U.S. trying to establish contact with insurgents to get them to surrender

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/159/world/U_S_trying_to_establish_contac:.shtml

U.S. trying to establish contact with insurgents to get them to lay down their arms

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) The United States has no plans to stop killing Iraqi militants, but insurgents willing to swap guns for politics would be welcomed into the the political process.

That's a bargain the Americans are trying to strike in talks with Sunni Arab leaders, who are passing the word along to members of the violent insurgency, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

''I don't think the people we are sitting in the room with are directly operational, but they have relationships with them sometimes through family ties, sometimes through previous associations with the previous regime,'' the official told reporters at a Baghdad briefing.

''In order to achieve stability and end to the insurgency and stop Iraqis from being killed in large numbers, the insurgency has to be addressed,'' he said on condition of anonymity.

[Teaser]

1. It was about time

for this story to be floated again. Every month like clockwork.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Next week its will be the Taliban again. Its their turn next n/t

[bemildred]

3. Are these people as stupid as they sound?

"In order to achieve stability and end to the insurgency and stop Iraqis from being killed in large numbers, the insurgency has to be addressed"

[TexasLawyer]

4. And I am sure that the U.S. can, by example, show the Sunnis

(around 35-40% of the Iraq population) that even though Sunnis are in the minority their political interests WILL be represented in their government.

But wait, sorry, the U.S. can't be much of an example after all. We've got G.W. spending massive political capital after his resounding mandate (49% of U.S. voters who went for the other guy be damned), weakened judicial protections of minority interests, majority rule determining school prayer, Rethugs trying to end the ability of the minority party to filibuster, ...

Yikes. Sunnis, be warned. Tyranny of the majority is very real. The U.S. is living proof of this.

[ECH1969]

5. Iraq: U.S. Said To Be Holding Talks with Sunni Guerrillas

Amman, 9 June (AKI) - The United States has been holding secret talks with several members of the Sunni guerrilla movement in Iraq, according to the French newspaper Le Figaro, citing sources close to the negotiations. In the last few months, the Americans are reported to have held at least three meetings in the Jordanian capital Amman, with a ex-general from Saddam Hussein's former army, a member of the Baathist party and an academic from Baghdad who is part of the guerrilla movement.

The last meeting with the Sunni representatives is said to have been held at the end of April, in which the guerrilla members put forward a series of demands in exchange for an end to the violence. These include: a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, approved by the United Nations; the release of certain prisoners, including the leaders of the former Baathist party; reintegration into the ranks of the Iraqi army of members of Saddam Hussein's security forces; and the active participation of the Baathists in the political life of the country. The Sunnis also insisted on the need to recruit the new security forces at a local level: "The Sunnis want to maintain control of the situation in their areas of influence," the western diplomat explained to Le Figaro.

An Iraqi source close to the talks said the Sunnis have asked for "guarantees" on the establishing of a "heavily centralised" government system. This request, the source says, is one the US seems willing to accommodate. For their part, the Sunnis are reported to have said they are prepared to accept the presence of American oil companies in Iraq. However, these appear to be the only points of agreement so far, Le Figaro says.

Despite these meetings, Le Figaro warns, the level of distrust between the Americans and Sunnis "remains high". Sources say Washington harbours strong doubts over how representative the group of Sunnis that agreed to the talks in Jordan really is. The Iraqi source maintains, however, that "most of the guerrilla factions" have been represented during the meetings with US officials, with the exception of the most extremist fringes, like the supporters of the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the linked Ansar al-Sunna group.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.175582532&par=

[Coexist]

6. Very interesting...

[Teaser]

7. Doesn't sound particularly promising

Since a huge chunk of the demands of these people (again, assuming they exist) are incompatible with the goals of the Shi'ah ruling class.

Personally, I believe this is bogus. Why? Because the stories are all leaking out now when the insurgency appears to be waxing again. It is most likely a pressure tactic based on the participation of a handful of insurgents in some talks with the US. The hopes being, of course, that reports of talks will pressure other insurgent groups into talks as well. That is the MO of this administration: talk as if something is happening, and hope that it creates momentum for that very thing to happen.

[acmavm]

9. I think the bush** admin is so desperate that they'll talk to anyone and

everyone and promise them all the moon and the stars, all the time hoping when it's time to make good on their promises they can pull a rabbit out of their hats and get out of having to keep their word.

Isn't that what they've done to the entire world? Why in the hell would this be any different? Especially since the whole escapade is starting to stink to high heaven even with believers.

[Spazito]

8. But....but...but... bush said the Iraqis were in charge of their country!

I am sure it is just a misprint that the US is doing the 'talking' otherwise it seems the Iraqi puppet government isn't even capable of pretending to govern.

[ernstbass]

10. Maybe the US can write their message in the sky

like the wicked witch did to Dorothy in wizard of Oz . . .surrender insurgents!!

[0007]

11. I thought the U.S. had a policy where they don't negotiate with terrorist?

Yawn, so much for that double talk, 'eh?

The U.S. didn't want to talk to the Taliban when they ask for proof that Osama bin Laden did the 911 thingy. They didn't want to talk to Saddam Hussian when he said he didn't have WMD. Now they fucking want to negotiate! What gives?