Did Kerry ever propose negotiating with the insurgency?

[Cocoa]

I know he was savaged by the GOP for proposing we negotiate with our allies, but did he ever propose doing what we are now doing under Bush?

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8894071

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi officials said on Sunday they were talking to tribal leaders, clerics and some groups linked to the Sunni Arab insurgency as part of attempts to draw more parties into Iraq's political process.

The officials said the talks, which have been going on for months, were part of broader efforts to build contacts with all quarters of Iraqi society, and described them as nothing new.

"Meetings take place all the time," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in Washington.

Rumsfeld compared it to contacts in Afghanistan between the U.S.-backed government there and elements in the Taliban to invite them into government to stop bloodshed.

more...

[Terran1212]

1. It is the right move -- but is it enough?

I'll take this from Naomi Klein (to the best of my memory):

"Even if the US left TOMORROW, the American corporations would still be well entrenched in the Iraqi economy."

They want sovereignty and liberation from being under the boot of the superpower. That really cannot happen until US troops and corporations leave.

And even then, most of the establishment's goals in Iraq have already been fulfilled.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[fedupinBushcountry]

9. Wow

I wonder why so much bashing is allowed on DU, when even the moderators, are allowed to do it. "IF" submitted, "sound familiar?"

To the OP, I will have to look it up. I just don't say NO without having facts behind it. Also anything Rumsfeld says is total BS propaganda in my book

[still_one]

3. frankly the story has a lot of holes in it

the so-called "insurgency" does NOT represent one unified group of people

Yes, we may have talked to one or two groups, probably Sunni, who are not to happy with their situation, but there are so many groups inside and out that dislike us it is a no win situation

[Terran1212]

4. You're absolutely right

I had the privelege of seeing the Iraqi Union Leader tour and they confirmed such sentiments..

[still_one]

6. which is another reason why we have already lost but do not realize it

The killing stopped in Viet Name when we left

[Cocoa]

5. the story doesn't imply a single group

it pretty clearly lays out the diversity of the groups involved.

[DrLazer]

7. That just takes the biscuit...

Just charming...they talked to the people who bombed the US base and the group that killed the Italian journalist, but Rummy feels justified because nobody went to chat with Zarqawi.

Any way you look at it, Nick Berg's family must be getting really salty right about now.

--DocL (first time writer, longtime reader)

[NMDemDist2]

8. Welcome to DU DocL

:hi:

[newyawker99]

10. Hi DrLazer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: