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The U.S. military is working more aggressively to forge cease-fires with Iraqi militants and quell the violence around Baghdad, judging that 80 percent of enemy combatants are "reconcilable," a top U.S. commander said Thursday. A.P.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, speaking to Pentagon reporters by way of video conference, says that he's pushing his officers to talk with the tribes, religious and political leaders and some of the smaller insurgent groups in order to stop the violence in Iraq. He also says that he might not be able to make his scheduled September assessment of the situation in Iraq.
Raymond Odierno: "We are talking about cease-fires, and maybe signing some things that say they won't conduct operations against the government of Iraq or against coalition forces. We believe a large majority of groups within Iraq are reconcilable and are now interested in engaging with us. But more importantly, they want to engage and become a part of the government of Iraq."
Stemming the violence in and around the capital city is key to giving the Iraqi government time to stabilize and move toward reconciliation with the warring sectarian factions. That would then allow the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops.
Odierno said he believes that about 80 percent of the enemy fighters — including key Sunni insurgent groups and Shiite militia — could be brought into the political process. The remainder, he said, are largely al-Qaida operatives who will have to captured or killed.
The press in this country need to stop with the bullshit about our troops being withdrawn from Iraq because we all know that this isn't going to happen no matter what the Democrats or the military says. We are in Iraq until hell freezes over or until Bush, the military, and the Democrats get us all killed. You do not build a nearly $600 million dollar embassy compound with walls so high that the only way to see the place is by air unless you intend on staying for quite some time.
The United States may withdraw some troops, but the delusion of all of our men and women coming is never going to happen, so get use to it.
A cease fire amongst the groups in Iraq? That isn't going to happen in our lifetimes either. That would go against the Bush regime's plans, or maybe not. If this administration is pushing for a cease fire, it would only be to get the groups to agree to the ExxonMobile oil bill that Bush wants the Iraqis to agree to.
Tags: Raymond Odierno Iraq insurgents
