Insurgents Offer to Halt Attacks in Iraq

The Washington Times ^ | Jun 28, 5:36 PM EDT | STEVEN R. HURST and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA

[kellynla]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Eleven Sunni insurgent groups have offered an immediate halt to all attacks - including those on American troops - if the United States agrees to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq in two years, insurgent and government officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Withdrawal is the centerpiece of a set of demands from the groups, which operate north of Baghdad in the heavily Sunni Arab provinces of Salahuddin and Diyala. Although much of the fighting has been to the west, those provinces are increasingly violent and attacks there have crippled oil and commerce routes.

The groups who've made contact have largely shunned attacks on Iraqi civilians, focusing instead on the U.S.-led coalition forces. Their offer coincides with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's decision to reach out to the Sunni insurgency with a reconciliation plan that includes an amnesty for fighters.

The Islamic Army in Iraq, Muhammad Army and the Mujahedeen Shura Council - the umbrella group that covers eight militant groups including al-Qaida in Iraq - were not party to any offers to the government.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Invite all these insurgents to a huge outdoor Peace Festival and once they arrive call in the air strikes.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I hope the US doesn't make same mistake as the British and Irish governments made when the IRA declared a ceasefire tactical retreat - terrorists are not to be negotiated with!

[HarleyLady27]

We don't do deals with terrorist.....something else you wanted????

[austinaero]

And CAIR and the UN will be calling that torture, dontchya know.

[TYVets]

The fact that they are even at the table means they are hurting.

Sorry guys, we don't want any more Viet Nam type peace talks.

Hopefully we are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

[PsyOp]

Counter offer: "Turn in your weapons, go home, get a job, and we won't hunt you down and kill you."

[rodguy911]

Was this insurgent offer tendered through their agents at the DNC?

[ClaudiusI]

How about we give you to the count of 10 before we given you a C4 enema?

[driftdiver]

I say sure, just come over here and sign the agreement. :)

[Brit1]

The British made no mistake. The so called Parliment at Stormont Castle from partition was dominated by complete hate and contempt for any non Protestant and that included any Jews or ethnic minorities and even those who chose not to attend any church. The Irish Republic (Southern Ireland)was a very poor nation with little industry or commerce and it was easy for any Protestant politician ( Non Protestants were not allowed any voice or representation) to say if you don't like it here..go south.
Well it ain't so anymore .Since joining the EC Southern Ireland's economy is booming thus removing the one sanction held by a corrupt and near facist Protestant regime at Stormont Castle in Belfast. If you need any proof ask why so many of the Protestant hierarchy liked to visit the catholic Kingora Boys Home !!!! BTW I worked there for 4 years in Belfast for a National Newspaper.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Our counter offer: "Nuts. Now please take a number and wait your turn to be killed."

[doublecansiter]

No terms, except unconditional surrender.

Mike

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I don't see how the pre-1972 situation justified IRA violence hence (I know you didn't say that), so thus I don't see why the British and Irish should negotiate with terrorists - and you must remember that the IRA are also enemies of the Irish Republic - and the Irish Constitution strictly forbids illegal armies.

I am an opponent of the Good Friday Agreement Appeasement, because:

(a) People convicted of violent crime should have never been released, that includes terrorists - and just because the IRA declared a ceasefire tactical retreat, doesn't alter the fact that convicted criminals should serve their sentences - particularly as the IRA should have never taken up the bullet and the bomb in the first place - why reward them for failing not to do wrong?

(b) Negotiating with terrorists, or other aggressors only leads to appeasement - evil men are not going to see the light, just because you try and talk to them - battle hardened terrorists are not just going to moderate their views and methods just because they (temporarily) decide to call a ceasefire. All they are doing is taking advantage of the soft under belly of free societies such as the UK and Eire - and use it to undermine the democratic process. And what benefit is there to a democrat negotiating with an anti-democrat? The best compromise that can be reached is compromised democracy - and there is no middle ground between good and evil.

