NR: "General
Odeirno...will now have to go to the Iraqi government
and ask their permission."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Length: 2:58
LARGE (34.4 MB)
-----
SMALL (3.7 MB)
Another update to the preparation for the
handover, including a clip from General Odierno's
CNN interview earlier today.
FREDRICKA
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, it is a day that many
Iraqis have actually been waiting for. Tuesday is the
deadline for most American troops to withdraw from
Iraqi cities. CNN's Michael Ware is in Baghdad. So,
Michael, what does this mean exactly?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well this is the
great question, isn't it? Certainly today, just
firstly on current events side, we had two more car
bombings in the capital. Fortunately, there was no
deaths reported so far but 13 Iraqis were wounded,
some police and some civilians. Now, what is this
handover going to mean? I mean, it's historic, the
U.S.-led war in Iraq is about to come to an end. Yet
the American commander here on the ground, Lieutenant
General Ray Odierno, the man who is true architect of
the American surge here in the capital of Baghdad,
went to some lengths to explain that there may be an
upside to America now taking it's supporting role.
Let's take a look what General Odierno said earlier
today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDER, MULTI NATIONAL FORCE
IRAQ: I think sometimes it is about strategic
advantage over tactical things. I think again it is
important for us to be in line with the security
agreement that we signed in December. I think from a
military and security standpoint it is time for us to
move out of the cities. We will still be there
providing training, advising, enablers for the Iraqi
security forces.
I believe they are capable of doing this. We will
still be conducting significant operations outside of
the cities, in the belts around the major cities and
I still believe that this will enable us to maintain
the current security and stability situation here in
Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now, what General Odierno has outlined there is
of course entirely correct, however one thing that he
said in the sense that the Iraqi security forces, who
now number in the hundreds of thousands can do the
job. Yes, indeed, that is true but only if 130,000
American combat troops are here as an insurance
policy. Only if American air support is there to give
them cover. Only if they can call upon heavy American
fire power and only if American advisers continue to
work with them.
The other thing is that whilst the Americans may be
operating in the deserts and the Green Zone that
surrounds the capital itself, the main center of
gravity for this insurgency has been in the urban
areas and there, the Americans cannot operate, except
at the behest of the Iraqi government. To conduct an
operation, indeed to arrest a suspected enemy
combatant General Odierno and his commanders will now
have to go the Iraqi government and ask their
permission.
Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Wow, that is going to be a fascinating and
dynamic relationship that emerges from this. A big
test. Michael Ware thanks so much from
Baghdad.