Article

2005-02-20 Iraq-Jordan

TIME: Talking with the Enemy (Secret US/Insurgent Talks)

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Posted by (=Cobra=) 2005-02-20 11:23|| || Front Page|| [11138 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I have severe and deep reservations about the source, but there is a smidgen here for the grist mill.

If true...
1) Only one of the factions is represented - and may not have "authority" to actually broker a deal.
2) There is the obvious problem with such people keeping agreements.

1 + 2 = ~0

Negotiation only works when binding. How is anything binding on anti-everything groups who have no compunction against terror? They have been primarily killing Iraqis for the last year or so, after all, not exactly the actions of someone worthy to be called a partner in negotiations.

I will believe there is something to this when there is visible evidence - actions, not words - of their ability to control themselves and assist in stopping the other factions from perpetrating violence.

Otherwise, the binding condition that can be relied upon is their deaths.

Posted by .com 2005-02-20 12:04:51 PM|| 2005-02-20 12:04:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 This seems like a good sign but these Sunnis are pretty dumb. They must not understand what an election is or that U. S. is going to have a hard time doing anything the elected government doesn't like.

When these guys can find a Gerry Adams to raise money for terrorists in Dearborn, then they can be Sein Fein. Till then, they're outlaws who should be hunted down till they give up.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-02-20 12:10:06 PM|| 2005-02-20 12:10:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Excellent point, Mrs D. Had this happened about 18 months ago, then there would be something to negotiate with the Mil Cmd. Now, total surrender of violence and peaceful participation in civil processes - or death. They could choose temporary exile in Syria... but Ba'athism is about to die out, literally, so it would, indeed, be temporary.

Posted by .com 2005-02-20 12:15:28 PM|| 2005-02-20 12:15:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I suspect that this is an effort to "bring home" Baathist officers, and could be compared to how SS and Werhmacht officers were treated at the end of WWII. At first, entire W units were just recommissioned on the spot as Bundeswehr, and told to discard all but rank insignia ("Attention. Turn East!" (they dug it)); however SS officers were executed on the spot. Later, after examination, W officers were often retained with their units, and SS officers were either arrested for membership in the General SS, or released to civilian life, had they been in "no-wants-no-warrants" Waffen SS units. (At least one WSS battalion was converted entirely to French Foreign Legion and shipped off to Indochina. They did well there, fighting communists again.) Those that fled to mostly South America ceased to be an issue, despite fears that they would try to reactivate the dritte Reich.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-02-20 1:48:29 PM|| 2005-02-20 1:48:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 fuck 'em ... kill 'em all and hang 'em up outside for all to see. Screw their bullshit demands. Do you hear me baathists and other assorted assholes. Fuck you!!!!!!!

Posted by legolas 2005-02-20 2:10:17 PM|| 2005-02-20 2:10:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Further evidence of the success of the election. Given a chance to save a little face the Iraqi insurgents may call it quits and hang their foreign insurgent brothers out to dry. Best case scenario I guess. Worst case is more of the same of what we have now. Can't hurt to talk - it will make the rest of the insurgents a little uneasy worrying about who is jumping ship on them next.

Posted by JP 2005-02-20 10:26:38 PM|| 2005-02-20 10:26:38 PM|| Front Page Top

00:05 Jame Retief
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