U.S. in surrender talks with Saddam’s cronies

By WND Staff

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In what is being described as the most serious dialogue yet established between Iraq and the United States, Pentagon officials opened a channel in the past four days and is relaying messages on its terms for a surrender.

Officials said Washington assured senior members of the Iraqi regime that they would be spared if they cooperated with the United States. In a gesture to demonstrate its sincerity, the United States allowed Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to leave the country and head for Cairo to discuss terms of surrender with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

Mubarak has asked to play a major role in these contacts.

In exchange, the White House has demanded proof of the Iraqis that they control the situation on the ground. The first demand is that no nonconventional weapons or medium-range missiles be used in any attack. The second demand is that Iraqi forces end any sabotage operations against oil wells and civilian infrastructure, such as bridges.

So far, the Iraqi leaders appear to have fulfilled most of these demands.

But this does not mean that Iraq has stopped fighting. On the contrary, U.S. intelligence expects what remains of the Iraqi regime to put up stiff resistance until a surrender agreement has been reached. Without a vigorous defense, Iraqi leaders will have no card to play in the negotiations.

Officials expect any agreement between Baghdad and Washington will probably include guarantees that many aides of Saddam will find safe haven outside the country and that there will be no purge of the government, security forces and military. But the officials said such talks will be limited for another few more days and will not allow the contacts to suspend or even slow down the advance to the Iraqi capital.

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