Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
NBC; CNN
March 26, 2008
NBC Nightly News, 7:00 PM
BRIAN WILLIAMS: On the topic of warfare now to what’s happening on the ground in Iraq and it’s important. There is a big fight for the southern city of Basra. There’s also right now a big concern at the Pentagon about fighting on two fronts: Iraq and fighting an escalating conflict in Afghanistan. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski, our man on duty tonight at the Pentagon.
Jim, good evening.
JIM MIKLASZEWSKI: God evening, Brian. There’s no question that this current fight in Basra is critical to both Iraq and the U.S., militarily and politically.
Intense, street-to-street combat continued in Basra for the second day in a row. Fifteen to 20,000 Iraqi military and police are fighting to take back control of the city from renegade Shiite militias. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki himself is in Basra and is giving the militias a 72-hour deadline to lay down their arms. Basra is at a critical crossroads in southern Iraq. Seventy to 80 percent of Iraq’s oil flows through this region.
The Bush administration sees the battle for Basra as a decisive moment in the war, a test to see if the Iraqi government and military can stand up. Except for some limited U.S. and British combat air support, the White House today insisted this is an all Iraqi operation.
STEPHEN HADLEY [National Security Advisor]: Iraq is now responsible for security in Basra.
MIKLASZEWSKI: If Iraqi forces prevail, it would demonstrate a growing ability to take over the fight from the Americans. If they fail –
KATHLEEN HICKS [Military Analyst]: I think there is no doubt that a serious failure here by the central government will really just dampen expectations that any success in Iraq is going to be in the near term.
MIKLASZEWSKI: At the same time, President Bush came to the Pentagon today to her the recommendations from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the Iraq war. Pentagon officials say it’s unlikely there will be any further withdrawal of American troops once the five surge combat brigades come home at the end of July. That would leave 130,000 to 140,000 U.S. forces still in Iraq when Bush leaves office.
GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY (RET.) [NBC News Analyst]: Clearly the administration will be under huge pressure to not let it unravel on their watch so their going to err in the side of caution.
MIKLASZEWSKI: Pentagon sources tell NBC News the Joint Chiefs were also prepared to tell President Bush the prolonged war in Iraq has hampered the war effort in Afghanistan. According to one official, our ability to meet the risks in Afghanistan is being consumed by the fight in Iraq.
As for the battle in Basra, military officials admit that any success there would be timed perfectly for General Petraeus – General David Petraeus’ Iraq status report that he’ll deliver to Congress in two weeks. Brian?
All right, Jim. Jim Miklaszewski at the Pentagon tonight. Thanks.
Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN), 7:00 PM
LOU DOBBS: Senator McCain today stood by his plan for Iraq and blasted both Democratic candidates on the issue of the war in Iraq. Meanwhile, President Bush was at the Pentagon discussing a possible pause in troop withdrawals as a new wave of fighting is sweeping Iraq.
We begin our coverage tonight with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Lou, it is a critical time in Iraq. The stakes could not be higher.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) (SHOTS) STARR: Fierce fighting continues in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Shia militias, rogue forces supported by Iran and criminal gangs are pitted against Iraqi security forces struggling to control an oil rich region. The Bush administration coordinating the message it's an Iraqi-led operation.
MAJ. GEN. KEVIN BERGNER, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN IN IRAQ: Prime Minister Maliki specifically said that he took these actions because quote, "the lawlessness is going on under religious or political cover."
GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: Prime Minister Maliki should be commended for taking the initiative and going after the extremists and criminals in Basra.
STARR: Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell countered questions the current plan to draw down U.S. troops is at risk because of the recent fighting.
MORRELL: It looks as though it is a byproduct of the success of the surge in the sense that the Iraqi government has grown and increased in capability to the point where they now feel confident going after extremists.
STARR: Ensuring success, making certain the surge troops can return home by summer was the priority for President Bush's Wednesday meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. The chiefs agree with plans for a pause and further troop cuts this summer to make sure security holds, but can it? A cease fire with Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army fighters is on the verge of collapse; Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to control the country is on the line.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It looks like the surge is working. Violence is coming down and now with intra-Shiite struggles going on it can break down in many of the big population center. (END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: The Joint Chiefs of Staff also told the president they want to see the troops home so they can get them trained up for a potential next crisis and many here worry that next crisis could be the need to send more troops to Afghanistan -- Lou.
DOBBS: Thank you very much, Barbara. Barbara Starr from the Pentagon.
