Rumsfeld confirms Iraqi insurgency contacts

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14102457.htm

LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed on Tuesday there had been contacts between the Iraqi government and insurgents in the violence-racked country.

Declining to detail exactly who had been talking to who, the architect of the U.S-led invasion in 2003 told BBC television's Newsnight programme the contacts were broad ranging and crucial to establishing stability.

"It's a full spectrum of opinion and viewpoint, and the task is to not get people way in the far end, who have blood on their hands over here, it's just to get everyone to keep moving in the right direction towards support of the government," he said.

U.S. government and other officials have already confirmed reports that there have been tentative contacts with the insurgents who have killed hundreds of people in a spate of suicide bombings. kidnappings and attacks since the March 2003 invasion.

[daleo]

1. Wishful thinking on Rummy's part.

Or an attempt to "divide and conquer" the resistance. I can't see it working.