This evening BBC tv carried reports of two British civilians killed by an rpg in a car just as it was about to enter the "Green Zone" in Baghdad which is the centre of coalition forces.
One of the reports said it was partially armoured. But the individuals were civilians. No other explanation was given of their identity. It was described as audacious. The use of a single rpg in the centre of Baghdad just a short distance away from US troops. A US soldier suggested it looked a targeted job. And there are not many British deaths in Iraq, and still less in Baghdad. To my mind this suggests that the targets could well have been key figures in British security. I suspect we will hear little more of the identity of the victims, but I could be wrong. Besides if the attack was that audacious, why waste it on a couple of clergymen from the Church of England? Tonight the BBC website says "The Foreign Office later confirmed that one of the Britons who died was working for international business risk consultancy Control Risks Group." It notes "Since July 2003 12 [only!]British civilians have been killed in Iraq, the Foreign Office said. On Tuesday security worker Andrew Harries, 33, from south Wales, was shot when a gunman ambushed his car. " We know that the resistance is well planned. The key document on the strategy for the resistance dated January 2003 was attributed to Iraqi security sources. There may be many thousands of them still in the country, highly motivated to bring down the present regime. They will know how to mingle with the crowd, and to take advantage of relationships among Iraqis. They have learned how the coalition allies work. In the coming months their intelligence is likely to get better. That of the hegemonic power, worse. Another factor in the shifting balance of forces. Chris Burford PS the website of Control Risks Group I see from Google claims about Iraq "We are currently providing project security management services in Iraq for a number of government departments, companies and NGOs, and have security managers permanently deployed in Iraq for these clients. Our office has been set up to co-ordinate these activities and provide on-the-ground advice." "Control Risks Group has established a project office in Iraq to assist organisations operating or planning to operate in the country. Its presence means that we are well placed to provide accurate, up-to-date information on the situation in-country and are available to help clients to understand the uncertainties and volatility that affect activities in the region, to mitigate the risks involved and to successfully manage the security of their assets and staff." BBC website again "Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the deaths were shocking and showed the risks civilians had to take in Iraq. " - and the British government it would appear. This may be just a taster for what will intensify after June 30.
