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| Iraq |
| Hudna in Iraq? |
| 2007-05-31 |
| U.S. military commanders are talking with Iraqi militants about cease- fires and other arrangements to try to stop the violence, the No. 2 American commander said Thursday. Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said he has authorized commanders to reach out to militants, tribes, religious leaders and others in the country that has been gripped by violence from a range of fronts including insurgents, sectarian rivals and common criminals. "We are talking about cease-fires, and maybe signing some things that say they won't conduct operations against the government of Iraq or against coalition forces.," Odierno told Pentagon reporters in a video conference from Baghdad. Odierno said the effort goes hand in hand with reconciliation efforts by the Iraqi government. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other leaders are under increasing pressure from Washington to do more to achieve reconciliation among factions because, officials argue, no amount of military force can bring peace to the country without political peace. Al-Maliki announced a national reconciliation proposal nearly a year ago that has made limited progress. It offered some amnesty to members of the Sunni-led insurgency and a change in a law that had removed senior members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from their jobs. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 It makes a great deal of sense for the bad guys. Lay low for a year. Most of the Americans go home. Iranian money and weapons continue to pour in. When the coup comes it's all over before anyone knows what's hit them. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2007-05-31 20:08 |
| #1 "We are talking about cease-fires, and maybe signing some things that say they won't conduct operations against the government of Iraq or against coalition forces." "signing some things"? Sounds a little casual. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-05-31 15:49 |