"The war is lost."
And the Democrats are deeply disappointed because this messes up their strategy to gain power.
Posted on 08/22/2007 9:56:13 AM PDT by tcrlaf
Baghdad, 22 August (AKI) - The leader of Iraq's banned Baath party, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has decided to join efforts by the Iraqi authorities to fight al-Qaeda, one of the party's former top officials, Abu Wisam al-Jashaami, told pan-Arab daily Al Hayat.
"AlDouri has decided to sever ties with al-Qaeda and sign up to the programme of the national resistance, which includes routing Islamist terrorists and opening up dialogue with the Baghdad government and foreign forces," al-Jashaami said.
Al-Douri has decided to deal directly with US forces in Iraq, according to al-Jashaami. He figures in the 55-card deck of "most wanted" officials from the former Iraqi regime issued by the US government.
In return, for cooperating in the fight against al-Qaeda, al-Douri has asked for guarantees over his men's safety and for an end to Iraqi army attacks on his militias.
Recent weeks have seen a first step in this direction, when Baathist fighters cooperated with Iraqi government forces in hunting down al-Qaeda operatives in the volatile Diyala province and in several districts of the capital, Baghadad.
Although the Baath party was officially banned after US-led forces in 2003 toppled the regime of Iraq's late president Saddam Hussein, its members have fought in the insurgency.
Until just a few months ago, former Baath party members were helping Islamists carry out terrorist attacks against US forces in Iraq.
So nice to see this reported. In Italy. /s
More bad news for American Liberals.
Chrissy Matthew’s and Olbermans’s heads are going to explode!
Oh, but that's impossible.
Ba'athists are hardcore secularists who would never have anything to do with Islamists like al-Qaeda.
That's what the traitorous anti-war posters here keep telling me.
Can the Baath party be trusted or is it anyone’s guess at this point?
Things lookin up and gettin brighter-
al-Qaeda gang bang continues.
The Surge = The Big Bang
We’ll see. Trust but verify.
I think they have been beaten so badly that they realize they are on the wrong side of history at this point.
They may hate US, but they are IRAQI’S first, and have GOT to see the slaughter looming if we fail...
But... but... the surge isn’t working! MSM told me all about it!/s
This is HUGE if (and really only if) this is real.
Al-Douri is the head of the Baathist faction of the Insurgency. Getting them over and against Al-Qaeda is groundshifting.
Patently false. Everyone knows there is no Al-Qaeda in Iraq! /s
.....He figures in the 55-card deck of “most wanted” officials ......
Isn’t he the red headded one? He must suuender and be brought to jusitce. There is no pardon for him.
According to the Washington Post, we have been paying some of these guys to join forces with the US and Iraq Government. Some are tribe leaders who may have fought against coalition forces. Hopefully this does not bite us in the azz.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080302322_pf.html
Sounds like a good ole fashion surrender to me.
Saddam's Guys Give Up
And the Democrats are deeply disappointed because this messes up their strategy to gain power.
Love it....
Trust, but cut the cards.
R. Reagan
I doubt that every member of the Baath Party was a rabid Saddamist. I say take a chance; grant them an opportunity to redeem their past, but endow them with trust slowly and with caution.
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