BAGHDAD, July 22, 2007
U.S. And Iran Set Date For Iraq Talks
Ambassador-Level Conference To Happen In Baghdad On July 24
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Mourners carry the body of Sheik Abdullah Falak, an aide to Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, from the Imam Ali shrine to his burial in the holy city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 21, 2007. (AP)
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The two sides will sit down together on Tuesday, according to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and U.S. Embassy spokesman Philip Reeker, amid U.S. allegations that Tehran is supporting violence Shiite militias in the country, but Zebari's comment was the first confirmation of a date.
"I can confirm that the United States and Iran have agreed to meet on July 24th in Baghdad," Zebari told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He said the discussions would be at the ambassadorial leve and would stay focused on the situation in Iraq as opposed to U.S.-Iran tensions. Reeker also confirmed the date but said he had no other information to what has previously been announced.
Since the last meeting — in Baghdad, in late May — the need to show progress is even more urgent, reports CBS News' Dan Raviv. That's one reason for Tuesday's meeting.
It won't be easy. The United States claims Iran's special forces gave the "green light" to smugglers to bring explosives and sophisticated roadside bombs into Iraq.
Iran has complaints against the United States: charging four Iranian-Americans were sent to Teheran, part of a wider plan to overthrow the Islamic Republic, adds Raviv.
Iraq's fragile government has been pressing for another meeting between the two nations with the greatest influence over its future, and Iran has repeatedly signaled its willingness to sit down.
The May 28 meeting marked a break in a 27-year diplomatic freeze and was expected to have been followed within a month by a second encounter. But following that meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials said Iran had not scaled back what the United States alleges is a concerted effort to arm militants and harm U.S. troops.
At the same time, Iran has called for the release of five Iranians detained in Iraq, whom the United States has said are the operations chief and other members of Iran s elite Quds Force, which is accused of arming and training Iraqi militants. Iran says the five are diplomats in Iraq with permission of the government.
As recently as Sunday, U.S. troops detained two suspected weapons smugglers who may linked to Iran's elite Quds force, the military said. The suspects and a number of weapons were seized during a raid on a rural farm compound in eastern Iraq, near the Iranian border, according to the statement.
"The suspects may be associated with a network of terrorists that have been smuggling explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), other weapons, personnel and money from Iran into Iraq," the military said, referring to powerful, armor-piercing roadside bombs that have killed hundreds of American forces.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. wanted to use the meeting to warn Iran against continuing its support for militants, and he offered no explanation for the apparent change of heart about meeting with Tehran.
Iraq had hoped to arrange a higher-level meeting between Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, but the two exchanged only stiff pleasantries during a recent international conference on Iraq's security in Egypt.
The United States is pursuing a two-track strategy with Iran that reflects the high stakes in any engagement with a nation President Bush accuses of bankrolling terrorism and building a nuclear bomb.
The fitful talks in Baghdad are one element. Then there are the U.S. Navy's exercises in the Persian Gulf this spring and a U.S. push to impose new U.N. sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
The United States broke off diplomatic ties with Iran following the 1979 storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the holding of American hostages for 444 days.
Any direct talks between the two nations are rare, and even fleeting encounters at larger gatherings or diplomatic dinners are scrutinized for clues to the future of a troubled relationship.
Iran denies the U.S. allegations about its activities in neighboring Iraq, which like Iran has a majority Shiite Muslim population.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 89 CommentsRe: "U.S. Embassy spokesman Philip Reeker"
Who is his assistant? Sammy sh|tstain?!!!;-)
An Iran/Iraq Shiite "Superstate".
Hey, Jew boy Zionists Kristol, Perle, Addington, Wurmser, Feith, Wolfowitz (etc.)...YOUR plans backfired and bit you in the a$$. YOU lying twerps made YOUR beloved Israel LESS secure. What a bunch of idiot losers...
It's time to get these two fruit-cake presidents, Bush and Ahmadinejad, out of power.
'tbweb/didntinhale' seems to be suffering from an identity crisis again. Can we add 'down-ndirty' to its list of screen-names?
Posted by FeelFree1 at 08:11 PM : Jul 22, 2007,,,
FeelFree1, why are you acting like an *** Posting my name in an area where I have no further comments? I Posted my Jewish friend told me he thinks Israel belongs to the Palestinians, some of my other Jewish friends think the same. I am completely confused about the Middle East now, my previous thoughts are proving to be wrong. I admitted I don't know enough about the topic and will shut up about it. I know how to admit when I am wrong, I'm not a self-serving *** like you who supports the enemy killing Americans in Iraq because we're not suppose to be there. Maybe you should learn a lesson from me and shut up as well when you don't know what the fvck you're talking about! ***! Stop Posting my name here, I have no more to say on this topic! identity crisis that!
