Michael Ware On Iraq Hearings: I Just See A Lot Of Oxygen Being Wasted Here

Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday, the cable news outlet's Baghdad Bureau Chief Michael Ware expressed his disappointment with the way in which lawmakers were questioning General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Ware said that it seemed like the hearings were more about political grandstanding than solving the Iraq crisis. "I just see a lot of oxygen being wasted here," Ware said. He also took the members of the committees to task for their lack of knowledge about the Iraq situation. Watch the exchanges below:

Click here for updated coverage of the Petraeus hearings.

Comments

[asere]

Researcher;
Next big op. will be in Hydrogen technologies; make sure to diversify in order to cover your culito.
Also, get on the Euro before it hits 2 to1; by the end of next year the dollar will be worth as much as a Mexican Peso.

[zull2]

Ware looks as if he practiced this whole thing in the mirror an hour beforehand. His reporting has been pretty solid, but unless someone started a fistfight with Petraeus or Crocker, I bet he would have delivered the exact same schpiel regardless of the questions asked.

To add to that, Ware seems unaware that you can't really have a solid understanding of what's going on in Iraq without actually being there. Currently, the Green Zone is being shelled, and there is no chance that a presidential nominee will go over there to hear what's going on. If he were really concerned about the level of understanding that the candidates have, he'd directly and publicly offer to help consult with them about the situation (or recommend someone who can).

[stringer]

Yeah. I agree with everything you said. It still doesn't change the fact Ware's right.

Maybe he did practice it in front of the mirror.

You don't have to be there (which he has been for years) to know that the fundamental problem now is Iran and our growing fight with them over hegemony.

The majority of the Senators today (accepting John Warner, Barbara Boxer, Bob Casey and maybe Jim Webb) were clearly more interested in political grand-standing than finding a solution. Maybe that's because there is none like some people say. I think there is: getting the heck out.

[landmine]

zull2,
McCain was JUST there!
You make Wares point: Just not aware of all the facts.

btw, does anyone really think stage managed visits, under heavy guard gives anyone a real picture of what is going on? It's like going on a bus tour of another country, attending the seminars, going into the shops and markets and whatever else the "guide" has planned for you...smiling anfd shaking hands. It is impossible to "Know" the culture this way.

[nogop]

SO....when is Michael Wareand other repoters in Iraq for over 3 years going to be asked to testify??? The testmony would be riviting!

[dax49]

maybe the committeee will read this and start acting like real law makers, but i doubt it

[stringer]

Ware is completely right. "We learned nothing new here today." Check

"We're not focusing on the major issue here which is America's growing competition with Iran over hegemony in Iraq." Yeah, check there. That was my main problem with all of the questioning particularly Hillary's (which the media fell all over itself fawning their approval that she used the phrase "battlefield geometry"). THIS is the issue. The situation in Basra was a struggle between 2 Iran based factions. That's what they should have focused on.

Finally "It sounds like the members of the Senate are more interested in political grand-standing than in finding a solution." Yeah, he's totally right on that one too.

Where exactly was Ware wrong again?

[olderdem]

Ware is out of his mind. There were a lot of good guestions asked. The problem is that there were not any answers. If anyone believes Iran will ever give up its interest to influence Iraq's future they are out of their minds -- no matter how many years we stay there. Right now Iran is just enjoying watching us burn through billions a week and helping keep those oil prices high. Nothing like high oil prices to keep funding our enemies. This war has been the best fund raiser for our enemies ever conceived.

[landmine]

olderdem,
You miss Ware's point: If your basic understanding is deficient, then so must be your questions.

I believe both you and many committee members might be sincere. But if you don't know the subject inside and out from ALL major perspectives, it is impossible to "get 'er done".

[VosVos]

I can understand Ware - he has so many good friends/contacts in Iraq that he fears for them. It makes for subjective reporting. Yet, we have not done much of any good for the people of Iraq and the war is going to SINK! this country. The rest of the world is advancing socially, economically, etc. and we are "treading water" b/c of Iraq. Ware's accent surely isn't from Idaho so he doesn't worry about his country going down the tubes. We should have NEVER gone over there. Yet, we now are looking at a occupation which has little good to offer Iraq and has turned this country into a nation in peril. Someone has to leave the lifeboat or we all are going down.

[nogop]

Like Betrayus and Crock full of it weren't "SUBJECTIVE REPORTERS-er-ah liars!!!!!

[pimpdown]

Michael Ware is a hack for the occupation.

[pimpdown]

This pro Occupation embed is shaking like a tweaker on meth. He is pro occupation and the fact that he has been there does not make him any more legit. So has Christopher Hitchens. What makes you think the people who "broke it" know how to fix it? Does the fact that the majority of Iraqis don't want us there even matter to the traditional fans of colonial aggression? Damn now I feel like former Marine Rev. Wright.

[timothe]

He wasn't pro-Occupation until he had been a reporter there for a significant period of time. I wonder what changed his mind?

[LeftLeanWing]

I'm thinking actually being there, witnessing what's happening, an intimate knowledge of all of the players large and small as well as a deep understanding of the real dynamics of the situation./ with an independent viewpoint that is not varnished nor a slave to American politics

[gotalife]

Mr. Ware is an expert on the Iraq disaster because he has risked his like to talk to all sides.

