NR: "This isn't an uptick
or a surge in violence."
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Length: 2:32
LARGE (29.4 MB)
-----
SMALL (3.1 MB)
Domestic finally gets its first discussion of
the multiple bombings, and Michael starts right out
by saying that it is NOT a "surge" of violence, but
just what passes for normal in Iraq. (But with an
emphasis on Thursdays, for some reason.) Kudos to
Ali Velshi for calling out the banner graphic as
being wrong.
ALI
VELSHI: Let's take it over to Iraq. A surge in
violence just days after American troops have pulled
out of the major cities there. CNN's Michael Ware is
with us now from Baghdad -- Michael.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ali, look, what
I have to say is that this isn't an uptick or a surge
in violence. This is part of a long-running,
sustained campaign.
What we've had today in the last 24 hours, is that at
least 61 Iraqis, mostly civilians, have been
slaughtered in suicide bombings, other sorts of
bombings, and other attacks.
Now, the most spectacular, as the word is used in
military parlance, occurred at about 7:30 a.m. local
time or thereabouts up in the northern city of Tal
Afar. 35 people were killed according to government
officials when there was a coordinated double suicide
bombing operation. The first one went in, targeting
what we're told was a counterterrorism official. Then
as rescuers surged in, a very common tactic, the
second suicide bomber struck.
Elsewhere, in the capital, Baghdad, around about the
same time, early morning, seven people were killed in
the Shia stronghold of Sadr City when a bomb
detonated there. Last evening, within the 24 hours,
another suicide bomber killed two at the wedding of a
police officer.
So, this has been ongoing. And let's remember, the
Iraqis are now in command. But this was also
happening under U.S. command just 10 days ago. The
last week of a --
VELSHI: So, I just want to ask you this -- Michael,
let me ask you this.
WARE: Yes.
VELSHI: On the banner underneath you, it says surge
of violence in Iraq. And your first words were, it's
not a surge. So what you're saying is it's stuff that
was happening.
WARE: It's not, it's not. Yes, this is the nature of
Iraq. People's eyes may be turned away. People may
think the troops have left. Indeed people say that to
me. We still have soldiers there? Soldiers tell me
that folks are going back home, oh, we've still got
troops in Iraq? Yes, you do. And there's still a war
here.
Now, it's being run by the Iraqis. But these bombings
happen frequently. It's like an almost regular tempo,
particularly on a Thursday, for some reason. So this
in no way is an isolated incident.
VELSHI: Okay. All right. Well, that's why it's good
to have you there because you can keep your pulse on
it. It does appear, I think, when we see it sometimes
to the untrained eye that that appears to be a surge
related to U.S. troops coming out.
Thanks for clearing up that it is sort of more of the
same. But Michael, thank you very much.
Michael Ware, for us in Baghdad.