(Senior) Officials: U.S. Talking Surrender With Iraqi Military Personnel

CNN.com ^ | March 12, 2003 11:46 AM | CNN Correspondant John King from the White House

[ewing]

Officials: United States talking surrender with Iraqi Military Personnel

Surrender Talks

United States officials said Wednesday that surrender negotiations have secretly begun with key Iraqi military officials in hopes that some military units will not fight United States and coalition forces if there is war.

The Pentagon is not handling these communications, officials said, but instead other elements of the United State government are handling them.

One senior official has said that some parts of the Iraqi military already may have agreed not to fight.

[Destro]

The only ones that will fight are the Republican Guards in and around Baghdad. They are from Saddam's tribe and have nothing to lose--the Shiites and Kurds and other SUnni Arabs will be gunning for them even if we occupy Iraq and try to make everone live in peace. The oil wealth is in their hands and that tribe wll fight for it rather than allow an American to manage it and spread the wealth to al Iraqis.

Don't get too excited.

[AgentEcho]

We may not get a war after all..

So what... A victory by any means is still a victory.
Æ

[ewing]

Exactly, Saddam is probably deciding which general he wants to shoot for treason right now! (even though he doesn't have a clue what's going on)

[hispanarepublicana]

Sounds like a Rovian move straight out of the playbook!

When something works, I watch and try to emulate it closely...even if it's just in "lobbying" my husband to put the toilet seat back down and let me have the remote every now and then.

[Cap Huff]

CNN is at it again with its awful headlines. At first glance it gives an impression like the U.S. is surrendering. I know it says then Iraq, but I wonder whether it is worded this way to grab attention.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It worked with Stalin. The Nazis tricked him into destroying the entire High Command of the Soviet military.

[ewing]

Correct, Saddams elite '99' Presidential guard are really the only ones who will fight-that's why I'm guessing he pulled back 65,000 troops in two concentric rings for a siege of Baghdad.

[steveegg]

If we don't get a war in Iraq, then the Turkish refusal of a northern front and our response ought to be put to good use anyway. Let's REALLY secure the southern flank and have some vengeance for 9/11.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Sorry. Forgot who we were talking about for a moment there.

[P-Marlowe]

Perhaps the Iraqis are even closer to the French than previously imagined...

When the French surrender they surrender their freedom and their principles. When Iraquis surrender they wash their hands of tyranny.

Any Iraqui who surrenders without engaging our troops should be given a coaltion uniform and a weapon and be allowed to fight along side those who would liberate their country. Then when they are done, they can have all the real estate in France as a payment for their services.

[Let's Roll]

"What the hell are you gonna complain about now?"

"We're bullies and it just isn't fair" said in that whiney Al Franken voice?

[ewing]

Saddam and his Generals final resting place..

[VANHALEN2002]

Interesting. You have to know that the president hasn't even pulled his "ace" card yet.

[Poohbah]

This may be the US using the Heydrich-Tukhachecvskiy play.

[Destro]

agreed--and will Freepers stop having orgasms whenever they hear of iraqi soldiers giving up before the fight. Those poor souls giving up are gangpressed youths who have no beef with us and are fodder for Saddam's Republican Guards.

If Saddam has any strategic ability he is drawing us into Baghdad and urban warfare, where his tribe will fight not for him but to keep themselves alive from other vengful Iraqis and to secure the oil wealth they now control. They would fight us even if Saddam was not there because of those reasons.

[TLBSHOW]

Tommy Franks has arrived, ABC news 1:00PM

[ewing]

From the 'eye in the sky..'

[madison46]

This proves the French have been advising Iraq's military.

I've long said france is PR preping Saddam, but looks like the ties are deeper ;-)

[Portnoy]

The report comes from US Officials. They know that Saddam watches CNN. Why not leak some propaganda to scare the beejeebus outta him...

[ewing]

And the reports of Iraq soldiers blending into the civilan populace taking off their uniforms would probably necessitate a lightening strike to Baghdad.