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Length: 2:18
ROSEMARY CHURCH: Well,
the relentless violence is a sign of the difficulty
facing U.S. and Iraqi forces as they try to secure
the capital. The plan is a revised version of
operations that have failed in the past.
Michael Ware joins us live from Baghdad with more.
Michael, as this violence appears to be spinning out
of control, how is this newly revised offensive, if
you like, likely to reclaim the capital?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're yet to
see if it is likely to reclaim the capital, Rosemary,
but as you point out, this is essentially a mutation
or evolution of past American-lead plans to reclaim
the capital, Baghdad, from the death squads,
militias, and insurgents who have it and its people
in their grip.
What the American military and Iraqi security force
partners are focusing on this time, as opposed to the
past, is not just clearing controversial or contested
areas, but holding them. In the past, the American
plan was to hold these areas by passing them off to
Iraqi counterparts. Well, that failed, largely
because of the complicity of those counterparts in
the death squads and the sectarian strife.
Now we're seeing additional U.S. forces used to hold
those areas themselves and to force the Iraqis to
operate together in newly coordinated command and
control centers -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Michael, an interesting distinction you make
there. So U.S. forces clearing and holding these
areas, that's what sets this offensive apart from
those in the past. But what about Iraqis, what are
they saying? What are their expectations of this?
WARE: Well, so far, Iraqi expectations are low. And
to be honest, no one can blame this beleaguered
population in the capital for expecting nothing but
the worst. They have seen only an increase in
violence and a decrease in the quality and safety of
their lives for the past year or two.
So, expectations, honestly, are low. The truth
they're waiting to see will be on the streets. And
even American commanders warn not to expect any
results overnight. This city is going to have to be
clawed back block by block -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right. Michael Ware reporting there from
Baghdad.
Thanks for that.