The bombing of the U.N. complex and the earlier bombing of the Jordanian Embassy actually are indications the United States is succeeding in Iraq.

The original strategy of the terrorists was what might be called the Mogadishu strategy. Kill a few Americans, and they will leave, as they did in Somalia in 1993.

The terrorists killed a few Americans, and we didn't leave. And the terrorists discovered a downside to attacking Americans. Americans shoot back.

[link|http://washtimes.com/commentary/20030826-092629-5614r.htm| Jack Kelly ]

But...isn't that an indicator that our plan ISN'T working? No, not the "lets rebuild Iraq and the Iraq people want to trust us and hug us and love us forever BS. That BS is easy to dispell with the simple fact that we AREN'T giving Iraq any democracy - they don't get to decide and we're now hiring their thugs to keep them in line. No one knows what they'll do the minute they get to decide for themselves.

No, the plan that isn't working is Bush's "Wallpaper" plan.

What the media, and U.S. Democrats affect not to grasp, is that the soldiers are now replacing targets that otherwise would be provided by defenceless civilians, both in Iraq and at large. The sore thumb of the U.S. occupation -- and it is a sore thumb equally to Baathists and Islamists, compelling their response -- is not a mistake. It is carefully hung flypaper.

[link|http://www.davidwarrenonline.com/Comment/Jul03/index150.shtml| David Warren ]

Hmm...maybe we need better bait?