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

[SCG]

You gotta love Michael Ware lol.

[williamg]

If we were to pull out of Iraq, Ware would not have a job.

[davesideas]

sure he would; most of sub-Sahran Africa is blowing up (and has been for some time) in our faces.

[strifeknot]

But CNN doesn't cover Africa, and won't start doing so if Iraq ceases to be a subject of interest.

[wmbear]

"WE"??? What do you mean "we," white man?

[daingel]

Oh I doubt that. He's was a lawyer who worked in an Australian Court of Appeals. And he's is also a journalist for Time.

And this world never is sorely lacking on the military complex and it's lust of war for money, no matter what country, for him to miss out on the reporting.

[NelsonR]

Once I had respect and admiration for Michael Ware. Now he is just another person with a personal agenda who has probably developed many friendships within the Iraqi elite who are the thirty percent who desire our continued presence. Michael should consider what's good for America not what's good for these friendships. Yes, Bush got us into this war mistakenly but that doesn't mean we Americans must continue accepting responsibility for a populous who have their own religious agenda's. Where are the Iraqi patriots, i will tell you, jocking for position in an inevitable civil war we should not be involved in. Time to admit Bush's mistake and depart or should I say President Betray Us with the acquiescence of General Bush should change course.

[alncarter]

Shouldn't we be slamming Hillary Clinton instead of talking about Iraq?

[greenwitch]

Good one. ;)

[samuraijack]

Ware believes he is the only expert on Iraq. There is a reason he is on CNN. No one else would want him. No one.

[springsm]

Yes, but Ware has been in Baghdad from the start and most of what he says or predicts has been right or is right. So don't be dissing him cause he says something we don't like. He probably is right. And he is also not a happy camper over this gd bush war in Iraq. I didn't think the General was answering questions with integrity and Crocker just read a prepared speech. I did not watch all the questioning because I was not hear a TV all the time and I couldn't STAND to watch MCBUSH address "myfriend". Whatever is said..this war is scheduled to last quite some time. Bush needs NEEDS to pass it on.

[MariaHopeful]

I have wanted to write this for a long time: I don't know who this guy is supporting. I don't very much care. I think he is an arrogant, know-it-all, pompous jerk. I am truly sick of him and his attitude. It even seems that he is pushing for a war with Iraq probably because it will get him some more action and face time. I would much rather have the British journalist (whose name escapes me right now - Nick?).

Today Obama demonstrated just why we believe that he will be such a great President and brilliant leader. Unlike Clinton and McCain, he wasn't trying to show up the General or the Ambassador. He wasn't trying to show how angry or how knowledgeable he was. He was trying to get to the solution. He stripped off all the emotion and the clutter and went to heart of the problem. That is the conversation I imagine the President should have had with his Generals. Way to go Senator!

[factcheck2]

Ware's comment to Blitzer that Obama's questioning was "frighteningly disappointing" certainly summed it up. Blitzer was speechless for a moment, as if maybe thinking "Oops, someone forgot to give this guy his official talking points". Fortunately, even if they had, Ware doesn't pussyfoot around on Iraq, having covered the war on the ground for years. He especially gets the role of Iran in taking over the country, and the Bush Administration's acquiescence to this (all the fiery rhetoric aside). Like his father before him, Bush follows the long-running State Dept/CIA policy of covert action with Iran, which is why - as Sen. Boxer pointed out - the Iranian president can fly into Baghdad in broad daylight and get a kiss from Maliki. Obama's insistence that Iran should be at the negotiating table would be comical if it weren't for the fact that the entire progressive movement has been hoodwinked into believing that the Pentagon is about to invade Tehran. That line has always been a diversion to stop the anti-war movement from focussing on Iraq. That Obama is using it to pander for votes is pathetic. It's too bad CNN doesn't have Michael Ware on more often to explain all this. It would be a real eye-opener. As for the covert action going on in the Democratic primaries, here's a link to an article I've posted at thecityedition.com. http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html

[MariaHopeful]

You really need to check your facts before you are accused of deliberately mis-informing and even dis-informing. Or maybe that was your game all along. Ware did not say that Obama's question was frighteningly disappointing. He was talking about everything he had heard and since he had just listened to Obama he said "I have to say even Sen. Obama..." But even had he said it, who cares about this pompous little jerk? You can be sure he has no kinder word for your candidate.

