It is the New York Times, so this headline is better than it could have been:
Some Sunnis Hint at Peace Terms in Iraq, U.S. Says
It could have been:
Sunnis Balk, Iraq “Government” Formation Failing
This alternate headline would be entirely comfortable to the NYT in its continuing opposition to Iraqi liberation.
The Times attempts to make up for the oversight of a neutral headline with the opening of the article:
WASHINGTON, May 14 – The Bush administration, struggling to cope with a recent intensification of insurgent violence in Iraq, has received signals from some radical Sunni Arab leaders that they would abandon fighting if the new Shiite majority government gave Sunnis more political power, administration officials said this week.
The officials said American contacts with what they called “rejectionist” elements among Sunni Arabs – the governing minority under Saddam Hussein, which has generated the insurgency, and largely boycotted January’s elections – showed that many wanted to participate in the political system, including the writing of a permanent constitution.
But the political feuding that delayed the formation of the government for nearly three months after the elections has so far blocked the kind of concessions the Sunnis are demanding.
Full story here.
Parsing –
The Bush administration, struggling to cope
The Marines, having killed several hundred hardened terrorists in recent days, struggle to understand the American media’s lack of common sense,
with a recent intensification of insurgent violence in Iraq,
while simultaneously striving to protect civilians, especially school-children – we all saw that picture of the Marine Major comforting a “suicide-bombed” child – from death-wish assassins,
has received signals from some radical Sunni Arab leaders that they would abandon fighting if the new Shiite majority government gave Sunnis more political power
has been asked by what passes for the “political arm” of these depraved thugs, Sunnis upset over their lack of representation in a government whose election they boycotted with threats of suicide bombings and consignment to Hell, to be granted high-level cabinet posts anyway
…many wanted to participate in the political system, including the writing of a permanent constitution.
…and to have the opportunity to become known as “Fathers of The Constitution” despite their obvious weakness and lack of trustworthiness.
But the political feuding that delayed the formation of the government for nearly three months after the elections has so far blocked the kind of concessions the Sunnis are demanding.
But the political turmoil they contribute to daily by encouraging car-bombings and other disruption, has so far made a joke of their requests while complicating the lives of those who demonstrated courage and love of Iraq by voting – and even more those who risk their lives daily to represent the fledgling government.
Finally, that headline could have been:
Sunnis Boycotted Election, Will Stop Killing Fellow Citizens for Bribes
That might set the reader up to think:
“Those jerks threatened their “fellow citizens” with death if they voted. Carried some of it out, too. Still are.
Now they want more representation than they got votes for. Sounds like Senate Demorcrats.
*^%$ ’em! Maybe they’ll learn and vote next time.