(c) For the Irish government to negotiate with Sinn Fein/IRA, it's a violation of the Constitution of Ireland (no illegal armies), and it is also treason (Sinn Fein/IRA are conspiring to overthrow the Republic), also defined under our Constitution.(d)

(e) We all hear the British and Irish media hailing the peace process as a great (and unquestionable) thing - true, there are no bombs going off - but it's not peace that's in Northern Ireland - but a Cold War, one that will once again turn hot when the IRA succeed in overthrowing Irish democracy.

(f) Why couldn't there have been an agreement between the democratic parties in the North? Why did the IRA and Loyalists have to be drawn into it?

******

And let's not forget all the innocent civilians killed by IRA bombs in your country.

FRegards.

[Brit1]

Hi and yes I can take onboard a lot of what you say.My first 'engagement' with the Irish problem occurred in 1968 when I attended a Civil Rights March( There was no 'democracy' in Northen Ireland Catholics did not have the right to vote) in Newry where 20,000 people turned up much to the 'B specials' surprise.There was no mention of the IRA at that event from any of the participants.I would suggest the the resurgence of the IRA was a direct response to the actions of those who held all the power.
In 1969 I accompanied the RUC and the B specials on a raid into the Catholic area 'the Creggan estate and was appalled at the violence directed at women and children I suspect that had
one been in nazi Germany in the 1930s.......etc. The 'B specials'told me how much they enjoyed their 'cathy bashing'although most of them were not very bright to say the least. Please don't forget it was a Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath that disbanded the 'B specials'and sent in the British army to restore some form of acceptable society. In 1970 I spent some weeks with the British Army (1st Queens regiment) in a butchers shop near the 'Divis Flats' area in Belfast and was in no doubt that their purpose was to keep certain elements of the Protestant authority away from vunerable catholic women and children. A classic case of unconstrained absolute violence and contempt corrupting absolutely. As for people convicted of violence well there are so many places in the world where yesterdays 'terrorist becomes todays president'.South Africa and Israel being just two examples that spring to mind. I have been to both. I seem to remember a Protestant attack on a catholic boys marching band by so called 'Loyalists',I had left the province by then, that left seven young men dead and six wounded. I am ashamed that such an incident should be perpetrated under the 'Union Flag' to which my sons are currently serving. I guess that nobody comes out of these situations'smelling of roses'and it will take a long time for the wounds to heal but at least now there are no mass killings. FRegards

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I agree, NI before direct rule was bad, just saying the IRA have had no justification under direct rule.

I am ashamed that such an incident should be perpetrated under the 'Union Flag' to which my sons are currently serving.

I understand - I hate atrocities and murders carried out by the IRA under the 'Tricolour'!

Again, FRegards. :)

[RobbyS]

Sounds like Hamas.

[tioga]

-have they been taking lessons from the Palestinians?

[WellsFargo94]

After a few more months of pressure like Zarkawi got, they'll settle for two cans of Spam and a VHS copy of 'Ishtar.'

This is too funny, but they'll still hold out for a 220 converter.

[WellsFargo94]

I hope that this is some reassurance, but our troops are more than willing to stay and return again if need be. My husband is about to return after 13 months being deployed and both he and myself are good to go for another deployement...after he gets some time with the family and some rest that is.

[Brit1]

Thats the fact..we both would like to aim for peace and stability in the province.

I was also working in Guildford in Surrey in the early 1970s and have some first hand experience of an appalling IRA atrocity.. the bombing of two pubs .I could not contain my anger at the time even now when I think about it.......
The shooting of so many RUC officers 'execution style' killings a bullet in the back of the head and the evil perpetrators flee on a waiting motorbike. Most of these RUC officers were just ordinary cops serving their community.I can see no justification for that.

I was in a London police station and noticed a large sweet (Candy) Jar full of money. It was a collection for the wives and children of murdered RUC officers. There was a little 'Teddy Bear' pin that some police officers would wear in their lapels to show support for the RUC. I wore mine for ten years. I'm no apologist for the IRA but the social inequalities of the place had to be addressed.

FRegards