One Reason We Won't Bet On W's Smarts

Here's something 'all hat, no cattle' cowboy George won't agree to. And this is just the first item on a long list to which W will never agree.

Leader of Baathist loyalists cites stringent conditions before any talks
The Associated Press
Published: December 3, 2006

DAMASCUS, Syria: A top spokesman for the former Baath party of Iraq said in a recent interview that his group will not reconcile with the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad nor stop its active support of the insurgency unless the Iraqi government and U.S. officials first meet strict conditions including the withdrawal of American troops.

The interview with the man who identified himself as Abu Mohammed came after repeated efforts by The Associated Press to make contact in Syria with supporters of the insurgency in Iraq.

The man, who appeared in person at the interview, is believed to be Khudair al-Murshidi, a former head of the Iraqi Doctors Syndicate under the rule of Saddam Hussein. He refused to give his real name during the interview and also refused to be photographed but said he was in Syria temporarily while on his way to other Mideast countries to advance the party's goals.

Al-Murshidi also appeared last month on the pan-Arab al-Jazeera television network, also using the pseudonym Abu Mohammed.

Abu Mohammed said he is now the official spokesman for what he called the Iraqi Regional Command of the Baath, headed by Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's former vice president and a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head, believed the top leader of Saddam loyalists.

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