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Iraq
Iraq president says deal with some rebels possible
2006-05-01
BAGHDAD - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Sunday he had met insurgents and a deal to end violence could be reached with some groups. “I believe that a deal could be reached with seven armed groups that visited me,” Talabani said in a statement released by his office.

The statement said U.S. officials took part in the discussions. The wording of the statement indicated that Talabani was referring to Sunni Arab insurgents. “There are other groups, excluding the Saddamists and Zarqawi types, who are involved in military operations to remove the occupiers and these are the ones who we are seeking to hold a dialogue with and to include them in the political processs.”
Get that deal done and we're just about finished with this phase of Iraq.
A U.S. embassy spokeswoman said the U.S. position has always been to try to persuade insurgents to join the political process who are not associated with Saddam Hussein or Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda leader in Iraq. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last year that U.S. officials had long had contact with people claiming to represent Sunni Arab insurgent groups.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  "The wording of the statement indicated that Talabani was referring to Sunni Arab insurgentsÂ…"

You knowÂ…rebelsÂ…some groupsÂ…armed groupsÂ…Sunni Arab insurgentsÂ…other groupsÂ…insurgentsÂ…excluding the Saddamists and Zarqawi types. Got itÂ…good!
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-05-01 17:01  

#1  "Get that deal done and we're just about finished with this phase of Iraq"

IIUC, there are like a half dozen different groups, other than the AQniks. If the Iraqi govt is going to be tough in negotiations, as they should be, I very much doubt they'll get a deal with all of them immediately. A deal with one or two of the saner ones would make things easier, and MIGHT be a tipping point, but Id be reluctant to use language that might be interpretated as "death throes" (And yes, I realize "end of this phase" doesnt necessarily mean that)
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2006-05-01 10:07  

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