Running Out Of Options

"Time magazine reported in February that a meeting had taken place between one representative of the insurgents and two US military officials. Earlier this month it was claimed that indirect negotiations had begun through an intermediary." Sunday Times (06.26.05), via Billmon:

"After weeks of delicate negotiation involving a former Iraqi minister and senior tribal leaders, a small group of insurgent commanders apparently came face to face with four American officials seeking to establish a dialogue with the men they regard as their enemies. The talks on June 3 were followed by a second encounter 10 days later, according to an Iraqi who said that he had attended both meetings. Details provided to The Sunday Times by two Iraqi sources whose groups were involved indicate that further talks are planned in the hope of negotiating an eventual breakthrough that might reduce the violence in Iraq." US 'in talks with Iraq with Iraq rebels'

"According to an Iraqi commander, one of the Americans introduced himself as 'a representative of the Pentagon' and declared himself ready to 'find ways of stopping the bloodshed on both sides and to listen to demands and grievances'." "The Americans were then said to have launched into a lengthy session of questioning about the structure of the insurgency, which is far from a unified entity." "'It was a boring line of questioning that indicated an attempt to discover more about their enemy than about finding solutions,' one of the sources added. 'We told the translator to inform them that if they persisted with this line we would all walk out of the meeting.'" No one is being fooled here, at least on the Iraqi side. "Bush acknowledged on Friday that 'the way ahead is not going to be easy' and for once the Iraqi insurgent commander agreed with him." 'It looks like the Americans are in big trouble in Iraq and are desperate to find a way out,' the commander said. 'Why else would they have rounds of negotiations with people they label as terrorists?'" It's over. Rumsfeld confirms the Sunday Times' story. AP (06.26.05):

"Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld acknowledged Sunday that U.S. officials have met with insurgents in Iraq, after a British newspaper reported that two such meetings took place recently at a villa north of Baghdad." Rumsfeld Acknowledges U.S. Officials Met With Insurgents in Iraq