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Iraq
Iraq Delays Major Offensive Amid Rebel Contacts
2005-11-28
Iraq said yesterday it has delayed a major anti-insurgent offensive ahead of December elections, as President Jalal Talabani confirmed he had been contacted by rebels wanting to join the political process. The announcement came as the leader of the country’s most powerful political party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), criticized US forces for preventing Iraqi troops tackling the insurgency head-on amid allegations of a return to Saddam-era abuses. Interior Minister Bayan Baker Solagh, also a SCIRI member, announced the suspension of the large-scale offensive against “hotbeds of terrorism” following an appeal by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. “President Talabani got in touch with me after receiving a call from Moussa, and asked me to call off this operation to ensure the success of the national reconciliation conference” in February, Solagh told reporters.

Meanwhile, Talabani confirmed he had received calls from people claiming to be linked to the insurgency, saying they were ready to engage in political talks. “We salute all those who want to engage in dialogue,” he said.
Posted by:Fred

#12  "The strong need not negotiate at all." Dialogue of the Athenians and the Melians

The Athenians lost that war, the Peloponnesian one. Perhaps exactly because of the arrogance exemplified by the phrase above.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2005-11-28 23:56  

#11  Let 'em talk while you're bombing the crap out of 'em. It's called incentive...
Posted by: mojo   2005-11-28 16:07  

#10  1. Ultimately the efficient way to beat an insurgency IS to cut a deal with part of it, and thus reduce its size. Certainly negotiating with some pro-insurgent Sunnis is inevitable

2. That said, calling off an offensive for the sake of somebody who may not be able to deliver on his end, is foolish. OTOH I presume the Iraqi govt has a better idea of who can deliver than I do

3. That said, even if theyre talking to someone who CAN deliver, doesnt mean they will. Giving up something of value - a major offensive - you may be played for a fool.

4. On the other hand they only say delay - they can implement it again if they dont get something serious back

5. It could all be bluff on the govts part - maybe they werent really set to this offensive anyway.

6. If they really are calling off an offensive its not just Talabani - its presumably Jaafari and the Defense Minister as well. And the Americans too - or are the Iraqis now organizing their own offensives without coalition input?(John Warner, call your office)
Posted by: liberalhawk   2005-11-28 14:44  

#9  The terrorist have been taking a huge beating latley their leadership has been ransacked recentley. Unless these ones willing to negotiate are prepared to publicly drop some dimes on the AQ branch of thier wing as a show of good faith, I would say stopping the pressure would be stupid. What got the terrorist talking to begin with is the grinding offensive mixed with the arrival of capable large Iraqi units able to hold the newly taken ground. We should continue the offensive until the agreement is reached and we get some good faith measures in return otherwise the screws keep going in tighter. I think the politcal pressure back home mixed with Bush's inability to put a case to the american public in common terms is what is leading to this. A halt of the negotiations is a mix of delaying tactic for terrorist to reconstitute and Talabani and other Iraqi leadership playing a political PR game for votes. I hope it works out in the end but I have sereous doubts give it 2/10 odds of success.
Posted by: C-Low   2005-11-28 13:57  

#8  Probably most of the Sunnis who want to negotiate are just stalling for time; however, a few of them will come over and maybe bring some hot intel with them. Splitting off a few Sunnis from the terror front would be a big plus.
Posted by: mhw   2005-11-28 09:41  

#7  President Jalal Talabani confirmed he had been contacted by rebels wanting to join the political process.

When it begins to impact offensive operations where our troops are involved, I suspect we should closely monitor the communiques between the el presidente and the opposition.
Posted by: Besoeker   2005-11-28 09:20  

#6  " The strong need not negotiate at all."

Dialogue of the Athenians and the Melians

Thucydides
Posted by: doc   2005-11-28 07:29  

#5  Call me suspect -- something about Talabani, and wanting Kurd state -- he has made some statements that sometimes, I just do "feel" he is on our side.
Posted by: Sherry   2005-11-28 02:20  

#4  Sounds like the recent olive branch approach to the Sunnis. I am sure the resistance, for the most part are tired of fighting.
Posted by: RG   2005-11-28 02:05  

#3  Coming from Talabani, it's probably the Bad Guys just playing him for the fool he apparently is. Hey, if they all hug, kiss, and make up, great. I've got $50 that sez nothing of substance will come of this - just a delaying tactic now that the timetable bullshit has gained traction. Not all of the assholes are as stupid and self-defeating as Zarqi. This is the Ba'athist types and their foreign Sunni allies, such as the Arab League, playing the long-term game. Can you say hudna?

No more nation-building BS for Arabs or Muzzies of any stripe. The good ones, the few who are capable of learning and progressing, such as the Kurds, can do it all by themselves if there' no one trying to annihilate them. The others won't get it until they realize there's no other option left or they're all dead, whichever comes first.
Posted by: .com   2005-11-28 02:04  

#2  Politics of the souk. Not necessarily a bad thing. The more that's taken out of action, the better.
Posted by: Pappy   2005-11-28 01:12  

#1  It may be more of the same Islamist lies, but for Iraq's sake I hope not. They need another viable force to counter the Iran-backed faction of Shia, which is way too powerful.
Posted by: Glenmore   2005-11-28 00:52  

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