Oct. 3, 2010

Iraq: Unfinished Business

Lesley Stahl On The Many Possible Sources of Conflict That Could Erupt Once The U.S. Withdraws Completely

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  • Play CBS Video Video Iraq: Unfinished Business

    Lesley Stahl goes to Iraq to report on the many possible sources of conflict that could erupt once the U.S. completely withdraws from the country by the end of 2011.

  • Video Extra: Al Qaeda And Iraq

    Gen. Ray Odierno talks to Lesley Stahl about Al Qaeda's attempts to try to stay relevant in Iraq.

  • Video Moving Day: Getting Out of Iraq

    We all know moving isn't easy. Try moving roughly two million items, ranging from ammunition to office chairs, over desert sands in 130 degree heat while the enemy is shooting at you. "60 Minutes Overtime" unpacks the story of the U.S. Army's massive logistical draw down in Iraq.

  • Lesley Stahl and Gen. Ray Odierno, flying over _disputed_ areas of Iraq.

    Lesley Stahl and Gen. Ray Odierno, flying over "disputed" areas of Iraq.  (CBS)

(CBS)  When Stahl asked Barham Salih, the Kurdish prime minister, about this he seemed reluctant to admit the sales. "Look, what is happening, fuel oil products from refineries are being sold to Iran and are being sold - not to Iran actually: it's going through Iran to the Gulf and sometimes to Turkey," he said.

"But also to Iran," Stahl remarked.

"Iran, Iran could be buying. That's why I'm not saying no. I want to assure you we value our friendship and our alliance with the United States and we don't want to be on the wrong side of the United States," Salih said.

"But we saw the trucks going in," Stahl pointed out.

"No, I know you saw it," Salih acknowledged.

"And you admit they're going in," Stahl remarked. "You know American people don't know this. They're going to be shocked. They are."

"Listen we live here," Salih said. "To think that somehow we can build a wall between Iraq and Iran is just not on. This is a reality of this part of the world."

And that raises another issue left hanging: the growing influence of Iran in the region since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Salih acknowledged Iran has influence in the region, telling Stahl, "Iran is powerful and has influence in Iraq as well. I'm not saying no. Absolutely."

Given Iran's new-found strategic power in the Middle East, and its influence on Shiite politicians in Iraq, Stahl asked Odierno whether Iran could end up the big beneficiary of the U.S. invasion.

"It's yet to be determined. It is yet to be determined," Odierno said.

"But how unbelievable, if you really think about it, that we came in here. We overthrew Saddam Hussein. And Iran, you don't even know if they're going to end up being more influential than we are. That's a wow," Stahl said.

"Here's my assessment: if you look at all the polls that are conducted, 80 percent of Iraqis reject Iranian influence inside of Iraq," the general said. "They're trying to influence it. They're spending hundreds of millions of dollars here. And I'm not so sure they're getting what they want yet."

Last month, in a ceremony at one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, Odierno handed over command to a new general. And after more than four years in Iraq, he returned home to the United States.

"I want to ask you a personal question, about leaving now, when all of these things are so unsettled. And your - it was your mission, and you have to leave in the middle of it. What's going on inside?" Stahl asked.

"I certainly wish things were cleaned up a little bit more. What I can say is every day I got up, every day I looked in the mirror and I know that I did everything I could myself to lead and to do the best I can to work the issues here. And I feel very comfortable with that," Odierno said.

Asked if it was worth it, the general said, "I think we have to wait and see. I think the fact that we overthrew a terrible dictator was pretty significant. And so, I mean, I think, you know, it depends. "



