SURRENDER OF IRAQ BEING NEGOTIATED

NBC News via Junkyard Blog | 21 March, 2003 | Tim Russert

[spycatcher]

From Junkyard Blog:

NBC News' Tim Russert reports a "third party" nation is currently in talks with an Iraqi leader to arrange for the surrender of Iraq to Coalition Forces. Nothing to link yet. The leader would bring down the regime from within. I would guess the Saudis or Russians are likely involved, but the nation is being kept secret still.
U.S. response to the offer is to welcome unconditional surrender, but we'll keep the pressure on full-bore until remaining Iraqi leaders actually capitulate.
UPDATE: From an ABC News report, it could be France, who's still trying to save Saddam

American officials have told ABCNEWS that even with today's bombing, secret talks have continued behind the scenes about a Saddam Hussein surrender and exile to, among other places, the country of Mauritania in west Africa.
One of the back channels goes through France, according to American officials aware of the negotiations.
Since December, ABCNEWS has learned, an emissary from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in the middle of the secret offer of exile. American officials say the French go-between, Pierre Delval, an expert on foreign currencies, has repeatedly traveled to Baghdad to persuade Saddam to accept exile in Mauritania.
A former French colony, Mauritania is an Islamic republic said to have warm ties with Iraq.
Officials in Mauritania said they knew nothing of any exile offer to Saddam Hussein or his sons.

If it's France, then it's probably a "Tora Bora trick." Russert did not seem to be talking about Saddam being the one who would give up the regime, so France may not be the third party who contacted the U.S.

[sinkspur]

Bush will never allow Hussein to leave Iraq unless he's got handcuffs on or goes out horizontally.

[Bogey78O]

Why negotiate for something we have anyway.

In essence:

"I'll let you win the war if you let me flee.

Yes, we'll win the war. But you can't flee"

[Cool Guy]

BUMP!

[Orion78]

Probably the Russians or Chinese.

[shrinkermd]

"President Jacques Chirac denounced the war against Iraq as illegal last night, unravelling a concerted effort to patch up the acrimonious rift between France and Britain at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels

The above is a quote from the Telegraph. President Bush would be foolish to cooperate with France in any way in respect to Iraq.

[BushMeister]

Hussein should have to live as a penniless peasant wherever he goes, before the Mossad hit team blows his nuts off.

Seriously, though, I can't imagine letting this pig off the hook.

[Mfkmmof4]

Plus France wants the revenues from the oil fields I bet to pay for the wine the US does not buy anymore.

[Semper Paratus]

Russert did not seem to be talking about Saddam being the one who would give up the regime

OK, Tariq Aziz and his family to Maurtitania for Iraq, sounds good to me.

[teletech]

It looks to me like either France or Russia or Germany sees things going to well for the USA and wants to help Saddam. I'd tell them thanks but NO THANKS, we'll handle it!

[spycatcher]

Rumsfeld: "Show Me the Body!"

[spycatcher]

Russia hates to see th U.S. kicking butt on their doorstep and scaring the hell out of Russian troops

[teletech]

Russia hates to see th U.S. kicking butt on their doorstep and scaring the hell out of Russian troops

Or the Russians are afraid they will won't get the money Saddam owes them.

[Captain America]

Exile?
Didn't I hear that Sodom has about $9 billion to his name?
Let him flee to another country where he'd be another Bin Laden and could dedicate himself full time to funding and orchestrating attacks on America?

Exile to Hell maybe.

[spycatcher]

Most of his cash is probably in France by now. Exile to Paris as Chirac's V.P.

[Paleo Conservative]

Most of his cash is probably in France by now.

But we probably have the UTM coordinates for the banks.

[spycatcher]

Russert was on to something. A negotiated coup/surrender is still in the works

Administration Source: Baghdad Will Fall From Within