NR: "It's all against a
backdrop of an ongoing al Qaeda in Iraq-inspired
bombing campaign."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Length: 3:29
LARGE (40.4 MB)
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SMALL (4.3 MB)
As dusk falls on 'Day One,' Michael reports on
another car-bombing in Kirkuk targeting a market,
killing women and children in another attempt to
fire up the sectarian violence.
TONY
HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: First, this hour, a turning point
in Iraq. Six years and three months after the U.S.
invasion, American troops are out of Iraq's major
cities, leaving Iraqi forces in charge of security.
We have CNN's Michael Ware in Baghdad, and our
Barbara Starr's at the Pentagon for us. Michael,
let's start with you. How are Iraqis handling this
milestone?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the initial
outpouring has been one of celebration, jubilation,
celebrations in parks, formal ceremonies. Clearly
being marked on state TV, a font that's been marking
the countdown to the handover, TV anchors in Iraqi
flags.
However, all of this sense of joy has been
underpinned by a natural sense of apprehension. The
Iraqis know how fragile their security forces are.
And if ever they needed a reminder, it's some tragedy
to report that just a few hours ago, at dusk here in
Iraq, another car bombing has gone off, this time in
the northern city of Kirkuk. It detonated in a
crowded marketplace. And reports we're getting from
Kurdish officials is that so far, the death toll
stands at 25 and that as many as 54 people have been
wounded. What we're being told is that many of them
are women and children because the bomber has struck,
as we've seen so many times before, at the peak
shopping period in the center of a crowded market.
HARRIS: And Michael, we have tried as best we could
to get a view of life for Iraqis in their cities. I'm
just curious, given all your time there, how are
things changing on the ground for people who live in
Iraq's major cities?
WARE: Well, there's two things I'd say first offhand.
One is the absence now of U.S. troops.
We've seen this occurring throughout the year as
brigade after infantry brigade has been pulled back
to prearranged or pre-approved bases outside of the
major cities and towns. These are bases that have
been chosen by the Iraqi government and by
Washington.
The other change is that, in relative terms -- as I
said, we just had a bombing in a northern city. We've
already had a double roadside bombing here in Baghdad
that only wounded four civilians. But in terms of
Iraq, relatively speaking, that has been a form of
stability. So, we're seeing some return to life.
Certainly from my last trip, many months ago, to this
trip now, there's a different air in the city. People
are moving about more than they used to. There is
some greater sense of freedom.
Some of the blast walls have come down, but there's
still Iraqi checkpoints aplenty, army, police,
national police. But the Americans have stepped way,
way back. Things are starting to loosen up, but it's
all against a backdrop of an ongoing al Qaeda in
Iraq-inspired bombing campaign.
HARRIS: All right. Michael Ware in Baghdad for us.
Pretty visual stuff there, Michael. Appreciate it.
Thank you.