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Truce Talks Collapse in Holy City of Najaf: U.S. Commanders Warn Fighting May Resume (Karl Vick and Saad Sarhan, August 14, 2004, Washington Post)

Peace talks have collapsed between representatives of radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr and the interim Iraqi government, and the government is resuming military operations in Najaf, a senior Iraqi official announced Saturday.

"The talks have failed," said Mowaffak Rubaie, national security adviser to prime minister Ayad Allawi, speaking at a brief news conference.

"The Iraqi interim government is resuming military clearing operations to . . . establish law and order in the holy city," he said. [...]

"If the Iraqi government says we launch again, we launch again," said Maj. Michael Holahan, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Funny to hear some of the same folks who said we could (or would) never turn over sovereignty now complain that we're listening to the Iraqis too much.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 14, 2004 4:19 PM