AAM: "This war now is
under Iraqi control."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Length: 3:53
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Michael talks to Kiran Chetry about the end of
the American-led war and the beginning of the
Iraqi-led war. A total of 4,323 US servicemembers
have died since the war began; an untold number of
Iraqis (estimated between 80,000-100,000) have
died.
KIRAN
CHETRY: U.S. forces have officially turned over
control now of Iraq cities to Iraqi Security Forces.
The country declaring today a public holiday called
National Sovereignty Day. And Iraqis were celebrating
during the overnight hours with fireworks, dancing in
the streets, singing in central Baghdad.
U.S. troops and tanks didn't leave all at once.
There's been a slow drawdown as we know. The numbers
going lower and lower. Most were gone by this past
weekend.
Our Michael Ware is tracking things live in Baghdad
this morning. And on the day that we talk about this,
also word of another attack, right, that left some
U.S. soldiers dead?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes,
it just had to finish that way, didn't it, Kiran? I
mean, in the final hours of the U.S.-led phase of
this war, four more American soldiers laid down their
lives.
Now, if we look at this U.S.-led period from the
invasion in March 2003, until midnight last night,
that's a total of 4,323 U.S. servicemen and
servicewomen have died here on Iraqi soil. Now, it's
no way to compare these sorts of things. But the
Iraqis have also paid for this war in blood. Tens
upon thousands, some put it at 80,000, some put it
100,000 civilians and soldiers, have died since this
conflict began.
But where I'm standing right now, having been here
when this war started and being here now when the
American-led phase is finished, it's honestly -- it's
quite a lot to take in. But, this war now is under
Iraqi control.
130,000 American troops are still here. They're
underwriting the stability, but it's the Iraqi
government, from this moment on, that's firmly in
control, Kiran.
CHETRY: You know, it's interesting. Sampling public
opinion here, we have a brand new CNN/Opinion
Research poll out and it shows that 52 percent, about
half of people think that violence is going to go up
in Iraq. It's interesting, though, because coupled
with that, they say they still don't want to see an
increased U.S. troop presence in Iraqi cities despite
that. Are you seeing that concern on the ground?
WARE: Well, absolutely. I mean, obviously, as you
pointed out quite rightly, there's been joyous
celebration. I mean, I've just come from an official
Iraqi military parade where I watched troops and
national police and tanks and armor streaming past
me. I mean, this is Iraqi National Sovereignty Day.
And we can't underestimate that Iraqis are fiercely
nationalistic. Yet, we're also in the midst of a
long-running bombing campaign being led by al Qaeda
in Iraq and its allies with the intention of bombing
Iraq back into sectarian civil war. And let's not
forget, Iranian-backed Shia militants are still
lobbing missiles and mortars on the U.S. embassy.
So it's with some deep regret that I do tell you the
bombings and the deaths are going to go on. But it's
now for the Iraqi government to answer those sorts of
attacks and to try to prevent more deaths.
And interestingly, I think we've mentioned -- we've
mentioned before, there's some mixed emotions here
among the Americans. It's hard to celebrate when
today intones the memory in so many of those American
deaths. And I can certainly tell you that the
American commander here, General Ray Odierno, was not
present at the ceremony this morning because he was
far too busy with other matters.
This is not an easy day for anyone in any measure,
Kiran.
CHETRY: Not at all. But as you said, the people in
Iraq, at least many of them celebrating this formal
milestone today.
Michael Ware for us in Baghdad. Thanks.