NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2005 — 05-jan-mar — Viewing Item

US secret talks with insurgents in iraq { February 21 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40316-2005Feb20.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40316-2005Feb20.html U.S. Holds Secret Talks With Insurgents in Iraq Magazine Cites Meetings With Sunnis Reuters Monday, February 21, 2005; Page A22 U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers are conducting secret talks with Iraq's Sunni insurgents on ways to end fighting there, Time magazine reported yesterday, citing Pentagon and other sources. The Bush administration has said it would not negotiate with Iraqi fighters and there is no authorized dialogue, but the United States is having "back-channel" communications with certain insurgents, unidentified Washington and Iraqi sources told the magazine. The magazine cited a secret meeting between two members of the U.S. military and an Iraqi negotiator, a former member of Saddam Hussein's government and the senior representative of what he called the nationalist insurgency. A U.S. officer tried to get names of other insurgent leaders while the Iraqi complained that the new Shiite-dominated government was being controlled by Iran, according to an account of the meeting provided by the Iraqi negotiator. "We are ready to work with you," the Iraqi negotiator said, according to Time. Iraqi insurgent leaders not aligned with al Qaeda ally Abu Musab Zarqawi told the magazine that several nationalist groups composed of what the Pentagon calls "former regime elements" have become open to negotiating. The insurgents said their aim was to establish a political identity that can represent disenfranchised Sunnis. The White House had no immediate comment on the report. When asked about the contacts, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate foreign relations and intelligence committees, said it is important to "reach out" in Iraq. "We've got a very complicated and dangerous situation over there, and you are going to have to reach out, you are going to have to develop some relationships and networks," he said on CNN's "Late Edition." Controversial Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi told ABC's "This Week" yesterday that any deals between insurgents and the U.S. military would not be binding on a new Iraqi government. © 2005 The Washington Post Company

012905b1_iraq_thevote 1 [jpg] 14 killed by car bomb outside shiite mosque { January 21 2005 } 17 die in iraq bombing 47 killed in suicide attack on mosul mosque { March 10 2005 } Anti war parent copes with marines death { March 21 2005 } Attack on mosque meant to create sectarian strife { January 21 2005 } Baghdad car bomb kills 14 iraqis at mosque Baghdad governor assassinated in street Car bomb kills 7 at wedding party Car bomb kills two soldiers one marine { March 26 2005 } Car bomb outside australian embassy kills two { January 19 2005 } Child with downs syndrome used in suicide attack Death toll rises to 1500 { March 3 2005 } Five killed in three baghdad car bombs General says insurgents probably downed british plane General warns of spectacular iraq plots for elections Insurgency proves tough to crack { January 26 2005 } Insurgents ambush iraqi police convoy after elections Insurgents attacks kill 33 around iraq Insurgents bomb polling places Insurgents killed about two dozen on election day { January 30 2005 } Insurgents land deadliest blow killing over 100 { February 28 2005 } Iraq insurgents can conduct 60 strikes daily Iraq insurgents increase explosive power Iraq says 80 militants killed in clash Iraqi insurgents blow top off historic momument { April 2 2005 } Iraqi police capture bombing mastermind Nine US troops killed in iraq { January 7 2005 } Nothern pipeline destroyed baghdad bomb kills two Rebels damage iraqi national treasure { April 1 2005 } Suicide bomber kills 15 at iraq police station { February 24 2005 } Two mosques bombed in baghdad Two suicide bombs kill 27 in iraq US bombs wrong house underreports civilian deaths US secret talks with insurgents in iraq { February 21 2005 } Files Listed: 35

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