Iraq Council Members in Talks with Rebel Cleric

Reuters ^ | Sat Apr 10, 2004 03:34 PM ET | Staff

[Anti-Bubba182]

Iraq Council Members in Talks with Rebel Cleric Sat Apr 10, 2004 03:34 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Several members of the Iraqi Governing Council are negotiating with rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to end a Shi'ite uprising in the center and the south of the country, a member of the council said on Saturday.

Naseer al-Chaderji declined to give details of the talks but said a deal would have to include Sadr's renunciation of violence and a commitment by the authorities to improve the lot of his mostly impoverished supporters.

"They are in direct contact with Moqtada. We are already seeing calm in Sadr City and we are encouraged by the situation in Najaf as we go into a major religious celebration," Chaderji told Reuters.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Fox News is also reporting on this.

[CasearianDaoist]

Naseer al-Chaderji declined to give details of the talks but said a deal would have to include Sadr's renunciation of violence and a commitment by the authorities to improve the lot of his mostly impoverished supporters.

"In addition he hopes that they can find it in their hearts not to blow him to Kingdom Come, it was reported."

[BillyCrockett]

I just hope they don't put us in yet another position of weakness by their negotiations. Strength is the only thing Arabs understand.

[areafiftyone]

Naseer al-Chaderji declined to give details of the talks but said a deal would have to include Sadr's renunciation of violence and a commitment by the authorities to improve the lot of his mostly impoverished supporters.

What about his arrest? They would just let him go?

[COBOL2Java]

There were also reports today that the Coalition forces are waiting for this upcoming week to end, which will be the end of a Shiite holy observance period. Evidently there are a lot of pilgrims coming in and out of the areas. Perhaps the Iraq Council members are telling the al Sadr guy "hey brainless, these guys are holding back. Once the pilgrims are gone and on their way your days are numbered."

[GretchenEE]

As a student of World War II, born after it ended, I cannot help compare what I read and know of that era of valiant soldiers AND those left at home to suffer through their exploits to overthrow two of the worst imaginable imperial regimes, with what "our" media and we as a people (excluding our brave soldiers) tend to be like now.

The whole world that fought, and endured, World War II had to be extraordinarily patient in the face of the extremest difficulties and reverses, for a very long, bloody time. "He who endures to the end shall be saved" comes to mind.

What endurance does America have? The world?

I am glad God is truly in control of all of these things and has a plan for success, if we will work with Him, because it surely doesn't look very good right now.

[Asclepius]

Naseer al-Chaderji declined to give details of the talks but said a deal would have to include Sadr's renunciation of violence and a commitment by the authorities to improve the lot of his mostly impoverished supporters.

So this was a shake-down? Write Sadr a check and the cleric discovers that his is a religion of peace after all?

If the rule of law is to prevail then he must pay and pay dearly and without any negotiated settlement. Otherwise every other tribal thug in that wasteland is going to lay claim to his or her share of the public treasury with the bodies and blood of Americans and Iraqis.

[RightWhale]

This is what the Council must do. Wish them all luck and wisdom.

[Anti-Bubba182]

".. these guys are holding back. Once the pilgrims are gone and on their way your days are numbered."

That would be a point to raise carefully. If this guy thinks he is screwed either way he is going down with as many as he can take with him.

[Grut]

Oh, good. Establishing that people can shoot their way to importance in the new Iraq will be so stabilizing.

[Dog]

This is what we appointed the Council to do ......SHOW LEADERSHIP.

Don't worry Sadr has made to many enemies in the Shia community.....he will get his ....in due time.

We can't make him a martyr.

[BillyCrockett]

"That would be a point to raise carefully. If this guy thinks he is screwed either way he is going down with as many as he can take with him."

More to the point... he IS going down one way or the other. I don't sense this administration will show weakness to the world. I sure hope not anyway.

[Dog]

BTW......I still think we will kill the Madhi Army......Sadr will be a king.. without his troops.

[areafiftyone]

You are right we can't make him a martyr. If our guys kill him I can just see the funeral with massive demonstrations. I think that would make me nausious to see that kind of thing.

[Dog]

If we get thru Easter and this muslim holiday without the wheels falling off ....or something major happening.......Sadr is done.

[BillyCrockett]

And if it's done right... POOF... no funeral.

[Dog]

AF51.....patience....:-)

We moved on Fallujah .....when it suited us. .....we will move on Sadr ....at a time of our choosing.

[maranatha]

Praying that God will control the outcome...my opinion from listening to different "experts" on Fox lately and this makes sense to me...they must be killed or captured. There is no such thing as negotiating or dealing with them. If they get out of losing the battle, they will just regroup and continue to blow up our soldiers or gun them down in the open. No deals.

[Gucho]

"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Several members of the Iraqi Governing Council are negotiating with rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to end a Shi'ite uprising in the center and the south of the country, a member of the council said on Saturday."

BULL-You cannot negotiate with a punk fanatical radical!

[Lijahsbubbe]

I agree.