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Length: 3:36
WOLF BLITZER: A powerful
picture today of anti-American anger in Iraq.
Thousands of Shiite protesters marched in the holy
city of Najaf marking four years since the Iraqi
capital fell to U.S. forces. The demonstration was
called by the radical anti-American Shiite cleric
Muqtada al Sadr. He appears to be taking some
dramatic new steps to try to stir up more Iraqi
hatred of the United States.
And joining us now, our correspondent in Baghdad,
Michael Ware. Michael Ware, the comments coming from
Muqtada al Sadr, these purported statements coming
from him urging his followers -- and we know there
are plenty of Shiite followers of this radical Shiite
cleric -- to not fight Iraqis but to fight, to resist
the occupiers. That's a clear reference to the United
States. What's going on?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is
Muqtada politically rejockeying and militarily
preparing the ground for what may come, whatever
contingencies lie ahead. He was very careful with
these words. He didn't actually exhort his followers
to launch attacks. He's just said to his militia and
to the "brothers" in the police force and the Iraqi
army, to "stop fighting each other because this is
what the enemy, the occupier, America, wants. Let's
focus on the true enemy, which is America."
Now, this comes as over the weekend one of the
strongholds of his militia has been attacked by Iraqi
and American forces and there's been intense
fighting. He calls for this rally to mark the fourth
anniversary of the war. Instead of celebrating
liberation, it's an anti-American demonstration where
the military says only up to 7,000 took the streets.
But you can see the pictures of the holy city of
Najaf. Iraqi officials say it was tens of thousands.
Now American generals are trying to put a good spin
on this. They say this is a mark of democracy. This
is what we came here to let them do, to have freedom
of speech. But this is freedom of speech, a gathering
by thousands of supporters of an armed anti-American
militia backed by Iran. Wolf?
BLITZER: And those pictures very dramatic. We see
American flags being burned. We see these followers
being told by Muqtada al Sadr in effect, don't fight
Iraqis. Don't cooperate with the occupiers, the
United States. But he's also suggesting one step
further to the Iraqis, his followers, don't work with
America. Don't cooperate. Don't walk with them in any
way. What's the message to those Iraqi military and
police forces who do cooperate with the U.S.?
WARE: Well, obviously, they have to be very cautious
individuals. Now, it's been well established that no
one from Muqtada's military forces, no one from his
parliamentary faction and none of his officials in
the government -- remember, Muqtada al Sadr, the
anti-American cleric, owns several ministries in this
government, including health. He runs the hospitals
in this country -- none of those officials will talk
to Americans. Now what we saw after the start of the
surge or the Baghdad security plan on February 14 is
Muqtada leave the scene. American intelligence says
he went to Iran. Well, this demonstration is him
putting himself back on the scene. He's saying, "no
matter where I am, look at what I can still do."
BLITZER: Michael Ware in Baghdad for us. Thanks,
Michael.
WARE: Thank you, Wolf.