IRAQ: METHOD IN THE MADNESS

The synchronised attacks in Iraq on Christian churches of various denominations was not a chance event but the fruit of a carefully orchestrated plan, writes Jorge Dezcallar, Spanish ambassador to the Holy See and ex-director of the National Centre of Intelligence (CNI). For the Iraqi resistance groups and the constellation of Islamic radicals that back them, the objective of jihad (holy war) is crystal clear: to force the Americans and their allies out of Iraq, in a humiliating withdrawal if possible. It is an attempt to turn Iraq into Washington\'s new Vietnam, whatever it takes. The Iraqi resistance knows that it cannot directly combat the Americans, who, it also knows, are not going to withdraw of their own will in the short term. Therefore the Iraqis are obliged to use indirect forms of confrontation. The most obvious way of making life difficult for the US is attacking oil installations in Iraq. Another approach is to drive out of Iraq everything that seems multilateral, especially the UN, for the simple reason that their mere presence gives some legitimacy to the occupation. Thus the bombings of UN targets and threats against its member countries.