NR: "Unfortunately, this
doesn't mean any of the GIs are coming home any time
soon."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Length: 4:23
LARGE (50.9 MB)
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SMALL (5.4 MB)
Michael begins a series of reports as Baghdad is
covered by another sandstorm. He gives Betty Nguyen
the rundown on the troop withdrawal next Tuesday;
she then asks him about the sandstorm that turns
everything yellow behind him. A fine dust coats
everything, he says; she tells him to go take a
shower.
BETTY
NGUYEN: It is the next step in the move to get out of
Iraq. U.S. troops are due to be out of the country's
cities by Tuesday, and it's all part of a security
pact between Baghdad and Washington.
CNN's Michael Ware joins us now live from Baghdad.
So how many troops does this mean will actually be
coming home because of the pullout?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Betty,
the answer's very simple: none. You're still going to
have 130,000 U.S. troops based here in the country,
though their hands military will very much be tied by
the Iraqi government.
They've got to pull out of all of the Iraqi cities
and towns; they retreat to pre-approved bases. And
they can no longer conduct operations on their own in
the cities without the express invitation or
permission of the Iraqis.
We're still going to see a few troops, advisers
embedded with Iraqi units. There are still going to
be some joint operations and partnered patrols. But
unfortunately, this doesn't mean any of the GIs are
coming home any time soon. American still only has 18
months to get these 130,000 home under an
international agreement the Bush administration
signed in the dying days of its government. But in
terms of today meaning that there's any homecomings
about to happen, I'm afraid to disappoint - Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, Michael. Well, if these troops are
pulling out of some of the major cities, is there a
concern that the Iraqi security forces will not be
able to handle the security demands?
WARE: There's no concern at all, Betty, because
there's no question: No, they can't handle the
security demands whatsoever. That's why 130,000
troops will stay here.
Essentially, it's an insurance policy. But a policy
at the behest and at the whim of the Iraqi
government. The U.S. forces are now very much in a
supporting role.
What they're doing, however, is what's called
stability operations, making sure the Iraqis don't
get themselves killed in any great numbers, and
assisting where the Iraqis need it. And that's in
areas like air support, artillery. It's what in
military terms they call "enabling."
So it's going to be the Iraqis fighting what is now
the Iraqi fight. But the Americans will be here to
give them a little bit of muscle if and when they
need it - Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Well, that being the case, how are
Iraqis responding to this troop pullout? Are they a
little nervous about it?
WARE: Well, it's mixed feelings, to be honest. And
it's more one way than the other.
There's some here in Iraq who are very, very nervous.
In fact, we spoke to one woman who said - who begged
the American military and the commander here, General
Ray Odierno, not to take your eyes off us. She said
the concept fills her with horror.
But she's among the few. Most Iraqis are absolutely
joyous that the U.S. occupation of their country is
coming to an end, as far as they see it. I mean,
they've had - what? - six, almost seven years of
foreign tanks in their streets, foreign troops
rousting families in their homes in the middle of the
night, dragging their men off to foreign-run prisons.
People are sick of it. Iraqis want to be Iraqi. Now
that may come at a heavy price, but for now, the
Iraqis are ready to pay it - Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. I just got to ask you about this,
because from the shot, it looks like you're sending
right next to the sun there. But that's actually -
what? - a dust storm behind you? What's going on
there?
WARE: Yes, it's - it - it - it would be nice if it
was a blizzard, if that were snow. But yes, it's
dust. Everything I touch, leaves a film.
This is a very Iraqi situation. But it this way: If I
had an airline ticket to be coming home today, I
wouldn't be leaving. And this stuff - this stuff is
so fine, it doesn't matter how well you close your
windows, you still wake up covered in a thin film of
dust. It's such a pleasure to be here.
NGUYEN: Well, hey, go take a shower. We'll talk to
you shortly. Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: All right.
WARE: You're not the first person to tell me that.
(LAUGHTER)
WARE: Thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: For different reasons, I imagine.
All right. Talk to you later.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes. He gets that a lot, actually.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: No.
NGUYEN: He's great though.
HOLMES: Next...
NGUYEN: But yes, they're dealing with a lot there.
Like he said, it shut down part of the Baghdad
airport. A lot of people having respiratory problems.
HOLMES: Yes, showing up at the hospitals there..
NGUYEN: People are wearing those surgical masks and
walking down the streets in Baghdad. So, dealing with
it.
But it happens fairly often there.
HOLMES: And it's bad. And you can see, in that shot,
you can tell, it looks like - like you said, it's the
sun beaming behind him or something.
NGUYEN: Like he's standing right next to the sun.
It's crazy-looking.