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Length: 2:47
MILES O'BRIEN: We begin in Iraq. General David
Petraeus, facing off with reporters in Baghdad for
the first time since he assumed command. CNN's
Michael Ware was at the news conference.
Michael, what was your impression?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, General
David Petraeus, who only arrived in Iraq one month
ago, and is the top military commander overseeing
this war, and the man charged with fulfilling the
controversial surge strategy to reclaim the capital
here in Baghdad, really had nothing much to reveal
that was new. Either in terms of strategy or in terms
of timetables for troop levels.
He did say that, you know, obviously, the focal point
was the Baghdad security plan. He said it's early
days, so far it's progressing well, but the signs are
not clear enough to make any long-term predictions.
He said that American troops -- the surge
reinforcements -- are not yet in place, won't be at
least until June, and indicated clearly that they
will be here for some time.
He also indicated that it's not just the metropolis
that will be targeted, but also the insurgent's
support bases around the capital. What was also
interesting, however, was some of the things that the
general did not say. Particularly, there was no
direct criticism or focus on the Shia militias,
particularly that of rebel anti-American cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr, whom rumor says is engaging in a
potential political deal with the Iraqi government.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, you mentioned a political deal. The
general said it is politics that will provide some
sort of solution in Iraq. And yet he is four-square
behind the troop buildup there and offers no real end
in sight for people looking for U.S. troops to come
home. It seems as if there's a contradiction inherent
there.
WARE: Well, there is no end in sight for U.S. troops
coming home, certainly anytime soon. I mean, no
matter which way you play out the scenario here in
Iraq, I mean, Iraq is at such a point, it's such a
mess, that everyone from President Bush to General
Petraeus calls this situation dire. Now, they don't
call it hopeless, but it's certainly akin to a
disaster.
Now, the way out will not be military. It will be
political. And what we saw is General Petraeus
perhaps hinting at that.
One of the greatest problems in the capital has been
the Mahdi militia and its death squads. Well, we
didn't hear General Petraeus mention the name "Mahdi
militia." And when it did come up, he was very
careful to say it's only the extremists among them
who were the problem, not the militias themselves.
M. O'BRIEN: Michael Ware in Baghdad.
Thank you.
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Length: 2:17
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Let's
get right to Michael Ware. He was there when General
David Petraeus faced off with reporters, the first
time since the general arrived in Iraq just a month
ago. Here's his report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): In his
first press conference since arriving in the country
one month ago, America's new commander of its war in
Iraq and the man overseeing the controversial new
surge strategy to reclaim the capital of Baghdad,
General David Petraeus revealed nothing new about
American strategy nor its timetable for troop levels
or withdrawals. However he did flesh out to some
degree how he sees the battle unfolding in the months
to come. The focus of the general's first press
conference was the Baghdad security plan.
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, CMD, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE IRAQ:
Improving security for the Iraqi people is the first
step in rekindling hope. The upward spiral we all
want begins with Iraqi and coalition forces working
together and locating in the neighborhoods those
forces must secure.
WARE: General Petraeus also indicated, without giving
specifics that many of these new forces will be
deployed around the metropolis, into the rural
support zones from which the insurgents have been
forging their attack. Under question, the general
also dampened speculation that his call for an
additional 2,200 military police was an escalation of
the troop levels, describing them more as enablers or
supporters of the combat troops already committed to
the new fight.
PETRAEUS: In partnership with our Iraqi colleagues,
help improve the security situation and enable the
Iraqi people to control the demons responsible for
the vicious sectarian violence of the past year,
demons that tore at the very fabric of Iraqi society.
WARE: General Petraeus made no mention of the militia
or any attempts to curb its power, perhaps fueling
speculation here in Baghdad that a political deal is
currently on the table between the weakened central
government of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and the
rebel cleric Muqtada al Sadr. Michael Ware, CNN,
Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)