Monday, June 04, 2007
U.S. open to granting amnesty to former Al Qaeda insurgents
Security, Politics
(AFP) - Washington's ambassador to Iraq hinted Sunday that the United States was open to granting amnesty to former Al-Qaeda insurgents who fought against it in the blood-soaked country. "As part of a political reconciliation process, amnesty can be very important," Ambassador Ryan Crocker told Fox News television, speaking from Baghdad.
"It can also be important in this particular context as we seek to draw as many elements as we can away from the fight ... against us and into the fight against a common enemy, Al-Qaeda. "In terms of individual cases involving people who have American blood on their hands, that is something we have to consider very carefully."
The number two head of US forces in Iraq, Raymond Odierno, said on Thursday that the US was discussing cease-fires with some Iraqi insurgent groups in an effort to reduce attacks on US and Iraqi government forces.
May was the third most deadly month for US forces in Iraq since they led the invasion in 2003 that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Scores of civilians have been dying each week in insurgent attacks.
The man who led coalition forces in Iraq during the first year of the occupation, the retired Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, said recently that the United States could forget about winning the war in Iraq, and could hope only to "stave off defeat." Sanchez was the highest-ranking former military leader yet to suggest the Bush administration fell short in Iraq.
"It can also be important in this particular context as we seek to draw as many elements as we can away from the fight ... against us and into the fight against a common enemy, Al-Qaeda. "In terms of individual cases involving people who have American blood on their hands, that is something we have to consider very carefully."
The number two head of US forces in Iraq, Raymond Odierno, said on Thursday that the US was discussing cease-fires with some Iraqi insurgent groups in an effort to reduce attacks on US and Iraqi government forces.
May was the third most deadly month for US forces in Iraq since they led the invasion in 2003 that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Scores of civilians have been dying each week in insurgent attacks.
The man who led coalition forces in Iraq during the first year of the occupation, the retired Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, said recently that the United States could forget about winning the war in Iraq, and could hope only to "stave off defeat." Sanchez was the highest-ranking former military leader yet to suggest the Bush administration fell short in Iraq.
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani meanwhile Sunday confirmed the Iraqi government was negotiating with "national resistance" members to whom he was prepared to give amnesty. "Then only al-Qaeda will remain as the main criminal terrorist group and it will be easy to eradicate it," he told ABC news.
"People are ready now to fight against -- to cooperate, against terrorism, and to cooperate with Iraqi armed forces ... when this Iraqi so-called national resistance movement will be convinced to come to the political process, the task of eradicating Al-Qaeda terrorist group will be easier." Talabani expressed optimism about Muqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iraqi Shiite cleric and head of the Mahdi Army, Iraq's biggest militia, accused of carrying out sectarian attacks against Sunnis.
Sadr's movement "announced that they will ... support political process, very peaceful, and he asked his followers not to fight against Iraqi soldiers," Talabani said, though he warned that Sadr had "lost control of some of his militia." He also insisted Iraq's government had made "good steps forward for national reconciliation," including resistance fighters who were joining the political process.
He said he expected that the Iraq army would be ready to defend the country by the end of 2008, but that US forces would continue to have "a long-term presence" there.
Crocker also stressed that progress would take time.
"People are ready now to fight against -- to cooperate, against terrorism, and to cooperate with Iraqi armed forces ... when this Iraqi so-called national resistance movement will be convinced to come to the political process, the task of eradicating Al-Qaeda terrorist group will be easier." Talabani expressed optimism about Muqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iraqi Shiite cleric and head of the Mahdi Army, Iraq's biggest militia, accused of carrying out sectarian attacks against Sunnis.
Sadr's movement "announced that they will ... support political process, very peaceful, and he asked his followers not to fight against Iraqi soldiers," Talabani said, though he warned that Sadr had "lost control of some of his militia." He also insisted Iraq's government had made "good steps forward for national reconciliation," including resistance fighters who were joining the political process.
He said he expected that the Iraq army would be ready to defend the country by the end of 2008, but that US forces would continue to have "a long-term presence" there.
Crocker also stressed that progress would take time.
Labels: amnesty, cease-fire, insurgents, Jalal Talabani, Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, Ryan Crocker, U.S.
