NR: "As far as the Iraqis
are concerned, this is the end of a foreign
occupation."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Length: 4:05
LARGE (47.3 MB)
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Michael proposes that as the Iraqis celebrate
their National Sovereignty Day, Americans should
also take a moment today to pause and reflect on
the men and women who laid down their lives in
Iraq.
BETTY
NGUYEN: All right. We have watching developments out
of Iraq, where you see celebrations are underway now
that U.S. forces have left the major cities and
towns.
Michael Ware joins us live from Baghdad to find out
if Iraqi forces can step up now that those U.S.
forces left. And Barbara Starr joining us live from
the Pentagon to find out what happens if those Iraqi
forces fail.
But here's what we know right now. U.S. troops are
out of the bigger cities and towns in Iraq. They've
left the security duties now to Iraqi forces. U.S.
forces must now ask the Iraqi government for
permission for any future urban operations.
And on the eve of the pullout, four American soldiers
were killed in combat. U.S. military is only saying
that they were with the MultiNational Division
Baghdad. No other details are being released right
now.
Well, the Iraqi government is hoping to cash in on
their oil and gas fields today. They've opened up
bidding to international companies for the first time
in decades, but there may be worries over the
security of the oil fields with the U.S. troops'
withdrawal.
And as we said, Iraqis, they are marking the
withdrawal with street celebrations. They've declared
it a National Sovereignty Day.
CNN's Michael Ware is watching the action in the
capital of Baghdad. He joins us now live. Michael,
how do the Iraqis feel about this? We've seen the
celebrations. But at all are they worried about
security now that the U.S. forces have left those
major cities?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, first
and foremost, I have to tell you the pictures that
you're seeing of these celebrations, at least for
now, really do tell the story. I mean, it's just
extraordinary. The outpouring of joy and celebration.
I mean, whether from the Western side it was
well-intended or not, as far as the Iraqis are
concerned, this is the end of a foreign occupation.
And they're celebrating that. There's no longer going
to be foreign tanks in their streets, no longer will
foreign troops drag their menfolk from their homes in
the middle of the night and take them off to
foreign-run prisons.
So, yes, this jubilation's the first thing, but of
course, there is apprehension. We're in the midst of
a long-running bombing campaign by al Qaeda in Iraq
and its allies designed to return Iraq to the
bloodbath of the sectarian civil war.
Iranian-backed Shia extremist militant groups,
extraordinarily well-trained, continue to lob rockets
and missiles occasionally on the U.S. embassy. So
this isn't going to be easy, but no one knows that
better than the Iraqis themselves.
Tens upon tens of thousands of Iraqis have died in
these past seven years. The Iraqis know how fragile
their security forces are, they know what the price
for this sovereignty may be. So they certainly do
have a sense of apprehension, that's true, Betty.
NGUYEN: Michael, I want to ask you about this, you
talk about the Iraqis who have died, so have
Americans. Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister
there...
WARE: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...talked about this being a day of
celebration. Did he mention the U.S. sacrifice and
the U.S. money that's been spent in Iraq?
WARE: Well, let's forget treasure, let's focus on
blood. Okay? This was an Iraqi national holiday,
okay? To end the American involvement -- certainly in
a major phase or the American domination of the war
here.
That's really stirred up mixed emotions in so many
people involved in the American mission here.
Certainly, I know that there were some in the mission
who feel that such a national holiday belies the
sacrifice of the 4,324 U.S. servicemen and women who
laid down their lives here.
So it's been very complicated for some Americans
here, and to be honest, I think America should pause
for a moment today in silence to think about those
who have laid down their lives here on Iraqi soil,
Betty.
NGUYEN: That's a very good point. Michael Ware
joining us live from Baghdad. Thank you,
Michael.