It's also too bad no one in the Bush administration is qualified to conduct diplomacy.
We can expect this dog and pony show to result in the Bush administration claiming they tried, but the Iranians refused to obey George Bush's orders.
In other words, just more deny, delay and obfuscate, hoping George Bush can make it to January 2009 without having to concede defeat or being impeached.
George Bush is the worst president in US history. He (Cheney, et al) should be indicted for war crimes upon his removal from office.
Re: "FeelFree1, why are you acting like an *** Posting my name in an area where I have no further comments?"
And yet, you responded within 16 minutes!!!
What a dope!!!!
You are the worst Poster on these CBS Blogs, worst than even lars008! You s u c k and you s u c k absolutely! How long did that take? LOL
Iran is the real reason that we are in the middle East.
Under how many screen-names do you plan to echo your stupidity?
That's an idea that only someone like you would think of! You Post garbage under the pathetic screen-name FreeFree1 and then log on with another screen-name and agree with your own Posted garbage, attempting to give your traitor views credibility! I only use one screen-name, that's all I need. I don't like you under any screen-name, anyone who thinks its OK for Americans to be killed because of failed leadership should be deported no matter if they are U.S. born or not. If you sympathize with the enemy then you should go live among them. Your anti-U.S. rhetoric crosses the line and goes too far, even past the extreme left!
'tbweb/didntinhale/down-ndirty/Republic1776'
Only 7 minutes to respond this time!!!
What a pathetic and transparent fool!!!
Posted by j-whitman at 09:50 PM : Jul 22, 2007
US18988, didntinhale, mudrose, One_American, pwrslm.....I don't know man....there are at least a few that are worse then lars.....
;-)
Re: "US18988, mudrose, One_American, pwrslm"
Are these all just you, too?
The illegitimate Bush-puppet has just signed, on July 17, 2007, another of his "Executive Orders", making it a crime, punishable by forfeiture of property, to carry out acts of "violence" in protest of the illegal war of aggression against Iraq.
According to this order:
"I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people."
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html
Anyone that has experience at political demonstrations has seen it time, and again. The police attack non-violent demonstrators, then justify their abuses by falsely charging them with committing a violent act.
The angry, torch-bearing mob remedy is looking better every day!
Posted by j-whitman at 09:50 PM : Jul 22, 2007,,,
yeah, maybe you're right! LOL
Posted by FeelFree1 at 10:00 PM : Jul 22, 2007,,,
If I were to pick a new screen-name it would be FeelFree0 LOL
You know, like in FeelFree Zero! LOL
I still like that other screen-name someone suggested for you, FeelSicko1!! That's a good fit!
Who will get up and walk out on this one?
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The blame for this lies squarely with the Democowards forcing the republicans to "talk to our enemies" as suggested by the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Surrender Group. Don't forget that Cheney/Bush have always wanted to bomb Iran-Cheney's still trying.
This is what you get when you have "pragmatists/realists" (ie-spineless imbeciles) having sway in Congress who would rather appease/submit to our would-be murders instead of wiping them out. The war between Islam and the West (or Iran/USA) is far from over. Hopefully given time, we'll finally go after all of those Islamists who wish our destruction and send them to their terrorist paradise.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 08:11 PM : Jul 22, 2007
__________________________
The morons are suffering from the "...ship ain't sinkin'; Capt. Bush/Cheney is still here..." syndrome. LOL!!!
Incompetent Bush/Cheney should have "abandoned ship" long ago and let someone capable be in charge.
Who is his assistant? Sammy sh|tstain?!!!;-)
Posted by FeelFree1 at 06:22 PM : Jul 22, 2007
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A real intelligent comment from a total moron!
You don't understand that Bush and Cheney LIED us into this NEEDLESS DISASTER War?? Do your homework.
I agree that the Democrats are a bunch of cowards, unwilling to confront the Cheney/Bush draft dodgers, who have Fueled Terrorism, Wasted $500 Billion, cost the lives of 3,600 Troops, maimed thousands more, caused a few hundred thousand Iraqi deaths, destroyed cities, left a couple million refuges who have fled Iraq...
In addition to the Iraq Disaster based on deliberate lies, they have given huge tax breaks to the filthy rich, tried to "privatize" social security, fueled the trade deficit, illeagally wiretapped our internet emails, and rung up massive budget deficits. All while the planet is warming up and our jobs are being outsourced.
On the plus side, Exxon and Haliburton stocks have soared, the super wealthy are getting even richer, and it looks like they may get the Iraqi Oil Law passed after much arm twisting of the Iraqi parliment (which would give US Corporations control and profits from 2/3 of the Iraqi Oil Reserves -- Mission Accomplished!).
