I am completely opposed to the US/UK war against Iraq, and it's occupation of the country. But I am also enough of a realist to know that it is essential, now that the US/UK are in a pacification/occupation stage, for the international community, particularly the UN, to remain in Iraq. Viera de Mello's expertise in human rights work was such an important counter balance to the excesses of the occupation forces. I pray they can get someone with the same expertise in there as quickly as possible.

This attack, along with the sabotage over the weekend, and the car bomb attack on the Jordanian embassy last week, demonstrates and makes it crystal clear that the two administrations in the UK and the US couldn't have been more wrong and ill prepared for the task they took on in the Middle East. I don't understand why the media isn't talking about the "coincidence" of two deadly car bomb attacks, one in Baghdad, one in Jerusalem, and the possibility that they were orchestrated by terrorists groups working together to undermine the security of the entire region.

Surely, this past week of devastation and violence will end up being a turning point in the so-called "war on terror". It is being made increasingly clear that while the Bush administration's "will" to "see this thing through" is being fervently met with an iron will on the side of Arab and Muslim terrorists, hell bent on driving the European and American presence out of the region.

And of course, regardless of whether the "winner" in this stand-off is the US/UK coalition, or the Arab and Muslim terrorists, we all know the people of the region are the losers. Which is what is most sickening and disheartening about this attack, and the attack on the Jordanian embassy. The terrorists are making it quite clear that no one will be safe in Iraq--especially those who are attempting to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure for the benefit of the Iraqi people, rather than for the benefit of American and British security interests, as is the case with Jordan and the UN.