March 26, 2008
NBC Nightly News, 7:00 PM
BRIAN WILLIAMS: On the topic of warfare now to what’s happening on the ground in Iraq and it’s important. There is a big fight for the southern city of Basra. There’s also right now a big concern at the Pentagon about fighting on two fronts: Iraq and fighting an escalating conflict in Afghanistan. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski, our man on duty tonight at the Pentagon.
Jim, good evening.
JIM MIKLASZEWSKI: God evening, Brian. There’s no question that this current fight in Basra is critical to both Iraq and the U.S., militarily and politically.
Intense, street-to-street combat continued in Basra for the second day in a row. Fifteen to 20,000 Iraqi military and police are fighting to take back control of the city from renegade Shiite militias. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki himself is in Basra and is giving the militias a 72-hour deadline to lay down their arms. Basra is at a critical crossroads in southern Iraq. Seventy to 80 percent of Iraq’s oil flows through this region.
The Bush administration sees the battle for Basra as a decisive moment in the war, a test to see if the Iraqi government and military can stand up. Except for some limited U.S. and British combat air support, the White House today insisted this is an all Iraqi operation.
STEPHEN HADLEY [National Security Advisor]: Iraq is now responsible for security in Basra.
MIKLASZEWSKI: If Iraqi forces prevail, it would demonstrate a growing ability to take over the fight from the Americans. If they fail –
KATHLEEN HICKS [Military Analyst]: I think there is no doubt that a serious failure here by the central government will really just dampen expectations that any success in Iraq is going to be in the near term.
MIKLASZEWSKI: At the same time, President Bush came to the Pentagon today to her the recommendations from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the Iraq war. Pentagon officials say it’s unlikely there will be any further withdrawal of American troops once the five surge combat brigades come home at the end of July. That would leave 130,000 to 140,000 U.S. forces still in Iraq when Bush leaves office.
GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY (RET.) [NBC News Analyst]: Clearly the administration will be under huge pressure to not let it unravel on their watch so their going to err in the side of caution.
MIKLASZEWSKI: Pentagon sources tell NBC News the Joint Chiefs were also prepared to tell President Bush the prolonged war in Iraq has hampered the war effort in Afghanistan. According to one official, our ability to meet the risks in Afghanistan is being consumed by the fight in Iraq.
As for the battle in Basra, military officials admit that any success there would be timed perfectly for General Petraeus – General David Petraeus’ Iraq status report that he’ll deliver to Congress in two weeks. Brian?
All right, Jim. Jim Miklaszewski at the Pentagon tonight. Thanks.
Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN), 7:00 PM
LOU DOBBS: Senator McCain today stood by his plan for Iraq and blasted both Democratic candidates on the issue of the war in Iraq. Meanwhile, President Bush was at the Pentagon discussing a possible pause in troop withdrawals as a new wave of fighting is sweeping Iraq.
We begin our coverage tonight with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Lou, it is a critical time in Iraq. The stakes could not be higher.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) (SHOTS) STARR: Fierce fighting continues in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Shia militias, rogue forces supported by Iran and criminal gangs are pitted against Iraqi security forces struggling to control an oil rich region. The Bush administration coordinating the message it's an Iraqi-led operation.
MAJ. GEN. KEVIN BERGNER, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN IN IRAQ: Prime Minister Maliki specifically said that he took these actions because quote, "the lawlessness is going on under religious or political cover."
GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: Prime Minister Maliki should be commended for taking the initiative and going after the extremists and criminals in Basra.
STARR: Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell countered questions the current plan to draw down U.S. troops is at risk because of the recent fighting.
MORRELL: It looks as though it is a byproduct of the success of the surge in the sense that the Iraqi government has grown and increased in capability to the point where they now feel confident going after extremists.
STARR: Ensuring success, making certain the surge troops can return home by summer was the priority for President Bush's Wednesday meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. The chiefs agree with plans for a pause and further troop cuts this summer to make sure security holds, but can it? A cease fire with Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army fighters is on the verge of collapse; Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to control the country is on the line.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It looks like the surge is working. Violence is coming down and now with intra-Shiite struggles going on it can break down in many of the big population center. (END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: The Joint Chiefs of Staff also told the president they want to see the troops home so they can get them trained up for a potential next crisis and many here worry that next crisis could be the need to send more troops to Afghanistan -- Lou.
DOBBS: Thank you very much, Barbara. Barbara Starr from the Pentagon.