Escalation of Guerrilla Attacks on U.S. Occupation Force in Iraq Shakes White House Confidence
Interview with Phyllis Bennis, fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, conducted by Scott Harris
The recent rocket attack on Baghdad's Rashid Hotel, followed by coordinated suicide bombings targeting the International Red Cross and four police stations, signal an escalation of guerrilla attacks aimed at the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. The wave of bombings killed three dozen and wounded more than 200. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, one of the Bush administration's key architects of the U.S. war on Iraq, was in the Rashid Hotel when the rocket attack occurred, but was not injured.
Despite the new wave of deadly attacks on U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies, the White House is continuing its public relations campaign emphasizing what they describe as the positive aspects of the occupation and progress in pacifying Iraqi resistance. As a result of the continuing violence, humanitarian organizations such as the U.N. and Red Cross have reduced their staffs working on relief projects in Iraq. The violence has also diminished prospects that the Bush administration will get assistance in the form of thousands of foreign soldiers it has requested from nations around the world to support and legitimize the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Phyllis Bennis a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, who discusses the recent escalation of guerrilla attacks in Baghdad and the future of the U.S. military occupation of Iraq.
Phyllis Bennis is author of the book, "Before and After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the September 11th Crisis." Contact the institute by calling (202) 234-9382 or visit their website at www.ips-dc.org
Related links:
"The Madrid Donors Conference: A Cover for Maintaining U.S. Control," by Phyllis Bennis, Foreign Policy in Focus, Oct. 23, 2003
"A Fig Leaf to Cover Occupation," by Phyllis Bennis, Foreign Policy in Focus, Oct. 16, 2003 Foreign Policy in Focus at www.fpif.org
"The Seeds of Iraq's Future Terror: Free Market Shock Therapy Must Not be Imposed by the Occupiers," by Shirley Williams, Guardian/UK, Oct. 28, 2003
"Car Bomb Kills 4 in Fallujah," by Slobodan Lekic, Associated Press, Oct. 28, 2003
"Arabs Blame United States for Baghdad Bloodbath," by Edmund Blair, Reuters, Oct. 28, 2003
"Baghdad Deputy Mayor killed in Drive-By Shooting," Reuters, Oct. 28, 2003
"Is Media Bias Filtering Out Good News from Iraq?" Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Oct. 28, 2003
" Nearly 40 Killed In Series Of Baghdad Bombings," Associated Press, Oct. 27, 2003
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