Britain in secret talks with Iraq rebels

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Sunday Times/ UK

May 20, 2007
Britain in secret talks with Iraq rebels
Uzi Mahnaimi, Ali Rifat and Marie Colvin

Britain is holding secret talks with leading insurgents in Iraq with the aim of dividing them from Al-Qaeda in a new drive to curb sectarian violence.

Dominic Asquith, the British ambassador to Baghdad, is said to have been coordinating the talks over recent months, along with other British representatives believed to be from MI6. Details of the initiative, which followed the failure of similar talks between insurgents and American officials, emerged yesterday as Tony Blair visited Iraq.

Middle Eastern sources said extensive talks between insurgents and British officials were under way. Some had taken place in private houses in the Kurdish north of Iraq, others outside the country, they said.

"Apart from Al-Qaeda, all the main insurgent groups took part," claimed a Kurdish source close to the discussions. "Representatives of the groups have met with the British several times in recent months."

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Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1813819.ece

[msongs]

1. if they're SECRET how do these guys know about them??? nt

[Theduckno2]

2. "...which followed the failure of similar talks between insurgents and American officials."

Another reminder that everything that Bushco touches turns to crap.

It is going to take a very long time to rebuild the catastrophe that is Iraq, but I am heartened to see that the British are engaging in diplomacy.

The sad part is that should these talks bring about some measure of progress in Iraq, I am sure there will be neocons who say the "Surge" brought them to the table.

[Brundle_Fly]

3. UhOh

sounds like diplomacy, lets hope Bush shuts this nightmare down...

:sarcasm:

[ohio2007]

4. The British are leaving, The British ARE LEAVING ! is the message

being shot around the world;


....
US President George Bush has been told to prepare for a British U-turn on Iraq once Gordon Brown becomes prime minister, a Sunday newspaper reports.

Bush has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement on British troop withdrawals during Brown's first 100 days in office, The Sunday Telegraph said.

.....
snip

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-prepared-for-iraq-uturn/2007/05/20/1179601220710.html