U.S. Military Makes Peace Effort in Volatile Section of Baghdad (NYT)

[Nambe]

The New York Times

In Baghdad's volatile Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City, the American military met for five hours with representatives of the rebellious cleric Moktada al-Sadr today, searching for peace in a zone where the cleric's ragged army remains well armed, entrenched and defiant. ..

Today, an informal cease-fire seemed to exist as American officers met in a Sadr City police station with representatives of Mr. Sadr and other local sheiks. As the meeting ended, Lt. Col. Gary Volesky of the United States First Cavalry Division shook hands with the chief Baghdad representative of Mr. Sadr, who said he was scheduled to hold more talks tonight with officials of the interim Iraqi government.

But the Americans later said adamantly that no agreements had been reached. "There was no agreement or understanding of any kind," said Lt. Col. James Hutton, a spokesman for the First Cavalry, the American unit with responsibility for the Baghdad area. "We are not pulling out of Sadr City and we will make no change in the way we operate there. Our troops will go in and out as always." ..

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[bemildred]

1. Who's on first? What? ...

But seriously, is this another sign of disorder in the chain
of command? Or are they trying to look stupid?

[bluestateguy]

2. Uh huh

Somehow I get the feeling that if Clinton, Gore or Kerry were president and we were negotiating cease-fire agreements in Baghdad we would not stop hearing from the Heritage Foundation, PNAC, AEI types about how we are "appeasing" terrorists.

[saigon68]

3. Uh Dumb shit ---- your troops will continue to die

What an idiot. They need someone who can make peace with these people

What is this jerk going to do--- kill all 2 million of them?

[Disturbed]

4. 20 Millions Shi'ites in Iraq

How many do the Neo Fascists need to kill before the country will be nuetralized and colonized?

[jukes]

5. saigon68

they shd move them all into protected hamlets!


is this making you sick, or what?

[saigon68]

6. Its IRAQ-NAM

Quite a few of us here said last year this war was going to be Viet-Nam Redux 2003 to whenever---

I'm sorry I was right

I'm very angry that no one except a FEW of Us here listened.

[alcuno]

7. What??? We're negotiating with terrorists????

Wouldn't that be considered a flip flop?

[krkaufman]

8. And "sensitive" to boot.

Neither of which I have a problem with.