Freedom's Fidelity

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

What to say on the bombing of the U.N. in Iraq? Well Rand Simber says the U.N. should start to examine itself, maybe start by asking Why do they hate us? Or as Glenn Reynolds points out here:

This event seems to be inducing an enormous amount of cognitive dissonance in lefty antiwar bloggers, who are responding -- as always -- by blaming the messenger. I guess it's like the Hitler/Stalin pact all over again, or something. . . . Get over it guys. You may hate Bush -- but it's not about Bush, and you're trying to make it about Bush so that you don't have to face what it's really about -- people who want you just as dead as they want John Ashcroft, and don't see any difference anyway, except that you might serve their cause as useful idiots, for a while, before they kill you, too.

Indeed! One would think this event would show the world what kind of maniacs we are dealing with, though the press seems to be generally shocked that terrorists would target the un-offending U.N. But they were targeted because they were a "soft target" that refused added security from U.S. forces even though they were repeatedly warned of the dangers. But realize this is a sign of their weakness, just as Al-Qeada has been reduced to attacks in their own back yard and against those who are their major financiers. Why don't they just cut out the middle man and start suicide bombing themselves? Yeah, I know, wishful thinking. Ralph Peters has more on the terrorists despair.

With their comrades killed, wounded or captured, their leaders apprehended (another one yesterday), their bases of support whittled away and U.S. resolve only hardened, our enemies have turned to a new, desperate strategy.

Over the past several days, the Iraqi hardliners and their terrorist allies attacked an oil pipeline and a water main. Yesterday, a terrorist drove a truck bomb into the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, killing dozens and wounding more than 100 people.

Our enemies' initial "Mogadishu Strategy" - based on the faulty notion that if you kill Americans they pack up and go home - was a disaster for them. Our response devastated their already-crippled organization. Now, with reduced capabilities and decayed leadership, they've turned to attacking soft targets. It's the best they can do.

It's ugly. But it's an indicator of their weakness, not of strength.

Demoralized by constant defeats, our enemies have become alarmed by the quickening pace of reconstruction. Consequently, we will see more attacks on infrastructure, on international aid workers and on Iraqis laboring to rebuild their country.

We'll also see al Qaeda and other terrorist groups become the senior partners among our enemies, as Ba'athist numbers and capabilities dwindle. There is more innocent blood to come.

Yet the bombing of the U.N. headquarters at the Canal Hotel was a self-defeating act. Even if it frightens the U.N. off (and it just might accomplish the opposite) the attack reminds the world yet again of the savagery of radical Islamic terrorists and the brutality of those whom we deposed in Baghdad.

Like 9/11, the Canal Hotel attack, though impressive at the moment, will prove another disaster for the terrorists.

Read the rest.

posted by Paul  permalink | |