Bombers knew their assault was guaranteed maximum exposure

The attack on the Palestine and Sheraton hotels was no different from other suicide bombings, aside from the fact that it was live on television.

No doubt the organisers of the bombing were aware that the Palestine is home to the Associated Press and their assault was guaranteed maximum exposure.

The use of three bombers shows organisation but attacks by more than one bomber are common. The idea is to catch the police and security forces as they come to deal with the first explosion. It is doubtful if the bombs yesterday were aimed at killing journalists. The Palestine is also used by contractors and is defended by a detachment of US troops. Both facts are enough to make it a target. Most of the Baghdad foreign press corps lives in other hotels or in a heavy-defended street about 500 yards from the explosion where the BBC, Reuters and The New York Times have their offices.

Even by the grim standards of Baghdad it was a big bomb. I was in a house on the other side of the Tigris river about half a mile away which had its windows blown out by the blast. When the suicide bombings started in August 2003 I would go to look at the devastation. I no longer do so.

Suicide bombers frequently follow up the first bomb with a second. Even if they do not, policemen and soldiers are so terrified that they are prone to shoot at any approaching vehicle deemed suspicious.

It is true that there are more military and police checkpoints in Baghdad than before but in this vast city there are usually by-roads by which they can be avoided. Strictly military positions and government buildings are better defended than they used to be by enormous concrete blocks. But the suicide bombers have always been willing to attack soft targets with the general intention of showing that the government is not in control.

As a form of psychological warfare it is very effective. The roar of explosions reverberates almost every night across Baghdad underlining to its inhabitants that the government is not in control. US vehicles have notices in English and Arabic attached to them saying anybody who drives within 100 metres may be shot. It is in fact wholly impractical to keep this distance away.

The aim of the suicide bombing campaign is to maintain an atmosphere of permanent crisis and in this it has been largely successful.