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JOHN
ROBERTS: To Iraq now, and as we've been reporting
this morning, violence appears to be on the decrease.
According to U.S. officials in Baghdad, since the
troop -- the so-called troop surge over the summer,
violence is down 55 percent.
Our Michael Ware joins us now live from Baghdad with
more perspective on this. And Michael, the critical
question is, here, is this a trend?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, it's
definitely a trend, John. I mean, we've been seeing
this decrease in violence and attacks and deaths and
casualties amongst U.S. forces, Iraqi forces and
civilians going on for some months now. This needs to
be heralded. I mean, this is terrific news.
The deaths and attacks overall are decreasing. I
mean, just civilian deaths alone here in the capital
from sectarian murders and al Qaeda attacks and
militia violence, civilian deaths down 75 percent
since June. I mean, that's fabulous, but there's a
number of things to bear in mind. I mean, last week,
there was still 575 attacks, overall, and the
American military is celebrating last Friday when
there were only 33 attacks, the lowest level on a day
in three and a half years.
Now imagine if there were still 33 attacks in Israel
or America or even Pakistan. It shows there is still
a war going on. The generals warn that these are
trends, they're good, but let's not take too much of
this. Nonetheless, this is good or old news. We've
heard this before, for a month they've been saying
the levels are down, so pre-Samara bombing, January
2006 levels.
But the news is worth repeating to the world because
they need to know there has been phenomenal change
here in Iraq -- John.
ROBERTS: So, Michael, if this is a trend, can the
military keep it up and could it potentially lead to
the political progress that we have so far not seen
in Iraq?
WARE: Well, this is where we come to the crux of the
whole war, John. I mean, the question is, will this
last? Now, as I said, the admirals and the generals
are very careful to warn that these are just early
signs. They're good. They pose well, but we cannot
say for sure. Let's just see how it develops. They're
cautiously optimistic and so they should be.
Nonetheless, privately they do admit that things
could easily revert back. You hear them publicly talk
about we have a window of time to maximize this,
because they know that this mightn't last forever.
But the bigger thing is, strategically, what does
this mean? If there's no reconciliation, then it's
going to account for nothing, and right now at the
political level, there is no movement. It's all at
the grassroots. Can the bottom -- can there be
people-power to force the politicians to actually
make the most of this violence decrease or it's all
wasted -- John.
ROBERTS: All right. Our Michael Ware for us in
Baghdad this morning. Michael, always good to hear
your perspective on things, thanks --
Kiran.