Saddam may escape noose in deal to halt insurgency

[ECH1969]

Saddam Hussein could avoid the gallows under a secret proposal by insurgent leaders that Iraq's new administration is "seriously considering", a senior government source said yesterday.

A reprieve is understood to be among the central demands of Sunni nationalists and former members of Saddam's Ba'ath party who have reportedly begun negotiations with the government amid the backdrop of a bloody insurgency which claimed 30 lives during the weekend.

Officials say they are looking for a way of joining the political process after January's election, which was boycotted by most of the once-powerful Sunni minority.

"We are trying to reach out to the insurgents," the source said. "We don't expect them to stop fighting unconditionally. Sending Saddam to prison for the rest of his life is not a huge price for us to pay, but it will save them a lot of face."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/11/wirq11.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/11/ixnewstop.html

[Alpharetta]

1. Stupid

The insurgency has a diplomatic arm capable of sealing the deal?

We've been told Jordan, Iran, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah etc are supplying fighters. They'll be part of the deal too?

Al Sadr? Al Zarqawi? They're part of the deal?

Complete bullshit article. A useless story with zero basis in reality.

[ECH1969]

3. The article gets into that a bit

That the foreign fighters have already said hell no to ever laying down their arms.

I think the deal would be made with the Al-Douri and the ex-Baathists. And, yes the different parts of the insurgency have diplomatic arms, it was through a deal with Sadr's men that the violence in May was ended and Sadr told the Madhi Army to quiet down for now. Of course the foreign fighters only seem to have a diplomatic arm when it comes to hostage negotiations.

[southernboy]

17. there is a diplomatic arm to the resistance, but this is bs n/t

[ECH1969]

19. that was all that I was saying

That there was a diplomatic arm

[southernboy]

21. and wouldn't diplomacy be a novel approach-calling State n/t

[Teaser]

2. This is a crap story.

The Telegraph has run more crap than any other UK source. They are the ones that claimed we have Bin Laden "surrounded" last year.

I guarantee very few insurgents give a shit about Saddam.

[rodeodance]

4. new Kurk Pres is against the death penalty (good)

Saddam may escape noose in deal to halt insurgency
By Adrian Blomfield in Baghdad
(Filed: 11/04/2005)

Saddam Hussein could avoid the gallows under a secret proposal by insurgent leaders that Iraq's new administration is "seriously considering", a senior government source said yesterday.

A reprieve is understood to be among the central demands of Sunni nationalists and former members of Saddam's Ba'ath party who have reportedly begun negotiations with the government amid the backdrop of a bloody insurgency which claimed 30 lives during the weekend.

Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein: life in prison

Officials say they are looking for a way of joining the political process after January's election, which was boycotted by most of the once-powerful Sunni minority.

"We are trying to reach out to the insurgents," the source said. "We don't expect them to stop fighting unconditionally. Sending Saddam to prison for the rest of his life is not a huge price for us to pay, but it will save them a lot of face."

....The official said those involved in the negotiations included senior members of Saddam's Fedayeen militia and the Jaish Mohammed, a grouping of former army officers that operates under the guise of an Islamist organisation.

But it is unclear if those at the talks genuinely represent a majority of the deeply fragmented insurgency. While a deal could represent an important step towards ending the violence that has plagued postwar Iraq, a reprieve for Saddam would infuriate many in the country. He is unlikely to come to trial before the end of this year, but Jalal Talabani, Iraq's new president, has already begun to prepare his people for a possible reprieve.

Asked about the fate of Saddam in an interview yesterday in the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, the president, who is a Kurd, stated his personal opposition to a death sentence.

"I am among the lawyers who signed an international petition against the death penalty around the world and it would be a problem for me if Iraqi courts issued death sentences," he said....

[Teaser]

6. Why is this a reply to me?

It's just a reprise of the info in the Telegraph story.

[bemildred]

7. 100% grain fed bullshit. A push piece. nt

[Art_from_Ark]

14. "Telegraph"

Might as well post articles from the National Enquirer and Midnight Globe while we're at it

[DURHAM D]

5. Can we be that naive ?

The insurgents aren't fighting about Saddam - its about us. Now, if we put Bush, Cheney, Rice, Powell, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Chalabi and Bremmer in jail they might stand down.

Oh yeah, we would also need to close our 14 permanent military bases and get the hell out of town.

[Disturbed]

10. Saddam's trial

I feel that there is not a stong case against him after reviewing the charges. Two years and where is the case? The U.S. certainly cannot try him or his Junta. The U.S. is in violation of Intl. Law regarding the illegal invasion of Iraq.

[cal04]

27. Seems to me this is why they're fighting. They are not stupid people

and they know this is not an Iraqi government, but a US one

President Jalal Talabani was an agent of the US, it said, and he would never be forgiven for his "infidelity" and "spilling of the blood of Muslims". The statement, which could not be verified, was posted on a website used by Islamist militants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4430579.stm

[NNN0LHI]

8. Well, we do need someone to hand the keys to...SOON

He is as good as anyone else. Apologize for Shock And Awe, put all his statues back up, and run like a motherscratcher. Peace with honor. There you have it. One, two, three, four, what are we fighting for...

Don

[0007]

16. This one is indeed rich with pig shit

Iraqi troops are trained by US security advisors in front of statues of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad

[Dancing_Dave]

9. OH, WHAT TOTAL B.S.!

Only those who have absolutely 0 interest in TRUTH and have decided to believe whatever the corporate media lying idiots dish out would believe any such thing! Naturally, you are responsible for your own existential decisions, and if you have decided to define yourself as one of the sucker beings who believes whatever the corporate media liars call "news" and don't givadamn about truth O.K. Good Luck Too You Total Sucker, I just hope I don't meet you on the other side. Because one thing is certain: WE AREN'T BOTH GOING TO THE SAME HELL.

