Afghanistan calling

Michael was on American Morning to discuss the budget/troop issues for Iraq and Afghanistan, and said that it looks like he may be heading to Afghanistan soon.

AC360 reports

Michael’s report on Mexico will be airing shortly. He will also be discussing the budget cuts as far as Iraq is concerned.

(SO glad to see that he’s back in New York…!)

Mexico

Michael is in Mexico, for reasons that God alone can explain. I am more frightened of the drug cartels there than I ever have been of al Qaeda…

His report for International is here.

GPS: Iraqi Elections

On GPS this week, Fareed sits down with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Salih, as well as CNN’s Michael Ware and Fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk to discuss this week’s provincial elections in Iraq and what it means for the troubled nation’s struggle with democracy.

This was a very good 10-minute interview for anyone who hasn’t been paying close attention to Iraq of late, although for those of us who have been, I think we could have guessed how it would play out — the Deputy PM hitting the party line, the former Ambassador seeing great hope that they have even gotten this far, and Michael cautiously optimistic but wary of the deep undercurrents that are still swirling on the streets.

I’ve always thought that it has to be a little tricky to conduct a four-way interview with two people in the same room and two in other locations, and Fareed had an additional challenge because the guy sitting next to him is extremely intense, whereas the two remote participants are a career diplomat and a current high-ranking politico. At one point you can see Fareed fighting a smile as he listens to Michael … and boy, would I love to see the unedited footage! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Michael keep his hands folded as much as he did in this one — I suspect that is his way of keeping a tight leash on what he really wants to say!