Report: U.N. Responsible in Baghdad Blast
The U.N. investigators cited in the report seen Friday paint a picture of an organization that was ``strongly influenced by considerations of image, politics, funding, and enthusiasm to deliver programs'' in deciding to send U.N. staff back to Iraq after the U.S.-led war - and that didn't pay enough attention to their security.
U.N. agencies and departments widely ignored the ceiling of 200 international staff in Baghdad set by security staff, according to the report. At the time of the bombing, there were about 350 international staff in Baghdad, and by some independent accounts as many as 560, the report said.
The report also said U.N. staff ignored warnings of an attack.
On Aug. 10-11, there were indications of an attack in the Canal Road area near the hotel in the next 10 days, the report said, and the daily U.N. security reports on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 clearly identified the threat of an attack on the United Nations using ``improvised explosive devices.'' But little attention was paid to the deteriorating security conditions, it said. Full story