Iraq insurgents offer to stop attacks

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/28/06 | Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra - ap

[NormsRevenge]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Eleven Sunni insurgent groups have offered to halt attacks on the U.S.-led military if the Iraqi government and President Bush set a two-year timetable for withdrawing all foreign troops from the country, insurgent and government officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The demand is part of a broad offer from the groups, who 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 have become increasingly violent and the attacks there have regularly crippled oil and commerce routes.

The groups do not include the powerful Islamic Army in Iraq, Muhammad Army and the Mujahedeen Shura Council, the umbrella label for eight militant groups including al-Qaida in Iraq. But the new offer comes at a time when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government is reaching out to militant Sunnis, including a new amnesty plan for insurgent fighters.

Al-Maliki, in remarks broadcast on national television Wednesday, did not issue an outright rejection of the timetable demand but said it was unrealistic because he could not be certain when the Iraqi army and police would be strong enough to assume full responsibility for the country's security.

Eight of the 11 insurgent groups banded together to approach al-Maliki's government under the name of The 1920 Revolution Brigade. All 11, however, have issued identical demands, said the insurgent representatives and government officials.

The officials spoke on condition of anomymity because of the sensitivity of the information and for fear of retribution.

[Sax]

...and turn in those that won't??

[ClearCase_guy]

Clearly, we need to cut and run a lot faster!

[frogjerk]

The terrorists are hurting. Hit them harder!

[Lunatic Fringe]

QUAGMIRE! QUAGMIRE!

[NormsRevenge]

I agree, Time to ratchet it up.

Hopefully those fleeing will be caught at the borders or turned in, there seems to be a lot of that going around lately, well some anyway. ;-).

Time to clean this joint up.

[sgtbono2002]

These guys have been listening to our media and Murtha, Kennedy, Kerry, and the rest of the traitorous POS.

What further proof could you want that aid and comfort is being given to them by these Traitors.

[Froufrou]

What's so special about two years? Is that how long before the yellow cake arrives?

[Buck W.]

Now they're sounding like Democrats.

[RightWhale]

If the terrorists would first stop terrorizing, the Americans could leave this afternoon.

[NormsRevenge]

*RETRANSMITTING FOR IMPROVED QUALITY**This photo released by the United States Marine Corps shows Staff Sgt. Raymond Plouhar, 30, of Lake Orion, Mich., handing candy to students at the Al Nabatiya Elementary School on May 9, 2006 in Iraq. Plouhar, who appeared in Michael Moore's acclaimed documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' died Monday, June 26, 2006, of wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, the Defense Department announced Tuesday. (AP Photo/US Marine Corps, Cpl. Mark Sixbey)

[savedbygrace]

I think should study this offer in great detail before responding.

No.

[Froufrou]

Thank you for that visual. I've often heard the soldiers like more than anything to give to the children. Makes me proud.

[aynrandfreak]

The insurgents in these groups will just join with the bigger groups that haven't agreed to stop the attacks.

[dead]

Its just negotiations.

Counter offer: Stop attacks with no conditions and you might not die this year.

[ark_girl]

2 years = June 2008 = US Presidential Election

just a theory....

Besides, they probably want to set a date for the same reason we don't want one and they knew we would have given them the finger if they had tried to say 1 year. That tells them how long they could bide their time to try and come back and seize power since they can't win it outright.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Eleven Sunni insurgent groups have offered to halt attacks on the U.S.-led military if the Iraqi government and President Bush set a two-year timetable for withdrawing all foreign troops from the country, insurgent and government officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

This actually sounds very very good....if we are to believe them. Id rather us get the hell out of this country sooner rather than later.

[TSchmereL]

IT IS CALLED A HUDNA, MR. BUSH!

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM.

[Just A Nobody]

These guys have been listening to our media and Murtha, Kennedy, Kerry, and the rest of the traitorous POS.

Beat me to it, but bears repeating.

[Graymatter]

Like to see their white flags and broken swords first.