Of course, this is only being considered because of the American failure to understand that the mujahedin with whom they would be making agreements would view such agreements only as temporary respites to allow them to gather strength to fight again.
“Insurgent deal possible, Iraqi leader says,” from the Seattle Times, with thanks to Mackie:
BAGHDAD, Iraq “” Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Sunday that he thinks a deal is possible with seven Iraqi insurgent groups after a series of contacts involving his office and U.S. officials.
“The Americans have entered into negotiations with some of these groups with my blessing,” a statement issued by Talabani’s office quoted him as saying. “I think it is possible to reach an agreement with seven armed groups that visited me and who I met with.”
Talabani did not say what the deal could entail. He also did not identify the seven groups, except to say they do not represent what he called “Saddamis” or Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born extremist who heads al-Qaida in Iraq.
U.S. officials have for several months acknowledged holding meetings with intermediaries of homegrown Iraqi insurgent groups, hoping to draw them into the political process. Embassy officials in Baghdad said they are unaware of any new developments that suggest a deal is imminent.
“We haven’t entered into negotiations. We’ve had talks. That’s what we’ve been saying all along,” said embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton. “We’ve had contacts with intermediaries of these groups encouraging them to join the political process.”