U.S. seeks pact with Shiite militia

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

U.S. diplomats and military officers have been in talks with members of the armed movement loyal to Muqtada Sadr, a sharp reversal of policy and a grudging recognition that the radical Shiite cleric holds a dominant position in much of Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.

The secret dialogue has been going on since at least early 2006, but appeared to yield a tangible result only in the last week -- with relative calm in an area of west Baghdad that has been among the capital's most dangerous sections.

The discussions have been complicated by divisions within Sadr's movement as well as the cleric's public vow never to meet with Iraq's occupiers. Underlying the issue's sensitivity, Sadrists publicly deny any contact with the Americans or British -- fully aware the price of acknowledging such meetings would be banishment from the movement or worse.

The dialogue represents a drastic turnaround in the U.S. approach to Sadr and his militia, the Mahdi Army. The military hopes to negotiate the same kind of marriage of convenience it has reached in other parts of Iraq with former insurgent groups, many Saddam Hussein loyalists, and the Sunni tribes that supported them. Both efforts are examples of how U.S. officials have sought to end violence by cooperating with groups they once considered intractable enemies.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-sadr12sep12,0,6547266.story?coll=la-home-center

[Kagemusha]

1. This is very interesting news.

I guess the US' people think that they're undermining Iran by doing all this.

[Tempest]

2. Yesterday Petraeus said the U.S. is not making these kind of pacts

Petraeus said the U.S. is not making deals with groups that have killed U.S. solders.

What a lying S.O.B.

[ohio2007]

3. gotta link to that story yesterday ?

these militia are going to inherit the sand when we leave. They have to decide who they want to trust and work with or, against, in the future.
talk is good but I missed that article of yours yesterday

[Tempest]

4. It was in Petraeus' testimony

You should be able to find it in the text.