Most newspapers talked about the shift in tactics adopted by combatants in Iraq from individual attacks on U.S. troops to massive car bombs against "soft targets" such as the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad yesterday. I don't have much to add right now, since I gave my analysis yesterday. But I think I know why the Jordanian embassy was targeted by a smaller car bomb Aug. 7.
It was practice.
The question that everyone should be asking now is, what's the next target?
Deadly Spectre
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About me
Hi there! Thanks for stopping in. I'm Christopher Allbritton, former AP and New York Daily News reporter. In 2002, I went stumbling around Iraqi Kurdistan, the northern part of Iraq outside Saddam's direct control, looking for stories. (Some might call it "looking for trouble.") In March 2003, I made it back in time for the war, becoming the Web's first fully reader-funded journalist-blogger. With the support of thousands of readers, we raised almost $15,000. You can read my dispatches here. It was one of the moments in journalism when everything worked. It was a grand -- and successful -- experiment in independent journalism. In 2004, I moved to Iraq, where I would spend the next two years. It was a raucous, scary and exciting place with a lot of news going on. But I've since moved on to Beirut and the wider region. I now report for a variety of outlets.
Well, Bremer is the obvious choice.
As General William Wallace said back in March “The enemy we’re fighting is a bit different than the one we war-gamed against.”
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080814/
I wonder why U.N. HQ was a “soft” target. I mean, isn’t the occupying force responsible for the security? Why didn’t they set up a secure perimeter - how is it possible, that civil trucks can park in front of such a likely target? I thougt, after the attack against the jordan embasy all foreign “soft” targets would be guarded like a Army base or whatever…
It’s been suggested that the purpose of the attacks is to show that the US is incapable of bringing order to Iraq, and that the attackers have shifted to soft targets because they’re easier than attacking the US military. If this is the case, and the goal is simply to create chaos - and to hope to reap the benefits of the consequent US repression - then the outlook is grim. After all, the softest targets of all are the poor bloody Iraqis themselves, and it looks as if the new wave of attackers don’t care much who they kill.
What is really disturbing to me is that everything appears to be unfolding as Bin Laden had planned. George Bush has done everything Osama expected and wanted him to do.
Hate him or not, Bin Laden seems to me to be quite brilliant. He has read Bush’s people like a book. It is quite sad that the Americans couldn’t control their basic instincts and walked right into the trap!
The ease with which he has evaded capture and resurgence of the Taliban proves his foresight and planning. He was counting on the Americans to invade Iraq. That gives him the only opportunity to grow and take center stage.
Most newspapers are about three weeks behind what is reported elsewhere.
Bunk — what do you know of Bin Laden’s planning? And how can you predict moves in advance of the outcome?
As far as I see it, Iraq is one large flypaper for the “blow myself up” or “get shredded trying to kill infidel” gang.
This plan was on the drawing board two decades ago my friend… what do you think you know really?
Not to discredit your overarching statement — the man has pulled some crafty moves.
This doesn’t de facto denote a lack of planning or stepping into traps on the other side however.
Just remember, this is the 21st century face of fascism. This is a murderous, gender-apartheid practicing, child abusing group who are coming after you too.
Just remember, this is the 21st century face of fascism. This is a murderous, gender-apartheid practicing, child abusing group who are coming after you too.
Posted by: robert
This is Bush you’re talking about. Right?
I mean, I hope it is Bush you’re talking about, for it sure sounds like Bush.
Saddam should have bumbed off Osama
Benny Laden, Saddam should have
bumbed off Osama Benny Laden,Saddam
should have bumbed off Osama Benny
Laden, because if it were not for
Benny, Saddam would still be fat, dumb
and happy on his ass.
ok boys calm down.
the US army is stuck in Irak and they know it.
The UN knows it
Now in order not to lose face the US needs the UN to step in or else it’s 1 GI at a time until momies and daddies push Bush out of office.
Kids do you want suicide bombers in the NY subway?
back to the UN.
the Un has said that their will to help the people of Irak is stronger now and they are not leaving.
now in a few days the US will cosy up to the UN and help them in rebuilding irak for the people.
slowly the UN takes a bigger role in Irak , the US brings some of the kids home ,( good for votes)
France , Germany , Japan agree that it must be a UN mandate.
and kids we are back at square one before the war.
The UN taking care of the Iraki.
so who had the most interest in bombing the UN?
The Iraki or the US ?
ok boys calm down.
the US army is stuck in Irak and they know it.
The UN knows it
Now in order not to lose face the US needs the UN to step in or else it’s 1 GI at a time until momies and daddies push Bush out of office.
Kids do you want suicide bombers in the NY subway?
back to the UN.
the Un has said that their will to help the people of Irak is stronger now and they are not leaving.
now in a few days the US will cosy up to the UN and help them in rebuilding irak for the people.
slowly the UN takes a bigger role in Irak , the US brings some of the kids home ,( good for votes)
France , Germany , Japan agree that it must be a UN mandate.
and kids we are back at square one before the war.