Friday, June 01, 2007
U.S. Commander believes 80 per cent of enemy combatants are reconcilable
Security, Politics
(AP) -- The U.S. military is working more aggressively to forge cease-fires with Iraqi militants and quell the violence around Baghdad, judging that 80 percent of enemy combatants are "reconcilable," a top U.S. commander said Thursday. However, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno also warned that he may not be able to make a full assessment of the situation in Iraq by September, as demanded by lawmakers.
Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, told Pentagon reporters by video conference that he is pressing his military officers to reach out to the tribes, to some small insurgent groups and to religious and political leaders to push them to stop the violence.
"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 said from Camp Victory in Baghdad. "We believe a large majority of groups within Iraq are reconcilable and are now interested in engaging with us. But more importantly, they want to engage and become a part of the government of Iraq."
Stemming the violence in and around the capital city is key to giving the Iraqi government time to stabilize and move toward reconciliation with the warring sectarian factions. That would then allow the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops.
Odierno said he believes that about 80 percent of the enemy fighters, including key Sunni insurgent groups and Shiite militia, could be brought into the political process. The remainder, he said, are largely al-Qaida operatives who will have to captured or killed.
He cautioned that the process will be slow. And he repeatedly warned that he may need more time to determine if the military buildup ordered by President Bush earlier this year has begun to work.
Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, told Pentagon reporters by video conference that he is pressing his military officers to reach out to the tribes, to some small insurgent groups and to religious and political leaders to push them to stop the violence.
"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 said from Camp Victory in Baghdad. "We believe a large majority of groups within Iraq are reconcilable and are now interested in engaging with us. But more importantly, they want to engage and become a part of the government of Iraq."
Stemming the violence in and around the capital city is key to giving the Iraqi government time to stabilize and move toward reconciliation with the warring sectarian factions. That would then allow the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops.
Odierno said he believes that about 80 percent of the enemy fighters, including key Sunni insurgent groups and Shiite militia, could be brought into the political process. The remainder, he said, are largely al-Qaida operatives who will have to captured or killed.
He cautioned that the process will be slow. And he repeatedly warned that he may need more time to determine if the military buildup ordered by President Bush earlier this year has begun to work.
Labels: cease-fire, Iraqi militants, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, politics, security
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
British General Negotiated With Armed Iraqi Groups
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 28 MAY - Yesterday, the Sunday Telegraph Newspaper revealed that a British General is leading negotiations with armed groups in order to reach an agreement that the armed groups will put down their weapons in exchange for senior positions in the Iraqi security forces. The newspaper also said, “General “Graham Lamb” met with armed group leaders in the Green Zone in Baghdad to encourage these groups fight the extremist foreign fighters of Al Qaida, who use bloody tactics against Iraqis.
General Lamb is a former British Special Forces officer and represents the Iraqi government and MNF during these negotiations. He is also conducting negotiations with moderate militia which created death squads in response to the sectarian attacks of Al Qaida. A successful agreement will be very important in order for the US security plan to succeed in Baghdad. US General Davis Petraeus, the MNF Commander in Iraq, selected General Lamb himself to negotiate with the armed groups and moderate militia because General Lamb is more neutral than other US officers and also because the British forces do not have a large presence in Baghdad.”
An American forces senior advisor involved in the new security plan said, “These negotiations are unofficial and they are being held in the Green Zone in Baghdad. General Lamb, armed Sunni groups, and Iraqi tribal sheikhs who support the current resistance are attending these negotiations. The British General as a mediator between Iraqi officials and the leaders of Sunni armed groups, who are starting to believe in the reality of Shiites controlling the government.”
The newspaper added, “During the negotiations the armed groups, the armed groups have offered that in exchange for senior security forces positions they will declare a cease fire. They are also demanding amnesty for their members already in prison except for those involved in beheadings or killing large groups of civilians, canceling the DeBaathification Law, and pensions for those have been forced out of governmental, military, and security positions.”