If you support Cheney/Bush you are either ignorant, super-rich, a total idiot or un-American. Take your pick.
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What do Christians/Evangelists have to do with it? Stopping Christians won't stop Islamic terrorism-but then you're a conspiracy theorist so nonsensical things make sense in your imbalanced mind.
776'
Under how many screen-names do you plan to echo your stupidity?
Posted by FeelFree1 at 09:39 PM : Jul 22, 2007
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A number equal to the number of years you spent in first grade...moron.
Sounds like you are still in first grade...
Re: "If you support Cheney/Bush you are either ignorant, super-rich, a total idiot or un-American. Take your pick."
Very good points, as usual, but why can't they be "all of the above", under different screen-names, like 'tbweb/didntinhale/down-ndirty/Republic1776'?
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Or, maybe I know what's going on better than lunatic leftists that swallow jihadist propaganda.
If you're well-read, why not pick up a copy of the Quran and also read on the spread of Islam throughout the world.
This war is the real thing-the terrorism you're witnessing is a global jihad whose intent is to destroy democracy and Islamify the world by any means possible.
I'd recommend shelving the 9/11 wacko theories and start reading mainstream scholarship on what's really going on.
How is that green ale?
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We invaded Iraq to topple Saddam and we accomplished that goal. The aim wasn't to build a new nation, but that job fell in our lap because the muslim savages went back to being themselves once a brutal dictator was ousted.
Iraq's a laughing-stock of the world, I mean have you ever heard of a country where the citizens slaughter each other in order to make an occupying nation leave? lol
No need to spam to get my attention, such behaviour reflects poorly on you.
______________________
Won't do much good if there's a major regime change; and there will be a regime change unless we stay there to protect the oil, and kill more Iraqis and get more Americans killed.
I think we should send Coward Bush & Dicckless Cheney over there, put gun in their hands and send them out on patrol. LOL!! They would probably end up shooting each other.
Faith Freedom International is a grassroots movement of ex-Muslims. Its goals are to (a) unmask Islam and show that it is an imperialistic ideology akin to Nazism but disguised as religion and (b) to help Muslims leave it, end this culture of hate caused by their "us" vs. "them" ethos and embrace the human race in amity. We strive for the unity of Mankind through the elimination of Islam, the most insidious doctrine of hate. Islam can't be reformed, but it can be eradicated. It can't be molded, but it can be smashed. It is rigid but brittle. That is why Muslims do not tolerate criticism of it. To eradicate Islam, all we have to do is tell the truth. It's that simple. Truth about Islam is out. It's all here in this site. Now it is up to you to spread it. With truth, the decent Muslims will leave Islam and with each Muslim that leaves, we gain a new soldier in our fight against terrorism. We are growing exponentially. The days of Islam are numbered and world peace is around the corner. Many of us will see that day. We might have to go through very tough times meanwhile. The storm is approaching.
Posted by down-ndirty
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We should also send the Dems and all their leftist supporters there too-since their 'retreat from Iraq' plan will leave the Iraqi blood on their hands in a massive genocide that will result from a US troop withdrawl. They should be made to pay the ultimate price for their cowardice, inhumanity and utter incompetence.
Posted by ban_islam at 11:05 PM : Jul 22, 2007
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You don't write like you know what's going on.
How do you read a "mainstream scholarship?"
Save us the time; you tell us what YOU think is going on.
You are really out to lunch. Who helped get Saddam in power in the first place. Whose friendly dictator was he up through the 1980s while he was "killing his own people". Why that would be the US, the same nation that toppled Mossadeq in Iran to steal their oil, and who installed the brutal dictator the 'Shah of Iran' (which led to the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism).
Ignorance is so sad to see, because it just feeds into the NeoCon goal of making you all chumps -- willing to get your information from FOX "News", and cheer blindly while the criminal imperial NeoCons go on their wars for empire.
You are really out to lunch. Who helped get Saddam in power in the first place. Whose friendly dictator was he up through the 1980s while he was "killing his own people". Why that would be the US, the same nation that toppled Mossadeq in Iran to steal their oil, and who installed the brutal dictator the 'Shah of Iran' (which led to the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism).
Ignorance is so sad to see, because it just feeds into the NeoCon goal of making you all chumps -- willing to get your information from FOX "News", and cheer blindly while the criminal imperial NeoCons go on their wars for empire.
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Find all posts by Ban_Islam
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Occupation: Butt Doctor
Interests: Seeing Islam banned in Europe
http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8778
And he wants to tell us what to do with our congress?
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