CNN Interview

I was on CNN's "Situation Room" program this evening. I'll post the clip ASAP. Look for the clip to be replayed on different segments over the next few days.

Here is the clip:


Here is a transcript from the clip:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0908/20/sitroom.02.html
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, U.S. troops could be on the move. And just today, the Iraqi prime minister ordered more checkpoints, random searches and tougher vehicle searches -- all to improve security there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: (voice-over): The families of Baghdad's bombing victims came to collect their remains Thursday after the deadliest day of coordinated attacks all year. Now, Iraqis are blaming their own.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We warned the security forces not to be lax, but those troops didn't carry out their duties.

LAWRENCE: The American commander in charge of training those Iraqi forces admitted... LT. GEN. FRANK HELMICK, U.S. ARMY: Clearly, there was a lapse of security.

LAWRENCE: The bombs killed nearly 100 people and came less than two months after U.S. troops left Iraq's cities. The Americans are only minutes away, but must wait until Iraqis ask for help, which may not come until well after.

HELMICK: They did request some intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. In fact, we provided that. They've also requested some medical assistance, which we provided, as well.

LAWRENCE: Some blame Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki for pushing the Americans out too soon.

WESLEY GRAY, FORMER ADVISER TO IRAQI ARMY: He's telling the Iraqi people, hey, I'm the guy that freed you from the bonds of American occupation.

LAWRENCE: Wesley Gray is a former Marine officer who spent more than 200 days living with and mentoring Iraqi forces. He says they can do basic patrols and combat missions, but could fracture if religious tensions rise. Gray says Al-Maliki's strategy gives the opposition good reason to make his security forces look ineffective.

GRAY: The disenfranchised Sunni groups have huge incentives to -- to force him to have to go crawling back to the Americans, because then they can say, hey, look, this guy is weak. He couldn't do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)