Fatal Iraq bungle

Australian security guards protecting a trade delegation in Baghdad have mistakenly opened fire on the bodyguards of the Iraqi Trade Minister, killing one and wounding three, according to witnesses.

The shooting took place as the trade delegation left the offices of Trade Minister Abdul Falah al-Sudany in the capital's western Mansour district.

"The (Australian) convoy left the ministry. Our convoy followed them. They thought the driver was trying to pass and they shot and killed him and wounded three guards and two civilians," Salim al-Bahadiry, a bodyguard for the trade minister, said at the scene. (Sources various)

This trade delegation was apparently trying to win back wheat contract with Iraq, a market which has been problematic for Australia since revelations of Oil for Food kickback to Saddam’s regime by the wheat traders.

It must be a real bitch not knowing who the enemy is. An SUV full of swarthy guys in Hawaiian shirts, sporting AK47s, yup, must be the enemy.

The Aussie troops have been pretty much fireproof in Iraq and Afghanistan, with apparent accidents their main undoing. In the pressure cooker atmosphere of a virtual combat zone there are bound to be slip-ups.

But, the desperation of Australian trade officials to win back the Iraq market merely increases the pressure and likelihood of serious errors of judgment.

How about doing one thing at a time? Why not concentrate on stabilizing the country first without the added complications of trade issue. Australia is deservedly penalized on Iraq trade, but one sure way they can overcome the stain of their greed is to actually give something back by way of helping stabilize the country.

What am I saying? This non-war is all about greed, that’s why we are there in the first place, rather than letting Iraqi nationals sort out their own mess.