An American forces senior advisor involved in the new security plan said, “These negotiations are unofficial and they are being held in the Green Zone in Baghdad. General Lamb, armed Sunni groups, and Iraqi tribal sheikhs who support the current resistance are attending these negotiations. The British General as a mediator between Iraqi officials and the leaders of Sunni armed groups, who are starting to believe in the reality of Shiites controlling the government.”
The newspaper added, “During the negotiations the armed groups, the armed groups have offered that in exchange for senior security forces positions they will declare a cease fire. They are also demanding amnesty for their members already in prison except for those involved in beheadings or killing large groups of civilians, canceling the DeBaathification Law, and pensions for those have been forced out of governmental, military, and security positions.”
Labels: amnesty, armed groups, cease-fire, debaathification, General Graham Lamb, militias, negotiations, tribal sheiks
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Governorate signs cease-fire with al-Sadr
Security
(Al-Iraqiyah) - Local government officials and representatives of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr signed an 11-point cease-fire agreement in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate on May 20, Iraqi media reported. Al-Iraqiyah television said participants at the meeting agreed upon the need to uphold security, and said they will do their utmost to prevent any actions that undermine it. "We denounce, condemn, and censure the assassinations, killings, abductions, and acts of robbery and rape, as well as all the other crimes that took place in the governorate," Al-Qadisiyah Governor Khalil Jalil Hamzah said.
Al-Iraqiyah reported that the agreement stipulates that weapons shall remain only in the hands of government security services. Al-Sharqiyah television reported on May 20 that the cease-fire will be in effect for only 30 days. The news channel said the agreement was made to allow for students to take their final exams, and that new negotiations will take place in 30 days' time.
Labels: Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, cease-fire, Khalil Jalil Hamzah, Moqtada Al-Sadr
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Egypt to call for cease-fire in Iraq at Sharm el-Sheikh conference
Region, Conference
(AP) - Egypt wants an international conference on Iraq this week to call for a three-month cease-fire between Iraqi forces and insurgents, according to a draft resolution. But Iraq strongly objected to the idea on Monday. The Egyptian proposal was the latest source of division between Iraq and its Arab neighbors. It implicitly treats the Shiite-led Iraqi government and the Sunni-led insurgency as equals, and an Iraqi diplomat said Monday that Baghdad rejected the idea.
Egypt is trying to include the cease-fire call in resolutions for a two-day conference starting Thursday, according to a copy of the draft resolutions obtained by The Associated Press. Egypt is hosting the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik with the aim of uniting countries behind a plan to stabilize Iraq. It is expected to bring together Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, officials from Iran, Russia, China, Europe and Arab nations.
Under the Egyptian proposal, the participants would "call on all parties to implement a cease-fire for an initial period of three months to allow for a conducive environment to help foster the political process and national accord," according to the draft resolutions. It did not elaborate on how insurgents could be brought on board for a cease-fire. An Iraqi official close to diplomatic discussions of the resolutions said the Egyptian proposal was a nonstarter. "This is not a good idea. How can we have a cease-fire with terrorists?" said the Iraqi diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Although the United States has been pushing al-Maliki to reach out for Sunni Arabs, it is highly unlikely to back a cease-fire with insurgents who are battling U.S. forces as well as Iraqi troops.
Egypt is trying to include the cease-fire call in resolutions for a two-day conference starting Thursday, according to a copy of the draft resolutions obtained by The Associated Press. Egypt is hosting the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik with the aim of uniting countries behind a plan to stabilize Iraq. It is expected to bring together Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, officials from Iran, Russia, China, Europe and Arab nations.
Under the Egyptian proposal, the participants would "call on all parties to implement a cease-fire for an initial period of three months to allow for a conducive environment to help foster the political process and national accord," according to the draft resolutions. It did not elaborate on how insurgents could be brought on board for a cease-fire. An Iraqi official close to diplomatic discussions of the resolutions said the Egyptian proposal was a nonstarter. "This is not a good idea. How can we have a cease-fire with terrorists?" said the Iraqi diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Although the United States has been pushing al-Maliki to reach out for Sunni Arabs, it is highly unlikely to back a cease-fire with insurgents who are battling U.S. forces as well as Iraqi troops.
Labels: cease-fire, Egypt, Iraq, Sharm al-Sheikh Conference
