Hamas Iraq denies negotiations

I just now saw on al-Jazeera a statement by the spokesman of Hamas Iraq (nee 1920 Revolution Brigade) denying the existence of any negotiations with the American occupation or with the Iraqi government.   
Interpretation to follow... for now, just a reminder that this is important because the key theme running through recent coverage of the splits between the Iraqi insurgency and al-Qaeda in Iraq's Islamic State is the claim that key insurgency factions are in fact talking.  Nuri al-Maliki and Jalal Talabani have as much as said so, and I've traced the public arguments about it in some detail.  A denial doesn't mean that it isn't true, of course (nor does a denial necessary mean that it is true!) - but at the very least it does say something about the sensitivity of public acknowledgement of such talks.  More later, once I get my hands on an official transcript of his statement.

... oh, one other thing:  the prime time show Behind the News, which usually signals al-Jazeera's editorial judgement of the most important news of the day, today focuses on the US building a 'security wall' around the Sunni community in Baghdad al-Adhamiya.  It's being described as "Balkanizing Baghdad", and is clearly being viewed negatively - not as protection for the Sunni neighborhood but as an imposition against them.  I've seen quite a bit of negative commentary elsewhere (al-Hayat: US turning Baghdad into a city of cantons; al-Ghad:  residents of al-Adhamiya afraid of the security wall; and so on) .  Don't believe any spin being offered in the US media that this is an example of the US helping out the Sunnis... that doesn't seem to be how it's perceived by the Sunnis. 

Comments

[Iqbal Khaldun]

There must be something about 'security' and 'walls' that makes colonial powers like placing them together. I wonder whether the Americans will also put some cable cars in so visitors can travel through the different walled sections like the enclosures at Sea World?

[jeannette]

the wall is appalling. i can't believe americans will view it as anything but throwing in the towel.

[jeannette]

"throwing in the towel" is not what i mean, sorry. such walls, as everyone must know, stand for cold war oppression, apartheid, and israeli intransigence.

[ymorse]

This wall, fence, barrier, has been in the works for a while now. Only since the construction in Adhamiya have people begun to notice. I think it is important to focus on its symbolism, and the fact that Maliki spoke out against it from Cairo. However, it is amazing to me that people sitting from a distance can focus so intensely on its symbolism, but not mention its efficacy. The fact is that it does stop people from blowing up other people. Nothing is perfect.