THE UN?

Suspicion turns to al-Qaida over attack on UN (The Associated Press, Aug. 19, 2003)

The target and the nature of the attack in the bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad Tuesday bore the marks of Islamic militant groups like al-Qaida.

At least 20 UN workers and Iraqis were killed, including the chief UN official in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

As he toured the wreckage of the hotel that housed UN headquarters in Baghdad, former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik told reporters that evidence suggested the attack was a suicide bombing, and noted attackers used "an enormous amount of explosives." Kerik is in Baghdad to rebuild the Iraqi police force. [...]

Mohammed Salah, a Cairo-based journalist who closely follows Muslim extremism, said Tuesday's attack on the UN headquarters was likely the work of Islamic militants who see Iraq as the next base for jihad, or holy war, against the Americans.

"Maybe it is al-Qaida, maybe another organization," Salah said. "In the last few months there have been many attacks in different countries. In my opinion, most are not al-Qaida but are other organizations persuaded by bin Laden and his ideas."

He said these groups would perceive the United Nations as a target because they believe it gives in to American pressure.

Mightn't this be "friendlies" again, as with the Jordanian Embassy bombing, angered at the UN for not participating in the war? Otherwise, why waste explosives on the UN; why not bomb a coalition target or at least an allied target? Posted by Orrin Judd at August 19, 2003 6:21 PM