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Length: 2:59
ANDERSON COOPER: It was an especially bloody day in
Iraq. Insurgent attacks and a coalition air strike
left more an a hundred people dead.
Also today, U.S. and Iraqi forces raided an Iraq
health ministry complex in central Baghdad, arresting
the deputy health minister. The minister is also a
senior member of a political group loyal to a radical
Shia cleric.
CNN's Michael Ware joins us live from Baghdad with
details.
Michael, is this a big deal? What does it mean?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is a big
deal, Anderson, for many, many reasons.
For a start, this was an operation where we saw the
use of the Iraqi Special Forces. This is a
contentious group, very well trained unit. However,
they answer to the American military and not to this
government. So this government has no control over
what these men do.
And then what happens? All of a sudden, without
warning, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry,
these special forces and their American Green Beret
counterparts show up at the Ministry of Health
complex, storm inside and take away the deputy health
minister.
Now, this is not an arrest by the Iraqi government.
This is an arrest or a detaining by the U.S.
military. So some people are seeing this as an
affront upon the government's sovereignty.
And also this is one of Muqtada al-Sadr's men, the
rebel anti-American cleric, or as the military
describes him, a rogue member of his faction. Either
way, this is an assault on Muqtada, and it's
certainly an assault on the external players from
Iran who back Muqtada and his elements.
COOPER: So, do you think the prime minister,
al-Maliki, knew it was coming?
WARE: Well, that's what we're waiting to find out.
Certainly, the Iraqi health minister, obviously, a
Muqtada loyalist like everyone in that ministry --
and bear in mind, Anderson, this government is just a
coalition of different militias. And they sat back
and carved up the ministries, and one of the four
that Muqtada got was health. So essentially, the
health ministry is run by this militia. So, you know,
this is significant in that regard.
What are they going do about it? Not a great deal.
They're not going take to the streets in armed
struggle to retrieve this guy. They're much, much
smarter than that. We don't expect to see that coming
into play.
COOPER: So is this part of the new strategy? Is this
a sign the new strategy is working? All things that
will be playing out in the next couple of days.
Michael Ware from Baghdad.
Michael, thanks.