US Asked Falluja Insurgents to Stop Firing -Bremer

Reuters ^

[Happy2BMe]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are hoping insurgents hold to a cease-fire in the volatile town of Falluja, but recent violence is not expected to delay the handover of the country's governance to Iraqis at the end of June, U.S. administrator Paul Bremer said on Sunday.

"We haven't imposed any terms at the moment, we're just trying to get a cease-fire in place and we have asked the insurgents to stop attacking the Marines," Bremer said on ABC's "This Week."

"What we are trying to do is simply get the forces to stop firing, have the insurgents stop firing on the Marines. And then we'll have a delegation from the governing council go in and we'll try to find out how we can proceed from there," Bremer said from Baghdad, in one of several interviews with U.S. television talk shows.

Civilians fled combat zones in Falluja on Sunday after a truce halted a week of fighting between U.S. forces and rebels in which hundreds of Iraqis died.

Falluja has been an anti-American stronghold since the toppling of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and erupted last month after four American security contractors were ambushed, killed and their bodies mutilated.

"It's a very delicate problem any time you try to impose a cease-fire on hostilities. And we are very mindful of the need not to have the result be that the insurgents become stronger," Bremer said on "Fox News Sunday."

But Bremer said he expected the handover of governance to Iraqis to take place as planned by June 30.

"I think we'll make it," he said. The majority of Iraqis now believe "that is the day on which the occupation will end. And I think if we don't keep our promise there, we'll find it actually puts more Americans' lives at risk."

In Falluja, a hospital official said 600 Iraqis have been killed in the past week. At least 60 U.S. and allied troops have been killed in Iraq in the last 10 days.

AMBASSADOR YET TO BE NAMED

A U.S. ambassador to Iraq who would replace Bremer after the handover has not yet been announced, but Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar told "Fox News Sunday" that a nomination was expected "in a few days." The Indiana Republican, asked whether it would be John Negroponte who is currently U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, replied: "Well, I've understood that that's a possibility, but I don't know for sure."

Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was operating under a "misunderstanding" that the minority Sunni and majority Shi'ite dislike for each other would outweigh nationalism.

"I don't think the secretary of defense has leveled with us," he said on CBS' "Face The Nation" program. "Historically, nationalism and the nationalist feeling has always trumped the differences that exist within Iraq," Biden said, adding there was some cooperation between the two groups.

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, said the 129,000 troops on the ground were adequate and more were not needed at this time.

"We clearly showed some weaknesses here in the last couple of weeks, and we are retackling the problem with greater intensity," Sanchez told NBC's "Meet The Press."

[Happy2BMe]

"US Asked Falluja Insurgents to Stop Firing -Bremer"

Uh - HELLO, Mr. Bremmer . .

Have you read the Koran lately?

[Happy2BMe]

Where RATIONALIZING with Islam will get you - ping.

[dalebert]

Gunmen runni around in plain sight moving ammo and equipment in ambulances and our guys are not allowed to shoot them. Ain't pc war fun.

[observer5]

Abdul: Mohammed, lets take a short break in killing Americans and all foreigners...

Mohammed: But we are also foreigners here in Iraq?

Abdul: Shut up and tighten your belt, before you blow me up too and I miss all my virgins-rape fest in heaven...

[expatguy]

HELLO MCFLY !!!

[Happy2BMe]

Top U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer (R) appears on a video monitor April 11, 2004 during a remote interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' by moderator Tim Russert (L) at the NBC studios in Washington, DC. U.S. authorities are hoping insurgents hold to a cease-fire in the volatile town of Falluja, but recent violence is not expected to delay the handover of the country's governance to Iraqis at the end of June, Paul Bremer said. Photo by Meet The Press/Reuters

[Diogenesis]

Their OBVIOUS Plan

We make a ceasefire. They shoot our heroes.
We make a ceasefire. They shoot our heroes.
We make a ceasefire. They shoot our heroes.

[Maine For Bush]

This is complete CRAP! 19 dead marines in 3 days...and now we're negotiating a cease fire? Who the hell is running this war??!! Sorry, but I'm pissed.

[jaykay]

...we have asked the insurgents to stop attacking the Marines," Bremer said on ABC's "This Week."

"What we are trying to do is simply get the forces to stop firing, have the insurgents stop firing on the Marines.

Gee, if it's that easy, why'd we even send troops over there to begin with? We should've just sent Bremer to ask Saddam to stop, ask Osama to stop, etc...

[Nita Nupress]

Oh, I get it, Mr. Bremer. We're just stalling so more of the 'box-of-rocks' terrorists can gather in Falluja and then we're going to stop farting around. Right?

Right??

[TrueBeliever9]

I just watched Terry Anderson with Katie (as much as I can't stand her I wanted to hear what he had to say): Terry Anderson wanted to know why the Islamic clery is not speaking out and standing up to Sadr. He said they should be speaking out in Iraq, Iran and everywhere. The Koran says it is not legal to punish some for others crimes and that is what they are doing by taking hostages. Anderson pointed out that Sadr is junior to Sistani - but Sistani is not holding Sadr accountable. He says that is more the solution than using our military force.

[TrueBeliever9]

BUMP see my post above

[reagan_fanatic]

Somebody needs to do a cat scan of Mr. Bremmer's head. Something is seriously wrong up there.

[MJM59]

60 dead in the last week. Well, I guess that it is safe to say that the major fighting or whatever you want to call it is not over and that the missions is not yet accomplished. Let's stop fighting this war in this politically correct, half hearted manner that continues to see our guys getting picked off in this one way cease fire B.S. Lets make them want us to stop killing them for a change!

[Happy2BMe]

Wonder if Bremmer would be so anxious for a ceasefire if he was in Fallujah looking down a jihad sniper scope . .

[kjam22]

Lets make them want us to stop killing them for a change!

Until that happens this thing will not end. Someone please explain to President Bush the value of an "unconditional surrender".

[American_Centurion]

When the going gets tough, one shouldn't tell the US military to "whoa", the correct phrase should be "take it up a notch".

If US Marines are good for one thing, it's finding another notch on a device that is "notched out". They will always find a way to fight harder.

[Stentor]

"Historically, nationalism and the nationalist feeling has always trumped the differences that exist within Iraq," Biden said

Utter balderdash.

[Jmouse007]

Haven't you heard? President Bush believes Islam is "the religion of peace". As a former Vietnam vet, I am also dumbfounded.

This PC mentality is EXACTLY why we lost Vietnam.

Anyone with half a brain realizes that this is all a ploy, like Tora Bora in order to get us to stop so the enemy can regroup and refortify their position. The only way we are going to win is if we kill these animals and their leadership, otherwise all they are going to do is wait for June 30 and take over the country.

If America's blood and cash has gone for nothing more than establishing an Islamic state, BUSH is through. You would think he and his advisers would realize this. America wants them to do it right and get it overwith, not play at half measures. Man am I ticked :o(