Friday, June 04, 2004

Negotiations

June 2, 2004: US and Shiite militia forces have agreed to withdraw from the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Kufa and turn over security there to police.

...Colonel Brad May, commander of the US 2nd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, said the Americans had agreed to move their forces "to the periphery of these sensitive areas" of Najaf and Kufa "while the police can move in".
  IC Wales article

June 4, 2004: Clashes erupted Friday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, as U.S. troops battled militiamen loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The U.S. military says four American soldiers were wounded after gunmen attacked a U.S. army patrol near the mainly Shi'ite district in Baghdad known as Sadr City.

Fighting also broke out after insurgents fired mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades at a police station in Sadr City. At least three Iraqis were killed.

The clash occurred, as Shi'ite negotiators continued efforts to end the fighting in southern Iraq.
  Voice of America article

April 14, 2004: Four unidentified bodies were found near Baghdad yesterday after U.S. officials said kidnappers in Iraq were holding about 40 foreigners from 12 nations. The officials vowed not to negotiate for their freedom.

"We will not negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers," said coalition adviser Dan Senor...
  Military.com article

April 11, 2004: MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL: We will not negotiate with terrorists, plain and simple.
  CNN article

Al Sadr insisted he would settle for "nothing less" than a fully elected leadership, saying the U.S. has shown "impertinence and domination" in appointing a new prime minister and president.

The cleric threatened to stage protests and sit-ins against the U.N. if it doesn't change its policy in Iraq.

Al-Sadr's uprising began when the coalition shut down his newspaper, arrested a top aide and issued an arrest warrant charging him with the murder of a moderate cleric in April 2003.
  Boston Herald article

And what a great idea that was to shut down his newspaper, huh? Freedom of speech and all that.

Bush, 57, also presented the pope with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award granted to a civilian.

"His principled stand for peace and freedom has inspired millions and helped topple communism and tyranny," Bush said.
  Bloomberg article

Talk isn't as cheap as it used to be.