I’ve been criticized in the past for suggesting that the core of our policy in Iraq ought to be “we won’t quit.<\/i>” (and I’m very pleased that Bush seems to be doing at least one thing right, as in his speech he said that “We will never give in, We will never accept anything less than complete victory.” I kind of liked that…)<\/p>\n
To those who’ve been gently (and even not gently) critical of this view, let me offer this L.A. Times story as some explanation of why I keep holding fast to my position:<\/p>\n
Some Insurgents Want a Deal, Politician Says<\/b><\/p>\n
\nSome Sunni Arab insurgent groups linked to Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party are putting out feelers for a negotiated end of fighting in exchange for a timetable for a U.S. pullout from Iraq, a former government minister asserted Saturday, amid fresh signs that upcoming elections have altered the country’s political climate.<\/p>\n
\n…<\/b><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“They are eager to start talking, and the United States should take that initiative and start moving,” Samarrai said.<\/p>\n
\nPolitical solutions are inevitable, he said. “Nobody can crush anybody with weapons alone, and everybody knows that. We have to start talking. Let everyone sit and solve it, for God’s sake, because we are dying here like crazy.”<\/p>\n
\nSamarrai acknowledged Saturday that the groups he was referring to \u2014 Sunni nationalist and “patriotic” groups, many linked to Hussein’s former regime, army and security services \u2014 form just a part of the insurgency. The U.S. believes they are responsible for the bulk of roadside explosions, car bombs and ambushes targeting coalition troops and security forces.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Note that I absolutely support negotiations, as I absolutely supported negotiations with the Sinn Fein…but negotiations with a clear and bright line – political disagreements, yes; violence, no.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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