I've seen this Michael Ware interview twice now.

[fairfaxvadem]

And then bits and pieces throughout the week. I'm just glued to the tv when he comes on. I cannot get over just how this guy understands the big picture over there. As much as I respect Jon Anderson of the NY Times, I think I've got to give Mr. Ware the edge here.

That story of his capture just chills me to the bone. And his description of the background of the players and their respective agendas is fascinating and extremely alarming.

He has my utmost respect and admiration.

[autorank]

1. You got that totally right! K&R

And how about our guy Webb...rokken the nation. He's bringing Warner along with him too.
The Commonwealth leads the new revolution!
:hi:

[fairfaxvadem]

8. Webb is great.

I feel like we were given a huge break and well, a gift, really, with him running for Senate here. I hope he can bring some sanity to the whole situation, politically.

I was struck by how he interacts and questions men such as Casey on their own terms instead of these other Senators who really have no clue how the Pentagon hierarchy works. Webb knows the lingo and cut through the crap and get down to business.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Webb's speech really threw a cold bucket of Gatorade into the Senate.

Woke 'em up.

[az chela]

2. I dont watch tv,tell me more please!!!!!

[justiceischeap]

3. He's discussing politics and mindset in Iraq

Talking about the divide and the civil war. He's saying there's enough unhappiness in Iraq that people are drifting towards Al Qaeda and Iran because they see America as occupiers and basically our presence there has created this civil war.

[fairfaxvadem]

5. Anderson did a major "debrief" with Mr. Ware.

It's mesmerizing. And as usual on his show, you've got to stay up for the 11pm hour to get all the "good stuff."

Anyhow, they are sitting in a studio, at a table with an interactive map of Iraq, just the two of them. Michael Ware is describing the "four wars" going on in Iraq. It has been just mindblowing.

The bottom line: this IS what Pandora's Box looks like when the lid is blown off. It's just as bad as the Greek myth said it would be, and then some.

Al Queda has claimed Al Anbar province, say Adios to that. A lot of Shia had gone in to Iran and Syria and basically, if I recall correctly, from the VERY beginning, Iranian trained Iraqis, with their Iranian instructors, essentially moved in to places of high office from the get go, after the regime fell in '03. Now there is the proxy war being fought between the US and Iranian supported Iraqis. Then, of course, there is the internal strife among the Shia and Sunni. Militias were strongly suppored by the Iranians pretty early on, such as al Sadr's.

He was in Haifa Street, accompanied by a Sunni Iraqi leader, in an area that AQ had basically taken over. He was grabbed and AQ said "we're killing him, how dare you bring him here." The Sunnis said, Well, he's our guest and here at our invite. You can kill him, but we'll fight you on the street if you do." AQ figured they couldn't piss off the Sunni locals and let him go. Unbelievable.

His entire narrative is nothing short of freaky. You can't make this stuff up, but it is so mind-blowing, you can't get your brain around what he's saying the first time you see it.

Sorry for the long post.

[justiceischeap]

10. He just said 160,000 troops aren't near enough

To secure Iraq and there's no interest in a diplomatic solution.

Scary.

[Captain Hilts]

4. It's John Burns of the NYT and he was EXCELLENT on Charlie Rose. nt

[fairfaxvadem]

7. Ack! Thanks! I knew I had it wrong...

And I just couldn't get Burns in my head. You are right. He was terrific on Charlie Rose,

Sorry to make such a goof on his name, but that is who I was speaking of.

[bananas]

11. Wait - is it Ware on CNN or Burns on PBS?

Should I record Anderson Cooper on CNN or Charlie Rose on PBS?
You've got me interested in the show.

[fairfaxvadem]

12. Ware on CNN, Burns on Charlie Rose

When I was typing his name I knew it wasn't right but after a long day and a beer, well, I decided to call him Jon Anderson, hahahaha! I'm usually not such an idiot on names.

But sometimes Burns also reports on CNN from Baghdad, although he said he would probably have to move on and leave Iraq soon.

[bananas]

14. Which was the "major debrief" with the "interactive map"?

Not sure I can record (or have time to watch) both.

[fairfaxvadem]

13. If you can still catch Anderson Cooper's 2nd hour, record it.

Well worth it. The interview is the entire hour with Michael Ware.

[bananas]

15. Ok, thanks very much. nt

[bananas]

18. The transcript is up at cnn.com

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0702/01/acd.01.html

<big snip>

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: The video you're seeing right there was shot by CNN's Michael Ware when he was embedded with American forces in Ramadi. Coming up in the next hour of 360, Michael brings you to the stories you haven't heard about the war. He says there are actually four wars in Iraq, not just one. He'll lay it all out for us. We're devoting the whole hour, our next hour to the conversation with Michael Ware. You'll also hear about his close brush with death. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These men intercepted my vehicle and, with grenades with the pins pulled so that they were live, pulled me from the car and with my own video camera, now preparing to film my execution.

<big snip>

[pinto]

6. He's such a genuine journalist, from what I gander. Knows what he reports, firsthand.

I think he's done a great job relaying a fairly objective, knowledgeable and unvarnished (read - no spin) picture of the Iraq reality.

[skiddlybop]

16. And he's very good looking,

Even with a nose that seems pointed not exactly forward...

Michael Ware is really goodlooking.

[bananarepublican]

17. Does anyone know whether he pushes the neocon's bogus 'War on Terror' agenda? n/t

[pinto]

19. From what I've seen, he poses a reality based counter.

I've never seen him make an "editorial" comment on their political agenda - he seems to play it right down the journalistic guideline of calling it as he sees it, on site, on the ground. Regardless of the spin at home.

[fooj]

20. I understand he is a lawyer.

It's all about REPORTING the TRUTH. I hope he can continue to get his message out.