[rojo7449]

Obama's attempt to appear knowledgeable and on top of the issue was sorely lacking substance. I would imagine he wouldn't allow the experienced Senators to assist him in coming up with some questions that would make him appear he was able to dance to the beat since he has said foreign affairs is his strong suit.

[miles120]

Okay, let me make sure I've got this straight: everyone but the Left understands that the Bush/Cheney rhetoric on Iran is smoke and mirrors, and that we are secretly maintaining a relationship with Tehran and sanctioned Ahmedinijad's visit to Baghdad, while covertly creating an impression of instability when OUR leaders visit; Iran is not really a regional player who's standing has been enhanced by a series of foreign policy blunders by the Bush administration; and that there is a conspiracy in the mainstream media and in Congress to keep everyone's eye off the ball. Is that what you're claiming?

[mawrm]

If you think peace will come to Iraq without Iran being at the table, you'd be delusional. There's no question that Iran has a strong hand in influencing the situation on the ground in Iraq, particularly now that Iraq has such a weak central government which was not the case during Saddaam's rule. The Shiites in Iraq can easily lean on the government of Iran for assistance whenever they need it and you can bet your last barrel of oil that as soon as the Western powers leave, that's who they'll turn to (that is if it hasn't disintegrated by then). If you look at peace-making efforts in war-torn nations all over the world, the cooperation and assistance of neighboring nations is vital. Look at how Afghanistan depends on/ is influenced by activities in neighboring Pakistan, it's powerful neighbor with allied tribesmen - it will be the same with Iraq and Iran. And like Afghanistan to Pakistan, security in Iraq will depend on whether Iran decides on a hands-off or hands-on approach.

[maria1253]

The plan to stay in IRAQ is already created. Ed Schultz mentioned this on his show today (Secret US plan for military future in Iraq)so I looked it up:
"A confidential draft agreement covering the future of US forces in Iraq, passed to the Guardian, shows that provision is being made for an open-ended military presence in the country."
Here is the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/08/iraq.usa

Yes, it means 100 years of the occupation of IRAQ.

[Lazslo]

Word.

[JonStewart4President]

But the posturing and propagandizing by Petraus and Crocker is jussst fine. Just like it is for all Dubya mouthpieces.

Please. If our Congresspeople, for whatever reason, had done their jobs more thoroughly the first time the Iraq issue came up, we might not be in this mess now. Of course providing as well that media people reported on that and not just the talking points from the Dubya adminstration as facts.

The only ones 'sucking up' anything, continue to be the MSM and for too man it continues to be sucking up to the likes of Dubya in his day and now McCain. Ware and his ilk are the pathetic ones.

[ShockandAutism]

Ware is just the new 'Scud Stud' of the moment. An 'Iraq Hack' so to speak.

He comes off like Robert Downey in Natural Born Killers with his "true gritty reporting of LIFE On The Front Lines!"

Please, this guy's just trying to make a name for himeslf and he squirms too much. Next year you'll find out he was a cokehead or something and all his 'reporting' will be dismissed like Judith Miller.

[browndog2]

What's with the hating? Sorry,he's never filed a false report that i've seen, and has been more in-depth than any other reporter on the MSM. The only westerner to be kidnapped by al Qaeda and live to tell about it deserves some credibility.

[SamThornton]

Afraid Michael didn't add much to the debate this time. Just saying, "Gosh, ain't it awful" and "These people are stupid" isn't that informative. Basically, most of us knew this in advance.

Michael, quit wasting the oxygen.

[RavagesOfTime]

And maybe everyone on HuffPost should just stop posting.

[booker52]

Ya know what I am tired of?? Hearing the BS coming out of both the General's mouth and Crockers. Why isn't the President sitting there instead of thse two?? It's his policy that is in quesion here. He should be the one to answer why we are still in this God forsaken place that he placed in the first placebased on his BS lies. I am with Biden that no matter how or why the General would still have us there ongoing. This war now for whatever reason is no longer our fight. Bring our troops home.

[hydethesalami]

Is Ware okay physically?

[JMorgan]

It looks like dyskinesia.

[TheInsomniac]

Reminded me of Parkinson's.

[hydethesalami]

He's certainly right about the depth of posturing up there although Ware only gave an inkling of what he would have asked if he had a chance.

The donkeys were still using talking points from September as though they were still operative.