US negotiates with released insurgents

After releasing several "high-level" insurgent leaders from the Sunni community late last year, including Sunni Baathist associate of Saddam named Sattam Quaood, the US has entered into negotiation with various militant insurgent leaders. The New York Times/IHT described these negotiations, which US officials refused to call "negotiations" (merely "meetings"):

Abu Amin, an insurgent leader in Yusefiya and a former captain in the Iraqi Army, said the Americans were especially interested in securing the help of some insurgent groups against Al Qaeda.

"Yes, we know with whom they meet," said Amin of the Americans. He said the Americans asked many questions about Al Qaeda. "Do you have a relationship with Al Qaeda? Can you help us attack Al Qaeda? Can you uproot Al Qaeda from Iraq?"

Amin said that in December the Americans had released from prison, Sattam Quaood, a former associate of Saddam Hussein, as a "goodwill gesture" intended to persuade the insurgents to cooperate more fully.

Quaood was released, along with more than 20 other detainees, over the objections of the Shiite-led Iraqi government. Amin said the release was warmly welcomed by some insurgent groups.

"One of the proofs of goodwill of the Americans was to release Sattam al-Qaood," Amin said. "It's like a test for the Americans."

The diplomat said that the release of Quaood had nothing to do with insurgent claims.

"We did not do that with that in mind," he said. "But I've noted in discussions with some Baathist types that this was taken as a goodwill gesture."

In an interview in Jordan, Quaood said he was not aware that his release was part of any deal with insurgents. But he said that on a trip to Anbar Province following his release, he was approached by insurgent leaders who asked him to "please represent them during negotiations with Americans."