US, Iran meet to discuss Iraq security

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/August/focusoniraq_August30.xml§ion=focusoniraq&col=

August 2007



BAGHDAD - The United States and Iran held the first meeting on Monday of a new sub-committee set up to find ways for the two arch foes to cooperate in ending Iraq’s sectarian violence.

Establishing the security sub-committee has been the main achievement so far of the first direct contacts between the United States and Iran, enemies which have had no diplomatic ties for almost 30 years but were driven to the negotiating table by the threat of all-out civil war in Iraq.

Washington accuses Teheran of fomenting unrest in Iraq, supporting militias and supplying weapons such as armour-piercing bombs used to kill U.S. troops. Iran denies the charge and blames Iraq’s unrelenting sectarian violence on the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

Neither country has said precisely what it hopes to achieve at the talks. Asked about the agenda of the meeting, U.S. embassy spokesman Philip Reeker said only: “security in Iraq”.

[peacetalksforall]

1. Is this dis-reality? Preparing to bomb them and sitting down with them?/