.Americans and British in secret talks with former Baathist General
BAGHDAD -- On April 18, American and British officials from a secretive unit called the Force Strategic Engagement Cell flew to Jordan to try to persuade one of Saddam Hussein's top generals -- the commander of the final defense of Baghdad in 2003 -- to return home to resume efforts to make peace with the new Iraq.
But the Iraqi commander, Lt. Gen. Raad Majid al-Hamdani, rebuffed them.
After a year of halting talks mediated by the Americans, he said, he concluded that Iraq's leader, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, simply was not interested in reconciliation.
The American appeal -- described by General Hamdani and not previously reported -- illustrates what could become one of the biggest obstacles to stability in Iraq. Mr. Maliki's pledges to reconcile with some of the most ardent opponents of his government have given way to what some say is a hardening sectarianism that threatens to stoke already simmering political tensions and rising anger over a recent spate of bombings aimed at Shiites.
On March 28, Mr. Maliki's Shiite-led government arrested a prominent Sunni leader on charges of heading a secret armed wing of Mr. Hussein's Baath Party. A week later, the prime minister accused Baathists of orchestrating car bombings that killed more than 40 people. On Monday, he lashed out again, saying the Baath Party was "filled with hate from head to toe."
Mr. Maliki's earlier effort to reunite the country was one of Washington's primary benchmarks for measuring political progress in Iraq. The goal was to separate Baathist opponents of the government who were considered more willing to trade violence for political power from intractable extremists, many of them religious.
Early last year, under intense American pressure, Mr. Maliki pushed through Parliament a law to ease restrictions on the return of Baath Party members to public life. But 15 months later, the law has yet to be put into effect.
Mr. Maliki's retreat risks polarizing Iraqis again and eroding hard-fought security gains. One hundred sixty people died in bombings on Thursday and Friday alone. There is no evidence that Baathists were involved, but fears are rising that they and jihadi insurgents are increasingly cooperating in areas, Baghdad especially, that have been largely quiet over the last year.
Mr. Maliki has changed his tone despite American pressure to reconcile with some officials under Mr. Hussein, most of them Sunni Arabs.
"He is no different from the political and religious leaders who are driven by emotions and animosity toward anything related to the past," General Hamdani said of Mr. Maliki, in a written response to questions about his talks with the government.
NYT
Why would he cooperate, he know exactly what day we leave. All he has to do is wait us out.
Kind of make you wonder what exactly is in that peace pipe?
But the Iraqi commander, Lt. Gen. Raad Majid al-Hamdani, rebuffed them.
After a year of halting talks mediated by the Americans, he said, he concluded that Iraq's leader, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, simply was not interested in reconciliation.
The American appeal -- described by General Hamdani and not previously reported -- illustrates what could become one of the biggest obstacles to stability in Iraq. Mr. Maliki's pledges to reconcile with some of the most ardent opponents of his government have given way to what some say is a hardening sectarianism that threatens to stoke already simmering political tensions and rising anger over a recent spate of bombings aimed at Shiites.
On March 28, Mr. Maliki's Shiite-led government arrested a prominent Sunni leader on charges of heading a secret armed wing of Mr. Hussein's Baath Party. A week later, the prime minister accused Baathists of orchestrating car bombings that killed more than 40 people. On Monday, he lashed out again, saying the Baath Party was "filled with hate from head to toe."
Mr. Maliki's earlier effort to reunite the country was one of Washington's primary benchmarks for measuring political progress in Iraq. The goal was to separate Baathist opponents of the government who were considered more willing to trade violence for political power from intractable extremists, many of them religious.
Early last year, under intense American pressure, Mr. Maliki pushed through Parliament a law to ease restrictions on the return of Baath Party members to public life. But 15 months later, the law has yet to be put into effect.
Mr. Maliki's retreat risks polarizing Iraqis again and eroding hard-fought security gains. One hundred sixty people died in bombings on Thursday and Friday alone. There is no evidence that Baathists were involved, but fears are rising that they and jihadi insurgents are increasingly cooperating in areas, Baghdad especially, that have been largely quiet over the last year.
Mr. Maliki has changed his tone despite American pressure to reconcile with some officials under Mr. Hussein, most of them Sunni Arabs.
"He is no different from the political and religious leaders who are driven by emotions and animosity toward anything related to the past," General Hamdani said of Mr. Maliki, in a written response to questions about his talks with the government.
NYT
Why would he cooperate, he know exactly what day we leave. All he has to do is wait us out.
Kind of make you wonder what exactly is in that peace pipe?
posted by madtom at 10:30 PM
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