Report: U.N. security failure led to bombing

UNITED NATIONS - An independent investigation into the Aug.19 bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, concluded Wednesday that the organization ignored warnings that it was a potential target and flouted its own security guidelines, leaving personnel vulnerable to attack.

"The U.N. security management system failed in its mission to provide adequate security to U.N. staff in Iraq," said the report by a seven-member panel appointed by secretary-general Kofi Annan to probe the truck-bomb attack that killed 22 people and injured 150.

The panel, headed by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, said that even if basic security guidelines had been observed, the attack might not have been prevented. But if the security team had responded better to threats it had received and intelligence that it was a target of Saddam Hussein loyalists, the panel said, it might have minimized the casualties.

The panel confirmed reports that U.N. officials had turned down offers of protection from the U.S.-led occupation forces.

"The main conclusion of the panel is that the current security management system is dysfunctional," the 40-page document said. "The observance and implementation of security regulations and procedures were sloppy."

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq have increased sharply over the past two weeks, reaching a high of 35 a day, the commanding American general here said Wednesday.

Over much of the summer, military officials had said there were 10 to 15 attacks on U.S. soldiers most days. Since early October, however, the number of daily attacks has fluctuated between 20 and 35, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said.

A summary provided by the U.S. military to contractors in Iraq listed 30 so-called security incidents on Tuesday, including two mortar strikes on American bases, nine attacks with roadside bombs and several drive-by shootings.

Sanchez attributed the increase to a stepped-up U.S. offensive in parts of western Iraq dominated by Sunni Muslims. Two brigades from the 82nd Airborne Division were recently deployed to the region, adding thousands of light infantry soldiers conducting more patrols.

With more soldiers on streets, he said, there have been more clashes with forces intent on evicting U.S. troops from Iraq.

DONORS PROMISE $7-BILLION: Envoys from more than 55 countries are in Madrid, Spain, to open a donors' conference on Iraq today amid indications that commitments for at least $7-billion in loans and grants over the next four years have been won from various countries and from the World Bank and other institutions. Secretary of State Colin Powell cautioned that, as expected, the sums to be raised in Madrid would fall considerably short of the target of $55-billion for Iraq's overall needs as assessed by the World Bank and American occupation officials.

LOAN OR NOT A LOAN? The White House predicted a final $87-billion measure for Iraq and Afghanistan won't make the Iraqi rebuilding aid a loan, despite signs of continued support for the idea in Congress. "I don't think that that provision will be in the final language," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "It's very clear that it sends the wrong message." McClellan said lending money to Iraq would make it harder for the United States to attract foreign contributions and add billions to Iraq's foreign debt.

FEWER RESERVISTS: The number of reservists on active duty for the global war on terrorism has dropped by about 15 percent in the past two months and is now below 160,000 for the first time since February. The Pentagon said Wednesday that 158,894 members of the National Guard and Reserve are on active duty, a drop of 5,120 over the past week. In mid-August the total was nearly 189,000.

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