Critics Wary of Palestinian Bomb Probe

[GabysPoppy]

JERUSALEM - The Palestinian investigation of a bombing that killed three security guards in a U.S. convoy in Gaza is increasingly testing the patience of U.S. diplomats.

After months of seemingly getting nowhere, investigators suddenly produced four suspects this weekend in what critics say is a crude attempt by Yasser Arafat to deflect growing pressure.

The charges against the four are vague - manslaughter for planting bombs aimed at Israeli tanks that might have hit the convoy by mistake - and the arrests have been widely met with scorn.

A senior Palestinian security official who declined to be named said Tuesday he does not believe the accused are the culprits. The real perpetrators could be linked to Arafat's own Fatah organization, or even to the Palestinian security forces, he said, but offered no evidence.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29438-2004Feb10.html

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I cannot believe that it has taken so long to get to the truth of this

Perhaps the destruction of the forensics lab has something to do with it, but this should be a priority of U.S. officials, who have largely ignored this tragic conflict. This attitude will only become more apparent in an election year when this is not an easy win and is destined to be ignored, even more than usual, by the Bush* administration, which was expected to take a leadership position in implementing the "road map." There is nothing here that will help garner votes. Meanwhile, scapegoating those who may not be responsible does no one any good. The U.S. needs to turn their attention to this and see that the real perpetrators are identified, but solving this doesn't seem to further their interests.