His frustration shows with this political postering and political theater because he has witnessed the genocide in Iraq. He asks if Iran is fueling the insurgency, what are they doing to stop it.?"This would put the warmongering on Iran up for debate and probably expose they are lying.

For those critics running their ignorant mouths , you can never fill his shoes.

You don't have guts.

[Ulysses9]

As you stated...

"Mr. Ware is an expert on the Iraq disaster because he has risked his like."

Yeah, I'd say he definitely risked his "like" -- the guy is one of the most obnoxious, opinionated and (well know) narcissists now PERFORMING as a journalist.

[iPolitics]

"you can never fill his shoes." You know what they say about small feet.

[robXdion]

I'm sorry.......but I have to ask this rather rhetorical question in light of current events. I understand this guy is a respected journalists and all......but would ANYONE take him seriously if he were black and acted like this? I mean, c'mon, this dude fried some brain cells on acid, X or something. You can shade him 3 shades darker and call him Ja'kwon and he would be laughed out of any newsroom regardless of his "intelligence".

[shuaib]

I'm so saddened to say the way Michael Ware is being criticized. He rearly ever gets emotional when he reports. As you might know, he has been in Iraq for many years now and has seen the atrocities first hand; as a result he has an appreciation of the facts more than any american politician.

Like I said, he never shows his emotions. But today I saw him act in a way I've never seen before: He showed emotions!! There is nothing wrong with that. I think that the only reason he is being criticiezed by some on this forum is because he criticized Obama. For those of you who know the facts about this war, you'll probably not be offended by Michael Ware. But for those of you who support Obama blindly, no matter what he does, you'll be offended.

I'm supporting Obama in this election (I really am, I'm not a Clintonite in Obamaites' clothing)....but let's call it like it is: Obama did a poor job today and for all of our sake I hope it was more of a political move than a show of his understanding of the situation in Iraq.

Sincerely,
Shuai.b

[ltfHusseincrazy]

I mostly agree with you except for one thing; how can any of them do a good job of questioning people who are there to support an ideology that was flawed from the start. President Bush and his administration should be answering the questions for one thing. They should be expected to tell the truth for another. It's all a big show.

[robXdion]

I just returned from Iraq myself just last year. So I know 1st hand what's over there. My criticism of him has nothing to do with him criticizing Obama. It has everything to do with his demeanor and presentation which is definitely off kilter. My post above was to point out the wholesale acceptance of his behavior, which would be ridiculed soundly if he were a black man. That then leads to current events that says Obama must go above and beyond but white men with one tenth of his talent and background are readily accepted. Can you not see this?

[livesimply]

Well, isn't that a personal commentary on YOUR attitude about melanin?

[robXdion]

Read below before you bust a blood vessel.

[rzan]

Talk about wasting oxygen.

[iPolitics]

Michael Ware: "100 years is not enough. McCain need to take it to another level."

[Wildcatdiva]

Why don't I like this guy? Everytime he's on CNN I wince. (I just saw him) Is he a citizen of the US? I'm getting kind of tired folks from other lands trying to dictate our politics. Since he's back in the states, he really should find the time and get his nose fixed. (I'm not being evil, it truly looks as if it hurts.)

[shuaib]

I am greatful for any advice any human gives me. What's wrong with a non American advising us? You're a good example of why we're still in Iraq. You think of it as Americans vs nonamericans when you should be looking at issues from the perpective of a human being, someone who belongs to the larger collective of the human race, and not just an American.

Secondly, how can you suggest that he should get his nose fixed? What happened to promoting selfconfidence and being happy with the way you look? You say that you're not being evil when you say that? You can't say things that are hurtful and then follow them by saying "I'm not trying to be evil". That's like me saying, "all Iraqis are terrorists, but I mean it and I'm not being evil".

I've not called you names and I've tried to present my points kindly. I hope you take my advice for what it's worth instead of getting angry and going into denial.

Sincerely,
Shuaib.

[Wildcatdiva]

Man back the hell up. As far as his nose goes I said it looks as if it hurts. Who the hell are you his lover? Since I'm not going to be paying for it, If you two like it I love it.

I didn't start the war, I don't approve of the war and I meant exactly what I said. All I know he isn't an American and he drops a whole lot of what he thinks America should do. He's unable to make policy and I get sick of hearing him preach that pro war shit. Are you out there fighting for America, do you have any family fighting or dying? I do. Honey, I'm far from angry about your comment nor am I in denial about a damn thing. You are the one being defensive about your guy. Too damn bad, I said it and I meant every word of it.

Sincerely,
ME

[KristaJulieva]

Michael Ware gives Owen Wilson a run for his money in the most-disfigured-by-past-nose-breakings department. I never noticed that until today. Perhaps being in a war zone has a way of minimizing the effect of the grotesque asymmetry of one's proboscis.

[SOOKOOYAH GURL]

He also has the shakes..

[toochie]

I've wondered about his facial features for sometime. I can't keep my eyes off his nose when he reports. It's very distracting. It looks like one of his nostrils is missing and his nose turns to that side. It doesn't mean I hate his reporting, but it brings out the fifth grader in me. I know it's not cool and I normally don't mock people for what they can not help. I find myself wondering if he was a boxer or was born with this deformity. One thing is for sure, he's not your typical blowcomb Ken doll we usually get at Faux.