WP: Nonmilitary Targets Face New Threat

Wednesday, August 20, 2003; Page A01

BAGHDAD, Aug. 19 -- The massive truck bomb that devastated U.N. headquarters here today signaled a dramatic escalation in terrorism against international and nonmilitary targets in Iraq as well as the deadliest challenge yet to U.S.-led forces occupying the country.

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There have been dozens of scattered attacks against U.S. military patrols and convoys in the past several months, but most have been small-scale mine explosions that left one or two soldiers dead beside their burned Humvees on remote highways.

Today's bombing, although not directly aimed at U.S.-led forces, poses a challenge for the Americans nonetheless. First, the U.N. headquarters is guarded by U.S. troops, largely because the Bush administration did not want U.N. peacekeeping or other forces involved here after the war. Several current and former U.N. officials today pointedly noted that "coalition" forces were responsible for the building's security. Jim Wilkinson, chief spokesman for the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, said, however, that responsibility for guarding the facility did not rest with U.S. troops, but with the United Nations.

Second, the presence of thousands of U.S.-led troops -- a presence that has provoked increasing resentment from Iraqis who complain of heavy-handed raids and mistaken shootings of unarmed civilians -- has not been enough to protect the capital against terrorism or to discover who might be behind it.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17313-2003Aug19.html

That's what I heard on the radio. So, what security allowed this truck to pass through 2 check points?

The United States and Britain are responsible for all security in Iraq under norms of occupation. That includes the UN building.

Iraqi freedom-fighters are trying to shake off the colonial yoke! Isn't that wht the mujadeen did against the Soviet invaders! The US invaded Iraq. How can we call the resistance "terrorism"?

x

The Asia Times Online, Hong Kong

"But basically the same strategy is now being implemented by the array of groups that constitute the Iraqi national resistance"

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