Give Peace A Chance?

Radical Iraqi Shiite cleric Al-Sadr is offering a peace deal in return for talks:

In a statement signed by him on Tuesday, Al-Sadr said:

'I am ready to end everything if the occupation forces officially ask for negotiations on condition that these negotiations are just and transparent and under the stewardship of the Shiite religious authorities.

If I accept or don't accept negotiations, they (the US) are the ones who are escalating the situation and who don't want peace.'

It's an interesting tactic by Al-Sadr, who has been ordered to cease fighting by senior Shi'ite clerics. But will the USA take up the offer of talks?

The Financial Times says Bush is looking for a "political solution" that will lessen violence in the lead-up to November elections:

"General Martin Dempsey, commanding general of the 1st armoured division, said on Tuesday that he had begun negotiations with “stakeholders” including members of Mr Sadr’s militia to form two battalions of 1,840 troops in Najaf, which he said Mr Sadr's “lieutenants” could help to recruit.

The offer resembles last week's deal in the Sunni town of Falluja, in which US troops lifted their three-week siege, withdrew to the town's periphery and handed security to a “Falluja brigade”, in part comprising insurgents."