Terrorists see ceasefire talk signaling U.S. defeat in Iraq
Militant leaders say Washington's attempt to make deal legitimizes violent 'resistance'
May 31, 2007
By Aaron Klein
worldnetdaily.com
TEL AVIV – Washington's announcement of talks with Iraqi militants about a cease-fire arrangement is a "big victory" for the insurgency and demonstrates the U.S. now recognizes the legitimacy of so-called terror groups, Palestinian terrorist leaders told WND.
In a briefing with reporters earlier today, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said U.S. commanders at all levels are being empowered to reach out for talks with militants, tribes, religious leaders and others, including insurgents and sectarian rivals.
"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," Odierno told reporters in a video conference from Baghdad.
Reacting to Odierno's announcement, Muhammad Abdel-El, spokesman and a leader of the Popular Resistance Committees terror group, called truce talks with insurgents "a big victory for the resistance."
"Americans are recognizing the resistance, the same resistance that they before called terrorism; now they are dealing with them, and this is the recognition of Iraqi resistance and recognition by the Americans of their own loss in Iraq," said Abdel-El.
The Popular Resistance Committees operates from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where it is responsible for scores of shootings, rocket attacks and suicide bombings. It was one of three groups that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping last June of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and is blamed for car bombing a U.S. convoy in Gaza in 2003, killing three American service contractors.
"This [talk of a cease fire] is a great achievement for the resistance in Iraq and this achievement will be complimented by more and more dead American soldiers they will carry in coffins to the U.S.," Abdel-El said.
Abu Nasser Aziz, the deputy commander of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the northern West Bank, told WND talks with Iraqi militants "shows America is recognizing its failure in Iraq and that the invasion of Iraq was judged by Allah to be a failure. This is a great victory for the resistance."
Together with the Islamic Jihad terror group, the Brigades took responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel the past two years.
Abu Abdullah, a leader of Hamas' so-called military wing in the Gaza Strip, said the negotiation of a cease-fire in Iraq "is proof that Iraq will be the end of America."
"The Americans didn't achieve anything with this invasion but to bring about their downfall."
Abu Abdullah said he suspects violence in Iraq will continue regardless of a cease-fire.
"Of course the resistance will continue," he said.
Earlier today, Odierno said he believed an agreement could be reached with Iraqi elements, including insurgents.
"I believe there are elements that are irreconcilable, but I believe the large majority are," Odierno said. "I believe about 80 percent are reconcilable, both Jaish al-Mahdi as well as Sunni insurgents.
"Prime Minister Maliki and the government of Iraq have to continue to reach out to all these groups ... bringing these groups into the political process so we can deal with their differences in a peaceful way instead of in violent ways," Odierno said. |