[Mr.Green93]

11. Good idea

send him to Elba.

[hector459]

12. Why didn't we negotiate a deal with Saddam when he wanted one?

Could have avoided the invasion of Iraq.

Why didn't we negotiate a deal for Osama with the Taliban when they offered it?

[Dancing_Dave]

13. BECAUSE THE BUSH AND BINLADIN FAMILIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN THIS TOGETHER!

There's no point in running around like a total sucker being with it's head cut off who believes the official myths about what happened to the WTC and Pentagon on 9/11/2001...the corporate media lies they bogusly call "news" were all for you: THOSE WHO DARE NOT THINK FOR YOURSELVES.

[southernboy]

18. kick

[inflection]

15. it's bs... nt

[ECH1969]

20. This looks a hell of alot like secondary confirmation

Talabani opposes death for Saddam

CAIRO: Iraq's new president, Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani said that he opposed the idea of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein being sentenced to death.

"I am among the lawyers who signed an international petition against the death penalty in the world and it would be problem for me if Iraqi courts issued death sentences," he told Asharq Al Awsat newspaper.

Kurds were among the communities who suffered the most under the iron-fisted rule of Saddam. Among the main charges facing him and his henchmen is the brutal Anfal campaign against the Kurds carried out in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, Iraq's newly-elected deputies tried yesterday to bring some order to their meetings but were quickly mired in debates on rough Iraqi police treatment and when and where to meet.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=109175&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28022

Why is he saying this now?

[NNN0LHI]

22. The US can't put Saddam on trial and they know it

Who would his co-conspirators be? Old man Bush, Rumsfeld, Reagan (in absentia), etc. Thats the problem here.

Don

[Jack Rabbit]

23. This is so stupid, only a neocon could have thought of it

There is no Iraqi insurgency. There are many. Saddam's old guard is one of them.

However, any agreement that Saddam makes will have no effect of Zarqawi and his people. They are fundamentalists and were persecuted by Saddam.

It won't have any effect on Sadr. Sadr's father was murdered by Saddam. He equates Americans with Saddam.

Do they really think that making a deal with Saddam is going to solve their problems with these other people? What hooey!!

[NNN0LHI]

24. The only people they need to fool are Fox news viewers in America

That is not too hard to do.

Don

[Jack Rabbit]

25. Wrong.

The hundreds of thousands who turned out in Iraq yesterday aren't fooled.

[NNN0LHI]

26. You are dreaming

Our soldiers will kill a bunch of Iraqis. The Iraqis will kill a bunch of our soldiers. Bill O'Reilly will tell his brain dead viewers it is all worth it, and they hate us for our freedoms. And thats the end of that. It been working like a charm for over two years now. Where you been?

Don

[Jack Rabbit]

29. I've been the same place you have been

Except I seldom waste time watching O'Reilly. Moqtaba al-Sadr certainly doesn't. I wonder if he knows who O'Reilly is.

Last time I checked, it wasn't working like a charm. Fifteen hundred American dead and counting isn't very charming.

This last week, my 21-year-old son spent some time with a friend of his who was on leave from the Navy and is scheduled to ship out to the Persian Gulf soon. "It may be the last time I see him for two years," he said.

I've known the young man since he was in his mid-teens. I like him. I hope we see him again in two years.

[NNN0LHI]

30. Screw Muqtada al-Sadr and the horse he rode in on

I don't think you need to worry too much about your sons friend if he is in the navy either. Unless he dies from boredom. Last time I checked Sadr didn't have any submarines, battle ships, or aircraft, to sink any of our ships with. I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about his health. I think we have a better chance of getting hit by a car that you sons friend does of dying while at sea from Muqtada al-Sadr.

Don

[Jack Rabbit]

31. You seem to miss the point

You're right about my son's friend. He is more likely to die of boredom on a ship. I'm thankful for that.

You seem to underestimate Sadr as much as you overestimate O'Reilly. Sadr was able to hold off American troops last year and I think he can do it again if he feels it is necessary. Iraq is still a dangerous place.

[Dinger]

28. Hmmm, Seems LIke News On Saddam has Been Sparse Lately (nt)

[daleo]

32. What's the real deal here?

They think a kangaroo trial of Saddam Hussein will be met with less world-wide revulsion if capital punishment is taken off the table. So, they are trying to figure out a way to try Saddam without spilling the beans on BFEE's past dealings (Reagan's too, and assorted Iraqi stooges for two decades). Then, he can be hidden away until he dies, like Noriega of Panama.

[NNN0LHI]

35. Every time the US was ready to put him on trial someone from...

...his defense team hits the airways with the truth about who helped him get away with all the shit he pulled. And all those people who helped and encouraged him just happen to be from past Republican administrations. It is called a Mexican standoff for lack of a better term. So it appears to me there won't be no trial.

Don

[lovuian]

33. He's dying of Luekemia!!!

Why rush it???

[Theduckno2]

34. I think they have a problem with Saddam Hussein.

1. He is too high profile to dissappear into an offshore detention facility. 2. He may be able to provide evidence of US collaboration to some of his crimes (chemical weapons or the invasion of Kuwait). 3. A trial may produce evidence against this or previous administrations. 4. Given the recent anti-American demonstrations in Iraq, an Iraqi court, backed by their government, may be more than willing to hear any such evidence. This may just be a way for the Administration to make lemonade (reduction in violence to allow troops to leave) out of lemons.