CNN: Michael Ware: "WH Stunning Claim Of Progress - Dishonors The Suffering Of The Iraqi People"

[kpete]

CNN: Iraq report 'inaccurate reflection of reality' David Edwards and Will Menaker
Published: Friday July 13, 2007

CNN's Michael Ware was interviewed from Baghdad Friday morning, and responded to the latest report touted by the President. Speaking of the interim report that referred to the mixed success of the Iraqi government in meeting so-called 'benchmarks,' Ware stated, "the authors of this report are far more generous than I would ever be," explaining that for the White House to claim "satisfactory progress" in the area of sectarian violence is a "stunning claim...that almost dishonors the suffering of the Iraqi people."

Ware explains that while the number of bound, tortured, and executed bodies found around the capital city has dropped, it in now way accounts for the level of ongoing violence in the rest of the country. Continuing, Ware lays out why these signs of progress may be fool's gold, "about 50,000 Iraqis a month have been fleeing this country, or have been displaced, so there is simply less targets for the sectarian violence."

Ware also points out that the almost total "ethnic cleansing" of Baghdad neighborhoods into Sunni and Shia enclaves, each with their own militia, also means there are less opportunities for violence.

As to the question of whether or not the "surge" of American troops is working Ware says that it is almost impossible to gauge whether or not it is having an effect, and even if it were it still is only focused on Baghdad at the exclusion of much of the rest of Iraq.

VIDEO AT:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/CNN_Iraq_report_inaccurate_reflection_of_0713.html

[babylonsister]

1. No 'almost' about it, Mr. Ware. Rec'd. nt

[SidDithers]

2. "fewer targets"...

jeez, you'd think that someone who works with the English language for a living would be able to figure out less/fewer.

Back on topic...thanks for posting. :)

Sid

[PA Democrat]

3. Michael Ware has done some of the best reporting from Iraq.

I'm amazed that CNN has not muzzled him for being so honest.

[madokie]

6. I'm sure there is an award to be given him

and maybe in the future be giving out the Michael Ware award to outstanding journalist

[frogcycle]

7. I heard the last part of his piece last night

and was a little surprised to hear him appear to take the position that the surge had not yet started, that 'politicians in Washington' should let the 'military leaders' make the decisions

He has reported the carnage and lack of progress with evident accuracy, but it sure sounded like he was calling for a 'stay the course' approach...

[pinto]

4. Ware remains one of the most aware and up front western correspondents in Iraq.

He doesn't just talk to a couple of officials in the Green Zone and and file a 'report'.

[Solly Mack]

5. A government that invades another country for lies and trumped up evidence

isn't going to care about the suffering of its victims...if it did care, it wouldn't have invaded to begin with...

America's government caused the suffering...why would anyone think America's government would "honor" the suffering? (how does one "honor" suffering anyway? I'm betting Iraqis would prefer America stopped being the major cause of their pain and suffering...maybe that's a way to honor it...stop it...maybe acknowledging that America is the major cause of their suffering and pain?)

Now, the report was insulting and dismissive of the suffering...but that brings us back to a country that invades another country for lies and trumped up evidence doesn't give a damn about the suffering it causes...or it wouldn't have invaded

I know people want to skip on by the fact that America had absolutely no reason to invade Iraq to begin with...but fuck those people.

[frogcycle]

8. actually, there was a reason

the most despicable of all - pure unadulterated greed - both for wealth and for power

I cry for what my country has allowed itself to become

[Solly Mack]

9. Yes...but government is busy pretending there was a legitimate

reason for invading...and I was addressing that

[rodeodance]

10. Ware has been doing good reporting.

[MiniMe]

11. He is assuming that * gives a crap about the Iraqi people

[librechik]

12. that's the word that's been running through my head all morning

Dishonorable.

George Bush is a dishonorable man, who surrounds himself with people and concepta which have no honor. The idea that his loyal followers have convinced themselves that this kind of behavior is in fact the honorable path is appalling, and a tribute to a stupidity so historic so incandescent it practically blinds you.

[stellanoir]

13. From the contamination of the country with depleted uranium to every

botched maneuver throughout the last 4 + years, I've been feeling for a while as though the real plan from the get go was to depopluate the entire country.

[Rydz777]

14. I watched Ware and he gave a good report, and earlier I had

watched the PBS Newshour when they gave the names and showed the faces of the latest 10 Americans killed in Iraq - paying the ultimate cost of the "surge."

Everyone at the White House from Bush on down, and every Member of Congress, should be required to watch this PPB segment each week. Maybe they would then come to their senses - our soldiers are dying while our politicians talk and haggle.