I just got up to the news, and don't have much to say about the bombing of the UN HQ in Baghdad, except I'll bet that there were non-Iraqis involved, and that it's time for the UN to think about its behavior and ask themselves, "Why do they hate us?"

That was my first thought when I heard it, too: Cognitive Dissonance time for the blame America first crowd.

seems more likely to me that they'll just bag on us for not providing a more secure environment for the UN presence. how we're responsible for any of this crap is beyond me, but that is the response I expect from those people.

I suspect Matt is right. The primary axiom in these matters is "It's all your fault. It's always your fault."

We will have failed to guard the UN properly. Nasty resolutions will be proposed condemning the US failure to protect the UN mission. Also, this would never have happened if those nasty Americans hadn't been in Iraq in the first place angering the "legitimate Iraqi resistance". And those poor jihadists are just confused about who the real enemy is, and it's too bad that some people associate the UN with the US and bomb a UN building when, of course - axiomatically! - they meant to attack the US instead.

If you think I'm too cynical, recall that we were blamed for the behavior of Iraqis in looting government offices, not to mention the museum. Iraqis did it, but it was, nevertheless, always and everywhere Our Fault.

You nailed it, Rand.

I can't say why "they" hate the UN, but I sure as hell know why I do.

The difference between "them" and us civilized folk is we won't blow the damn UN up to show our hate.

I figger that the cry will be:

Gee, we had UN inspectors in Iraq for 12 years, UN people running around administering sanctions, and no one ever got killed. So this is America's (sorry, Amerikkka's) fault.

If oooonly we hadn't invaded, see how much better off they'd be.

Dubya's fault.

Blahblahblah.

They are simply going to have to wake up and grow up. Whether we are US, UK, or UN, they consider them all U guys and potential targets.

Why isn't it the bomber's fault for killing so many people? Why would it be America's fault, when America did not bomb the building? Geesh. This is beyond idiotic, it is suicidal.

It's actually quite a sensible ploy. Hit the UN while the US is on duty, try to make the place look more unstable, demonstrate an ability to undertake larger, more organised terrorist activity. Make the US look like they're in trouble and send a message to any international groups that they are not wanted.

Last thing the old guard want is lots of multi-national people there instead of US and UK.

Reading the op-ed stuff in the US press today, it looks like its worked too.

Still, none of this ought to surprise anybody.

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