Today's attacks in Baghdad are why I believe terrorists, while extremely dangerous, have absolutely no grand strategy. They're murderers who delight in death for its own sake - this is not a religious or national socialist calling, this is a deranged pastime.

They're stupidly indiscriminate. Today's attacks were on the International Red Cross (they stuffed an ambulance with explosives) and [four] police stations. What will the Iraqis see? Their former oppressors and foreign cowards hiding in shadows, seeking to destroy the nascent and growing sources of Iraqi protection and stability. Continuing attacks are supposed to endear Iraqis to their murderers? These difficult early days, far from crushing the Iraqi spirit or souring their relationship with the Allies, will only set them more strongly against terrorism. Al Qaeda and its company are unlikely to find safe haven in the country if the Iraqis can help it.

CAN THIS FORCE A POLICY HAND?: Even though foreign sources of many terrorist attacks in Iraq have been exposed through the identification of captured and killed assailants, the Bush and Blair administrations, no doubt aware of the implications of acknowledging direct meddling by Syria and Iran, have kept their statements and actions polite. Retired General Tom McInerney, interviewed by Fox's Brit Hume this evening, believes today's car bombings were the work of Ansar al Islam, al Qaeda's presence in Iraq. The United States military, however, is suspicious of foreigners in general - the White House's "al Qaeda-types." If, for one, Damascus' contribution to mayhem in Iraq becomes obvious to even the casual news observer, how long until Bush must apply his doctrine beyond Iraq's borders?

MORE ON ISLAMISTS, THE NEW ENEMIES OF IRAQ: Armed Liberal takes a look at Baghdad, Syria and death-taxis over on Winds of Change.