Rice: U.S. Will Not Negotiate for Soldier Release

[UpInArms]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4857118§ion=news

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will not negotiate for the release of a missing American soldier being held by insurgents in Iraq, the U.S. national security adviser said on Sunday.

Condoleezza Rice, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said the United States was taking unspecified measures to ensure security amid intensifying violence in Iraq in which about 100 U.S. soldiers have died since March 31, and which has included a spate of hostage-taking.

One of those believed being held is Pvt. Keith Matthew Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, who has been missing since April 9 and was identified on a broadcast tape on Friday aired by the Al Jazeera network.

Rice said while efforts were continuing to obtain the release of hostages, "I think you can be certain that negotiations with terrorists are not on this president's agenda."

...more...

[lebkuchen]

1. Unfortunately,

I'm afraid that is the wrong answer.

All of Spain negotiated, didn't it? Why can't the WH for our soldiers? Christ, it's negotiating right now in its attempts to bring in the UN and NATO to bail the U.S. out of this morass.

[mbperrin]

2. Rice to soldiers: Rot in hell!

can't say more, wouldn't be prudent.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Sent that tart to Iraq!

Let her take the place of Pvt. Maupin.

[dArKeR]

7. How is it possible that you posted exactly what I wast just about to post?

[IndianaGreen]

10. We are on the same wave length

The Iraqis referred to Maupin as a "prisoner." Having Rice refer to them as "terrorist" puts Maupin's life in jeopardy.

Let's make one thing clear, we are not fighting terrorists in Iraq. We are the terrorists!

[Just Me]

13. I have noticed some on-target mind-reading,...

*LOL*

Yeah, let's trade the whole Bush regime for peace in the ME,...we'll spread them around *LOL*!!!!

[Earth_First]

4. negotiations with terrorists are not on this president's agenda

"It's just one soldier Condi"

[kalian]

5. Hmmm...so much for "support our troops"....

:eyes:

[hadrons]

6. hey, just one less troop looking to collect vet benefits to Bush

[atreides1]

8. Remember

This administration can always get more cannon fodder, and one Private is not as important as Bush being tough on "terra".

So says the gap toothed hag.

Okay I made it up myself, but I'll bet that's exactly what she's thinking.

[dArKeR]

9. I just heard on TV that Iraq rebels said they trade Maupin for ONE Iraqi

prisoner being held by the US and the US said NO. I can't believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bush is psychotic! Why shouldn't Bush be tested for sanity and ability to govern!

[koopie57]

11. if these sons of bitches

and that gap toothed piece of turd won't negotiate, they better get their worthless carcasses over there and take his place then. They have some f*cking nerve.

[Just Me]

15. You forget that some are more equal, more free and more valuable

than the rest of us. TTTHHEEERRRREEEEE's "democracy", neocon-style!!!

[LiberalFighter]

12. They are letting condi make that decision?

[Flagg]

14. I'm afraid this kid is gonna die then Condi.

And I hope he haunts your nightmares until the end of your miserable life.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

16. like hell we don't negotiate

osama wanted US forces out of saudi arabia and we pulled out of saudi arabia. but the liberal media didn't cover that.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. Was Saddam's "Regular" Army a Terrorist Army?

The word terrorist is very easy to whip out to label others. We could potentially use it to delegitimize any military force. We could have used it to describe the Viet Cong or even the regular North Vietnamese Army, if we were still fighting in Vietnam today. The fact is, there was no surrender of the Iraqi regular army. There was no armistice. Most of the Generals did not surrender their commands. The Republican Guard and the rest simply dissolved into the urban jungle. How do we know if they have or have not regrouped and recruited others? Are we fighting a regular army in Iraq? I don't know. But probably PART of it IS the remnant of the Iraqi regular army. And even if it isn't, the insurgents may consider themselves a regular army. I for one would propose that we stop using an easy term like terrorist to label any enemy we dislike and to argue against them with facts instead.

[keithyboy]

18. Terrorists are anyone we don't like. and that changes with the wind.

Musharaff is a real terrorist with a national army. Sharon is a real terrorist with WMDs and the backing of the US. Real terrorists are now in control of Haiti and with our backing. At one time we were allied with Osama when they were fighting the Russians.