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"Resistance" Fighters get US-Citizen Voice
EFL - buried at the end of an Operation Sword articleIn another development, former Cabinet member Ayham al-Samarie announced that he has formed the National Council for Unity and Construction of Iraq to give representation to Iraqi fighters. Al-Samarie, a dual Iraq-U.S. citizen, is thought to have strong tribal links throughout the Sunni triangle, where the Sunni branch of the insurgency is concentrated. The announcement on Wednesday marked the most serious effort to date to draw disenfranchised Sunnis into the political process. It followed confirmation from U.S. officials including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that the United States has negotiated with some insurgents. At a news conference in a Baghdad home, al-Samarie said the new political front is representing "resistance" fighters who have not carried out attacks against civilians. Except by demolishing thier electricity and water supplies? Nearly all car bomb and homicide attacks carried out against Iraqis are thought to be the work of Islamic extremist groups such as Al Qaeda in Iraq. But at least one prominent Shiite legislator dismissed al-Samarie's effort. "The general terrorist program is to attack electricity plants, water and oil pipelines, mosques, churches and to target the innocents, police and the army. These are terrorist acts, and cannot be represented as acts of resistance," said the legislator, Saad Jawad Qandil. It's a fine line, Saad... The insurgents al-Samarie represents want U.S. troops to leave Iraq in one to three years the old "timetable" trick! and military campaigns against Iraqi cities and towns to end, al-Samarie said. They won't put down their arms unless all their goals are met, he added. A British newspaper this week reported that al-Samarie brokered two recent meetings between U.S. officials and a group of rebels. Al-Samarie confirmed the talks but wouldn't give details. Al-Samarie was electricity minister in the interim government and comes from Samarra, an insurgent stronghold 60 miles north of Baghdad. Posted by: Bobby 2005-06-30 |
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