How long is this farce going to continue? Truce Talks Collapse in Holy City of Najaf.

NAJAF, Iraq - Truce talks aimed at ending more than a week of violence between Shiite militants and U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf broke down Saturday, Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie said.

It was not clear if the breakdown would lead to an immediate renewal of the fierce fighting between followers of firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the combined coalition-Iraqi force that shook Najaf’s streets with gunfire and explosions since Aug. 5. The battles ended early Friday as the negotiations started.

“I feel deep sorrow and regret to announce the failure of the efforts we have exerted to end the crisis in Iraq peacefully,” he said. “Our goal was to spare blood, preserve security and for the militias to put down their weapons.”

Announcing the worst idea of the week:

Al-Rubaie, who had headed the negotiations on behalf of the government, said he had proposed al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia be disbanded and become a political movement.

And meanwhile, the thugs are laughing at the US and issuing outrageous demands:

Ahmed al-Shaibany, an al-Sadr spokesman in Najaf, blamed the talks’ failure on the Americans, who were not participating in the negotiations.

“There are particular points and demands we had that we specifically wanted the Americans to sign on, but they refused,” he said.

Among those demands, he said, was U.S. compensation for the families of those killed in confrontations with the Americans.

I wish I had confidence that we won’t eventually agree to something like this.

The damage done to America’s image by this irresolute wobbling is incalculable. In a part of the world where the strong horse is respected, we’re the strong horse, all right—physically strong, but with a will of jelly.

Who needs John Kerry to wage a “more sensitive war on terror?” We’re already doing it.