Behind The Attack In Iraq

In light of this afternoon's deadly attack against United Nations headquarters in Iraq, news reports from as recently as yesterday take on a new light. The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs quoted the following three reports - before today's bombing:



* "Increasing numbers of Saudi Arabian Islamists are crossing the border into Iraq in preparation for a jihad, or holy war, against U.S. and UK forces, security and Islamist sources have warned." (Financial Times-UK)



* "Al-Qaeda terrorists who infiltrated Iraq from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have formed a deadly alliance with former intelligence agents of Saddam Hussein to fight their common enemy - U.S. forces... In the past four months it has smuggled millions of dollars, weapons, and hundreds of Arab fighters across the desert border with Saudi Arabia. Influenced by Wahhabism and headed by a senior Saudi al-Qaeda officer, it represents a new battle force in the holy war against the U.S." (The Australian)



* "An audiotape [aired yesterday], purportedly from an al-Qaeda militant, calls on Muslims around the world to travel to Iraq and fight the U.S.-led occupation." (AP/MSNBC)