Bombing of U.N. Office in Baghdad Provokes Reassessment of International Organization's Role in Occupied Iraq

Interview with Nathaniel Hurd, independent consultant to the United Nations, conducted by Scott Harris

The powerful bomb which destroyed United Nations' headquarters in Baghdad Aug. 19, killing 20, including the U.N.'s top diplomat in Iraq, Sergio de Mello, has caused many to reflect on the world body's role in the war-torn nation now under American-British occupation. The deteriorating security situation inside Iraq has prompted many U.N. and aid workers with nongovernmental organizations to head home.

With more than a dozen attacks carried out against coalition troops daily by a shadowy guerrilla force, an increasing number of military analysts and politicians are calling for additional American soldiers to be sent to Iraq. But the Bush administration has thus far resisted pressure to deploy more than the 139,000 U.S. troops already stationed inside Iraq.

In the days after the U.N. bombing, the White House seized on the tragic loss of life to solicit support to send additional troops and aid to Iraq, from a skeptical Security Council. However, nations such as France, Germany, India and Pakistan are resisting pressure to place their troops under U.S. command, preferring instead to be part of a mission sanctioned by the U.N. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Nathaniel Hurd, an independent consultant to the United Nations, who assesses the fallout from the U.N. bombing and the obstacles ahead for the U.S. in stabilizing Iraq and gaining international cooperation.

For more information and analysis on the U.S. occupation of Iraq, contact the group Occupation Watch at (415) 255-7296 or visit their website at www.occupationwatch.org

Related links:

Bring Them Home Now campaign at www.bringthemhomenow.org Military Families Speak Out at www.mfso.org

"Accord Still Beyond Reach for UN Resolution on Iraq," by Bryan Bender, The Boston Globe, Aug. 26, 2003

"Is a Perfect Storm Brewing for Bush?" Reuters, Aug. 24, 2003 U.N. Members Push Back on Call to Share More of Iraq Burden," The Associated Press, Aug. 22, 2003

"Massive Explosion at U.N. Headquarters in Iraq," www.truthout.org, Aug. 18, 2003, CBS video in RealVideo (needs RealOne Player), and "At Least 14 Are Killed in Bombing of U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad, " by Dexter Filkins and Richard A. Oppel Jr., The New York Times, Aug. 19, 2003

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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