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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi insurgency seeking "exit strategy" |
| 2005-03-25 |
| Many of Iraq's predominantly Sunni Arab insurgents would lay down their arms and join the political process in exchange for guarantees of their safety and that of their co-religionists, according to a prominent Sunni politician. Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein, who heads Iraq's main monarchist movement and is in contact with guerrilla leaders, said many insurgents including former officials of the ruling Ba'ath party, army officers, and Islamists have been searching for a way to end their campaign against US troops and Iraqi government forces since the January 30 election. "Firstly, they want to ensure their own security," says Sharif Ali, who last week hosted a pan-Sunni conference attended by tribal sheikhs and other local leaders speaking on behalf of the insurgents. Insurgent leaders fear coming out into the open to talk for fear of being targeted by US military or Iraqi security forces' raids, he said. Sharif Ali distinguishes many Sunni insurgents, whom he says took up arms in reaction to the invasive raids in search of Ba'athist leaders and other "humiliations" soon after the 2003 war, from the radical jihadist branch associated with Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Unlike Mr Zarqawi's followers, who are thought to be responsible for the big suicide bomb attacks on Iraqi civilian targets, the other Sunni insurgents are more likely to plant bombs and carry out ambushes against security forces and US troops active near their homes. Sharif Ali said the success of Iraq's elections dealt the insurgents a demoralising blow, prompting them to consider the need to enter the political process. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #8 This is the usual fight and talk strategy employed by these hard cases since the beginning. If they want to stop fighting, it's not like anyone's going to stop them. Most of them aren't even known to either the Iraqi government or Uncle Sam - otherwise, they'd have been picked up - since contrary to the media's lies, there are no no-go zones for coalition forces. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-26 12:01:12 AM |
| #7 Die where you stand cowards and pussies Yeah, what he said! Maybe getting snuffed by girls is upsetting the world view of the brave jihadis. Exit strategy? We've got an exit strategy for all y'all. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-03-25 7:23:34 PM |
| #6 âFirstly, they want to ensure their own security,â Please don't kill me. Insurgent leaders fear coming out into the open to talk for fear of being targeted by US military or Iraqi security forcesâ raids, he said. Really! I said please don't kill me. Sharif Ali said the success of Iraqâs elections dealt the insurgents a demoralising blow, prompting them to consider the need to enter the political process. Ima tell Kofi if you keep killing me. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-03-25 5:14:53 PM |
| #5 But wait!! I thought Bush was supposed to have an exit strategy |
| Posted by: Hillary 2005-03-25 3:57:52 PM |
| #4 exit strategy? Lions of Islam� Killer of innocents and Americans? NFW. Die where you stand cowards and pussies |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-25 3:38:19 PM |
| #3 Seems to me that these types looking for protection are simply looking for a simple way out, without having to answer for their past actions. The pisser is that some will weasel out of having to pay the piper and some won't; how many will is anyone's guess. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-25 3:21:04 PM |
| #2 It's a quagmire, I tell ya! |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-03-25 3:13:44 PM |
| #1 I love the headline. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-03-25 2:24:16 PM |