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| Iraq |
| Petraeus backs Iraqi govt talks with Sadr |
| 2008-05-02 |
| LONDON - General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq, on Thursday reaffirmed his concern about Iran's role in unrest in Iraq after a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Petraeus also gave his his backing to Baghdad's efforts to broker a deal with radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Speaking after an hour-long meeting with Brown, Petraeus said there was widespread concern about Iranian backing for attacks against the coalition in Iraq, despite the Islamic republic's denials. But he said the Shia-led Iraqi government "has very rightly" sent a delegation to try to end clashes between coalition troops and fighters loyal to Sadr who have been "armed, trained and equipped" by Iran. Petraeus said: "The important focus has to be on the way ahead and Iran truly wanting its neighbour to the west... a fellow Shia-led government, to succeed, so there can be a constructive relationship." He added: "I think it's very important to recognise that the Sadr trend, as a political movement, has every reason to be engaged in the political spectrum, in the political arena, in Iraq. It represents an important constituency in the citzenry of Iraq. "But clearly it cannot have a militia that cloaks itself in the name of this respected martyr who gave the name to the movement and carried out what are very, very lethal activities and have been very harmful to the Iraqi public." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Petraeus isn't an idiot - it's called Politics of the Souk. (that's a new word for you to learn) |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-05-02 13:46 |
| #1 Some hudna and taqqiyah for thee? |
| Posted by: Angavins Scourge of the Munchkins9583 2008-05-02 11:06 |