Produced by Richard Bonin
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Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by cbsblogger October 4, 2010 7:54 PM EDT
I don't think for a moment that Israel and their neocon shills in the Bush administration had any part in involving the USA in Iraq.
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by jellolion October 5, 2010 12:57 AM EDT
it is with a sense of dread and great foreboding that I take your bait. I cant help myself. I see the worm, and I can see that big hook in there plain as day.OK, lets have it. Who put the US into Iraq? The Bilderbergers? The Rothchilds? The Masons? The Jews? Oh wait. ****. You already said it wasnt israel. Who could it be?? Go ahead. Sicken me.
by MIO42 October 4, 2010 4:50 PM EDT
But I think they really want it Democracy?????????????? Just like Athens wanted Democracy what they have now is "a Boullibaise of selfishness " There tribal Dammit just like wild dogs and OUR Pack is bittin at their Heels!!!!
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by jellolion October 5, 2010 6:51 AM EDT
good point
by mikelpond October 4, 2010 4:00 PM EDT
"many possible sources of conflict"? Like their long post-poned civil war maybe? geesh, people, we need to wise up and GTF out of Iraq! There was never any reason to be there in the first place. If they want a blood bath, they're going to have one no matter how long we delay it.
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by slatep October 4, 2010 2:10 PM EDT
I hate to say it, but the Iraquis will have no on to blame but themselves for whatever happens after US troops pull out. For starters, the Iraqis asked the US to withdraw its troops. Their inability to form a stable government is a result of being unable to bring the warring religious factions together. 5,000+ American lives plus billions of dollars are more than enough contributed to them to help stabilize their crisis. There were two reasons we went to war there; WMD's and to rid the country of Saddam Hussein. The US should have started pulling our troops out of there the day after Hussein was captured. I don't understands why the US feels it is our duty to solve the problems of the world. The US is in the middle of one of the worst crisis' in American history.I think the government need to clean its own closet and stabilize the US before taking on the problems of other Nations. We are currently trillions of dollars in debt because of our own corrupt government and thieves from Wall Street and American Bankers. China (technically) owns almost one-half of the US as a result of the US continually borrowing money from other Countries. $80 billion dollars were sent to Greece to keep their government from collapsing. I think funds and supplies sent to other Countries when they experience natural disasters is the right thing to do, however the US has enough starving, homeless and downtrodden people right here in the US that should be taken care of first.!!
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by jellolion October 5, 2010 7:07 AM EDT
nobody to blame but themselves? They can cast a little blame toward the US. For they had an island of western secular society, with equal rights for women and religious fundamentalism kept in check. Their society has been blown backwards a few hundred years, with a rule by fanatics, depending on how big and how many guns they have. Al Queda now has a permanent home in Iraq. An entire generation lost The middle east is a much more dangerous place now. All for what? The WMD lie? Surely you jest. Yeah,right, we should have began pulling our troops out the moment after we blew their society to bits. I dont understand why we feel obligated to "solve" the problems we create.
by bundye October 4, 2010 12:56 PM EDT
Lesley Stahl is so not compassionate in her interviews...I would not want her to talk to me!!!!!
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by Ms_enza October 4, 2010 12:34 PM EDT
Peace with honor.
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by Ms_enza October 4, 2010 12:34 PM EDT
Iraq: Unfinished Business. "To the rear, 'harch! Double Time!" France: Vietnam, Algeria... US: Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq...
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by Notosocialism October 4, 2010 12:24 PM EDT
The "Bush lied" line used by the left is just so much hatred of Bush with no facts. It is so easy to look back and blame and villify, but even today it is mostly about scoring political points.
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by daffy64 October 4, 2010 1:56 PM EDT
Huh? If Bush wasn't to "blame" for the invasion of Iraq, who was? WMD's anyone?
by knowerseeker October 4, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
I remember how ticked Colin Powell was with the rest of the Bush admin when he found out his persuasive speeches were based on lies.
by Notosocialism October 4, 2010 12:18 PM EDT
Although its easy to look back and say the Iraq war was a mistake, we really do not know what would have happened had we not gone to war. It was a very fearful time and the war would not have happened without huge public support and support from democrats, as well as support from the world. All intelligence thought Saddam had weapons. The left has been very successful at villifying George Bush, but much of the criticism is very very unfair. War is rarely popular, but we really will never know if it was a mistake or not because we don't know what would have happened had we not gone to wary
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by robe59 October 4, 2010 3:57 PM EDT
All the criticism of GB is fair. We are guilty of a war of aggression, for which our nation will suffer. $$$$$$ were behind everything pres. cheney and his lackey ever did. Saddam Hussein was going to shift Iraq to the Euro, and we couldn't have THAT now, could we?
by Rajah88 October 4, 2010 11:22 AM EDT
Unfinished Business? War is not just a business. WAR IS A RACKET and THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL MAFIA has not finished robbing you of money and the lives of your sons and daughters.
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