Until August 18th, 2003 the United Nations had been spared any of the hostility reserved for the armies of the US and its partners. Not any longer. The recent blast demonstrates that any foreign nation(s) that involve themselves in Iraq face potentially deadly consequences. Further, as the US has had months to assuage local concerns, international relations experts are beginning to doubt Washington's ability to save its sinking foreign policy in Iraq. Even UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that the bombing in Baghdad is "also a setback politically for the UN mission".
At home, Americans seem to be increasingly concerned about government forays in the Middle East. A recent poll shows that support for the military initiative has fallen off from a high of about 80% at the start of the conflict, to approximately 61% in late August. (BBC)
--MICHAEL HUNTER
The Dominion is a monthly paper published by an incipient network of independent journalists in Canada. It aims to provide accurate, critical coverage that is accountable to its readers and the subjects it tackles. Taking its name from Canada's official status as both a colony and a colonial force, the Dominion examines politics, culture and daily life with a view to understanding the exercise of power.