U.S. Talks With Iraq Insurgents Confirmed: Goal Is Sunnis' Political Inclusion, Rumsfeld Says

Dana Priest, Washington Post, Monday, June 27, 2005; Page A01

The U.S. military in Iraq has been holding face-to-face meetings with some Iraqi leaders of the insurgency there, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the U.S. commander in charge of Iraq confirmed yesterday.
The talks are part of the military's revised campaign to drive a wedge between the Iraqi and foreign insurgents, according to U.S. commanders. Pentagon officials have acknowledged the new strategy but have not, until now, spoken openly about efforts to make contact with some Iraqi insurgent leaders.