Today marks the one year anniversary of the U.S. handover of sovereignty to Iraq. The year had its moments of progress, not the least of which was the strong turnout in late January for the election of the National Assembly, and in some southern cities, people feel safe enough to walk on the streets, nightlife has returned.
But this year will be remembered primarily for its violence. Car bombs continue to wound and kill. Last month there was an average of 70 attacks by insurgents, that’s 70 every day.
In the U.S. people are wondering what’s ahead. President Bush is planning a network speech to bolster public support. He will be talking to people who don’t believe the insurgency is getting any weaker, but also don’t believe its time for U.S. troops to leave. Everyone it seems is trying to figure out what the role of the U.S. should be.
Guests:
Niall Ferguson, Professor of History at Harvard University, author of numerous books and publications including
“Empire: The Rise and Fall of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power,” and most recently, “Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire”
Michael Ware, TIME Magazine Baghdad Bureau Chief
Mark Mazzetti, Pentagon Correspondent for the LA Times.