The UN taking care of the Iraki.
so who had the most interest in bombing the UN?
The Iraki or the US ?
I wonder why U.N. HQ was a “soft” target. I mean, isn’t the occupying force responsible for the security?
The UN didn’t want a lot of visible security; they felt it got in the way of establishing trust. :(
Well Bush, there’s your WMD right there - the car bomb!
What a farce…
I can’t comment factually on the bombing of the Jordanian embassy, but somehow I feel there was a revenge element to the attack. The UN was attacked because they failed to stop the US going to war against them. That “display of weakness” is more than enough, in light of the events of the occupation of Iraq, to point the UN out as a necessary target. They can only be seen as the lapdog of US interests by Iraqis.
Those who should be in the know are leaving Iraq as fast as they can get out - the World Bank, the IMF - and there are reports that Japan is rethinking their commitment to supply troops to the occupation. If any Japanese were to be killed in Iraq, Koizumi might as well commit seppuku on the Ginza, live on CNN, because he would be toast in Japan after this.
We tried to tell these mad war mongers that this was going to happen. Now - how do we wake up those whose brains are asleep so that Bush can be removed from office and a real government be restored to America?
Isn’t it funny how the USA didn’t need the UN, and all the people in the USA backing the war were like “The UN is a useless organization!”. Well, here we are NEEDING the UN to help bail us out of the mess we’re in. I hope everyone out there enjoys the meal they’ve made for themselves. I’m talking about eating your own words…
Oh, the irony! Robert said:
“Just remember, this is the 21st century face of fascism. This is a murderous, gender-apartheid practicing, child abusing group who are coming after you too.”
You just described Bush and the Republican party to a “T.”
You guys calling Bush and his party the 21st century face of fascism are so deep in the doo-doo you won’t know it until the terrorist bomb explodes in your face.
I am not a republican but I am a free man who loves our democractic liberty. I will not have our country run by a theocracy — we do not have one nor will we have one.
Who I described however, the Islamofascists, if you can’t see them for what they are, if you sympathize with them then get the hell out. Leave. Go join their fascists death squads.
Listen boys, the truth hits everybody sooner or later. It’ll come to you now or in death.
I suppose you think invading Afghanistan was the first step of our country’s fascist mistakes?
Well — look up the word and come back.
We are not imperialists but we are acting like a world cop. Do I like this — not necessarily but someone has to step up to the plate as the international community via the UN has been an utter failure in this kind of action in making the world a safer place.
If you sympathize with the fascist, WMD using, mass murdering thug who was Saddam Hussein then you are no more than dirt under my feet.
“What is really disturbing to me is that everything appears to be unfolding as Bin Laden had planned. George Bush has done everything Osama expected and wanted him to do.”
Of course Bush has done everything he wanted …
the two families have been in business for years and years.
It would be easier for me to reconcile Bush’s words and actions if he did not back out of every promise he makes …. and if there was not so much obvious self-enrichment.
If you believe Bush cares anything about ordinary citizens i.e., “useless eaters”, they call us .. hop in the Clown Car and we can drop by Cheney’s undisclosed location.
Robert: “….. I will not have our country run by a theocracy — we do not have one nor will we have one …”
What’s that story that bible-stories are entering Biology courses again in American schools …? Sound pretty scary to me!
If you sympathize with the fascist, WMD using, mass murdering thug who was Saddam Hussein then you are no more than dirt under my feet.
Donny Rumsfeld might get upset that your refer to him in such a derogatory manner
Robert, you said “look up the word [fascist] and come back” so I did. This definition is from the American Heritage Dictionary:
Fascism
a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
Sounds like the present day Republicans to me.
such and untidy adventure. w says the world will give us their young to die for us.
heh, the most scary guys are home grown , timmy mic veigh. donny rumms felt, we just get misinformed perpetually. peasants have no power. communism is not the answer. w is in a very vulnerable positon but somehow methinks this puppet face is immuned from reality or accountablility. he is insulated to the day he meets lilly white jeebus. so rant and rave. the reationary bozos love order no matter how uncurious curious george is. the real problem is we are now being goose stepped into the obvious economic depression. the crusade is on and we it is 50 50. oh twlight empire with a dull bulb at the top.
islam and fascism have about as much in common as nationalism and socialism, so can we please leave the pop-political theroies at home please. it always disturbs me that everyone chastises the common pop-psychology interpretation of Freud (‘it’s like, all about sex or sumthing’) and co, but when it comes to politics, everyones a fucking brainiac. for me it comes down to a simple moral choice - do you think one can creat a better world by carpet bombing and occupying the last one? i think vietnam, cambodia, nicaragua and chile will all point you to the right answer…