Posted on 11/27/2006 10:47:55 AM PST by TexKat
DAMASCUS, Syria — A former top deputy to Saddam Hussein has urged followers in a letter to turn down proposals for reconciliation talks with the United States or the Iraqi government, according to former Baath party members outside Iraq familiar with the letter.
It is unclear if the message from Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's former vice president and now a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head, is being followed. But it appears aimed at blunting a flurry of diplomacy to stabilize Iraq, including efforts by several Arab governments to persuade Iraqi Sunni insurgents to lay down arms and join reconciliation efforts.
President Bush is to meet with Iraq's prime minister in Jordan this week as part of the diplomatic push.
The letter comes at a time when Saddam's followers are taking steps to regroup and regain political influence outside Iraq _ including forging ties with other Sunni-dominated Arab governments and setting up Internet sites to get their message out.
The Bush administration is trying to urge Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to both strike at Shiite militias engaged in reprisal killings inside Iraq, and step up reconciliation talks with Sunnis.
But two people linked to Saddam's outlawed Baath party, speaking to The Associated Press, said Ibrahim had sent strict instructions to followers to reject any offer to end the insurgency.
"He told us in a letter that no talk, no contact, no reconciliation (is allowed) with the occupier or their stooges," one former top Iraqi Baath leader told the AP in Damascus.
Another former Baathist, also in Syria but only temporarily, quoted a recent letter from Ibrahim to his followers outside Iraq as saying: "Only the mujahadeen (fighters) are entitled to decide what they should do, and nobody else."
Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they fear reprisals. Both also insisted they were in Syria only temporarily, not living there, and on their way to other Arab countries.
Syrian officials refuse to comment on foreign activists who may be here, but have disputed U.S. claims that they allow men or money to flow to the insurgency in Iraq.
Ibrahim's purported letter comes at a time when other Sunnis connected to the insurgency have shown some willingness to engage in mediation talks. The Iraqi government has recently tried to coax former junior Baathists to join the country's political efforts, and Iraqi government officials have said there have been some talks between Americans and Baathists, and also between Baathists and some Iraqi officials.
Saddam himself called for reconciliation Nov. 7 during his ongoing second trial. He cited references to the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus, who asked for forgiveness for those who had opposed them. "I call on all Iraqis, Arabs and Kurds, to forgive, reconcile and shake hands," Saddam said.
Early this month, government and parliamentary officials said former Iraqi vice president Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, now a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head, ordered Sunni fighters loyal to the former president to cease operations. The officials said the directive was issued through couriers some time after the court in Saddam's first trial sentenced the former Iraqi leader to hang for crimes against humanity.
Ibrahim, apparently trying to blunt such efforts, has ordered Hassan Hashim, a former Baath leader believed engaged in talks with other Iraqi groups considering a reconciliation conference, to sever all such contacts and return to Iraq, according to both men familiar with his letter.
Other Iraqis linked to the Baathists, also outside Iraq and speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, said hard-line former Baath leaders had made clear they would support no negotiations until Saddam is released from prison _ something al-Maliki's government is almost certain never to do _ and the Iraqi government meets other stringent conditions including a timetable for U.S. forces to leave.
Shiites, who control the Baghdad government, have vehemently rejected any such deal with Baathists or with al-Qaida-linked extremists in Iraq who also make up the insurgency.
Ex-Saddam deputy urges rejecting talks ping.
Izzy - the Ace of Diamonds is still out there.
A former top deputy to Saddam Hussein has urged followers in a letter to turn down proposals for reconciliation talks with the United States or the Iraqi government, according to former Baath party members outside Iraq familiar with the letter. It is unclear if the message from Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's former vice president and now a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head, is being followed. But it appears aimed at blunting a flurry of diplomacy to stabilize Iraq, including efforts by several Arab governments to persuade Iraqi Sunni insurgents to lay down arms and join reconciliation efforts... The letter comes at a time when Saddam's followers are taking steps to regroup and regain political influence outside Iraq _ including forging ties with other Sunni-dominated Arab governments and setting up Internet sites to get their message out.It is unclear if the message is being followed? How about, It is clear if the message is being followed up by finding and killing Izzat Ibrahim. Just call me vindictive... thanks for the topic and ping, TexKat.
Most likely hiding in Syria.
Send him to hell!
It'll be interesting to see if Saddam has a reaction to this statement. I remember several months ago, al Douri issued a statement as leader of the Iraqis and Saddam had a fit. He was furious that the upstart would dare to ignore that Saddam still considered himself the active and legitimate head of state, even from jail.
I believe Saddam said that al Douri's nose should be cut off for his insolence!
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