Guerrillas' strategy becomes clear: Isolate the U.S.

The attack on Italian forces Wednesday in southern Iraq is part of a guerrilla strategy to isolate the United States as it attempts to win international support for rebuilding the country, military analysts say. The attack, which killed at least 26 people, is the latest in a string of bombings that have targeted U.S. allies or international agencies, such as the United Nations and Red Cross. The bombings, many of them launched by suicide attackers, are also a sign that the U.S.-led coalition is facing a resistance that is more lethal and is growing in sophistication and organization. ”What we see is increasing evidence that we are facing an enemy that has a strategy,” says Andrew Bacevich, a professor of international relations at Boston University and a former Army colonel. ”This is careful planning of the thoughtful, logical use of violence in order to achieve the enemy’s objective.” Insurgents hope to foster a sense of insecurity in Iraq and shake resolve in the United States. Full Story