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Narr 1: From his office on New York's Upper East Side, the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations hears everyday of explosions that rip through markets and end thousands of lives in his country. Hamid Al-Bayati says American troops haven't stopped that violence, and he doesn't expect MORE Americans will change anything.
Act 1: I THINK MILITARY FORCE DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WE HAVE TO SEE A NEW STRATEGY AND A NEW STRATEGY MEANS MORE DIPLOMACY AND LESS ARMY.
Narr 2: And by that he means less American Army - not less Iraqis. As a leader in one of Iraq's main Shia parties, he says he would like to see Iraqis assuming much of the military control within a year.
ACT 2: IRAQIS IN GENERAL ARE VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR COURAGE AND I BELIEVE THE IRAQI ARMY OR POLICE FORCE CAN BE EFFECTIVE IF THEY RECEIVE THE PROPER TRAINING AND ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT.
Narr 3: He says his country depends on the US for that training and equipment, but he doesn't like the Bush Administration's brand of diplomacy in Iraq. Before becoming an ambassador, he served as a senior official in Iraq's foreign ministry. He says the Pentagon's new program to kill or capture Iranian operatives in Iraq will do nothing but antagonize Tehran.
ACT 3: IF WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT TARGETING NEIGHBORS, THEY WOULDN'T STAY STILL WAITING FOR US TO ATTACK THEM. THEY MIGHT ATTACK BEFORE WE ATTACK THEM, WHICH IS GOING TO ESCALATE THE SITUATION IN IRAQ.
ACT 4: I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD THINK THAT WAY. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD BE THAT CANDID.
Narr 4: Stephen Biddle is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign relations. He says al-Bayati's comments represent the beliefs of some Shia leaders. And they could indicate a Shia strategy in the on-going civil war.
ACT 5: THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF OPINION IN THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BASICALLY LIKE THE AMERICANS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY SO THE SHIITES COULD MORE RUTHLESSLY PUT DOWN SUNNIS.
Narr 5: Biddle says that during the next stage of war, the main Shia militias may put away their weapons for a while. By doing this, Biddle says, they would lead the Americans to believe that the violence had dissipated. And the U-S troops would pull out.
ACT 6: BUT AS SOON AS WE'RE GONE, THE AK-47S COME BACK OUT OF THE CLOSET, THE BLACK UNIFORMS GO BACK ON, THE MILITIAS HIT THE STREETS AGAIN AND THE VIOLENCE IS MUCH WORSE THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE BECAUSE NOW THERE ARE MANY FEWER AMERICANS ON THE STREETS TO CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT.
Narr 6: US soldiers began implementing new security measures in Baghdad this week. But the new troops aren't expected for at least a few months. Jennifer Collins, Columbia Radio News.