LDT: "America is still
underwriting the stability."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Length: 4:40
LARGE (54.0 MB)
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SMALL (5.8 MB)
Michael talks to Kitty Pilgrim about the events
of the day and how the American forces view
them.
KITTY
PILGRIM: U.S. officials have been warning that this
transition period is going to be violent. In fact, in
the past 10 days, hundreds of people have died in
attacks in Iraq. And there was more violence today. A
car bomb in the northern city of Kirkuk killed dozens
of people. It exploded in an outdoor market hours
after four U.S. troops were killed in Baghdad.
Well joining us now from Baghdad, CNN -- is Michael
Ware, who has been covering the war in Iraq for seven
years. Michael, the U.S. forces will now be outside
the cities. Are the Iraqi forces ready to do the job?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kitty, the
simple answer is no. The more complicated answer of
course is yes. In a vacuum, the Iraqi security forces
would not be able to take on the fight that they're
facing alone. That's why 130,000 U.S. combat troops
will remain in Iraq, albeit in their bases outside of
the major cities and the towns.
As General Ray Odierno, the U.S. commander here on
the ground, puts it they're here to provide support.
America is in the back seat now because the Iraq --
this is now the Iraqi war, as you know. But the
Americans are here to provide what the general calls
enablers, trainers, advisers, air support, heavy
firepower, so America is still underwriting the
stability even though it's no longer in charge --
Kitty.
PILGRIM: Nevertheless, Michael, you must be hearing
some assessment from the U.S. forces. What are you
hearing?
WARE: Look, this is a -- this is a mixed bag here,
Kitty. I mean this has been an emotional time in many
ways for a lot of us. Obviously, the Iraqis are
seeing it is a day of celebration. This is a national
holiday. They're celebrating the return of their
sovereignty, the end of what they see as an
occupation.
But I can tell you this, some people that I have been
speaking to within the U.S. mission do feel aggrieved
that such scenes of celebration, the declaration of a
national holiday, state TV having a virtual countdown
clock fonted on their screens, belies the sacrifice
that Americans have made here. I mean, in the last
hours of the American-led phase of the conflict,
another four soldiers laid down their lives.
In total, 4,323 American servicemen and servicewomen
died here on Iraqi soil. Some don't feel that that is
a moment for celebration. And I would like to think
that today all Americans would stop and collectively
take a moment to contemplate the sacrifice that's
been given -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Well you're absolutely right, Michael, and
they will never be forgotten by us. Thank you very
much, Michael Ware.
WARE: Thanks, Kitty.