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Length: 4:33
WOLF BLITZER: So there
are some precedents for this kind of situation where
U.S. forces wind up helping forces that eventually
turn against the United States. But how likely is
this nightmare scenario in Iraq?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now, our Baghdad-based
correspondent, Michael Ware, he's in New York for a
few days. Bottom line, Michael, this nightmare
scenario that we've been talking about, how realistic
is it that it could happen?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's
absolutely no doubt whatsoever, Wolf, that America is
essentially, if not training and arming its enemies,
it's certainly training and arming elements that
don't share American interests or, indeed, are
opposed to American interests -- be that
Iranian-backed or Iranian sympathetic Shia government
forces or even potentially future Sunni members of al
Qaeda.
BLITZER: So, the United States is trying to
strengthen the Iraqi army, and you're saying,
elements of there could eventually turn against the
United States. So what would be better right now, to
simply continue training and arming them or dump
them?
WARE: Well, that's a very difficult question to
answer. I mean, as you know, the entire American exit
strategy rises and falls upon the strength and
capabilities of the Iraqi security forces. Someone or
something has to be able to fill that vacuum when
U.S. forces pull out. So, there's very little
alternative, other than training these people and
just dealing with what may result or what comes of
it.
BLITZER: What do you see happening in the immediate
period ahead? And in terms of defining the immediate
period, over the next six months.
WARE: I think that we're going to see a situation
that is very similar to what we've got now. I mean,
that's one thing about this war, I presume like many:
it's constantly mutating. It constantly redefines
itself.
So while we see an influx or as the administration
calls it, a surge of American troops into Baghdad,
that's going to change the nature of the battle in
the capital. Will it destroy the enemy? No. It may
displace the enemy. It will force them to adapt and
change their tactics.
But, is there going to be an overall improvement?
Either in the life of the Iraqi people or in American
interests represented in Iraq? The short answer is
no.
BLITZER: So what should the U.S. be doing right now?
WARE: Well, that's a difficult question. I mean, I
think America needs to be very clear about what the
situation is on the ground. I mean, it's certainly --
the administration says it's putting a lot of its
faith or maintaining its faith in this Maliki
government. If that is, in fact, the case, then I
think that faith is poorly placed.
I mean, by now surely the administration knows that
this Iraqi government, for what it is, which
essentially is an alliance of militias, is either not
willing to or not able to deliver what America wants.
So, at some point, even more difficult decisions are
yet to be made by the American government and
military commanders, and unpalatable alternatives are
yet to be confronted.
BLITZER: I've heard some U.S. officials and analysts
suggest that maybe Nouri al Maliki should be dumped
and someone else emerge as the prime minister.
WARE: Yeah, well, there's certainly a lot of support
for that amongst certain quarters of the American
intelligence community and perhaps even among
military commanders on the ground.
It's clear that so far Maliki hasn't delivered. No
matter how many times the administration or American
commanders have chided him, lectured him -- I mean,
even President Bush, as soon as saying we're going to
rely on this government, immediately in the State of
the Union address turned around and said, yes, but
you need to deploy forces and confront the radicals
and remove these unnecessary restrictions. So as a
partner, what do they offer?
So, yeah, a lot of people would like to see an
alternative. The question is, who is there? How do
you put them in there? America's committed this. We
created this democracy, we created this government,
goes the line, how can you then destroy it?
BLITZER: And as Nouri al Maliki himself told "The
Wall Street Journal" last month, he hates the job,
never wanted it, and can't wait to be done with it.
Michael Ware, safe journeys back to Baghdad.
WARE: Thanks, Wolf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)