troops will be
attacking Iraq's militias which have a stranglehold
on this government. Foremost among the militias is
the Mahdi militia of the anti-American cleric Muqtada
al-Sadr.
U.S. military intelligence says Muqtada has American
blood on his hands. Indeed, there is an outstanding
arrest warrant for the cleric. Nonetheless, he is a
political ally of the prime minister.
The prime minister contributed to the furor over
Iranian activity here in Iraq. He said that he could
not contradict U.S. military intelligence that
Iranians are killing American soldiers. Indeed, he
said that this seemed to be happening. He said
Iranians are targeting Americans and Americans are
targeting Iranians in his country, and he wants it to
stop.
Michael Ware, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)