SHOW: WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS (07:00 PM ET) - ABC December 23, 2004
ATTACK INVESTIGATION
Graphics: "richmond times dispatch"/dean hoffmeyer
JOHN COCHRAN, ABC NEWS
(Voice Over) Today, the top US general in northern Iraq said the bomber not only wore an Iraqi uniform, but almost certainty had accomplices, either on or off the Mosul base.
BRIG. GEN. CARTER HAM, COMMANDER, TASK FORCE OLYMPIA
It is very difficult to conceive that this would be the act of a lone individual. It would seem to me reasonable to assume that this was a, a mission, perhaps, some time in the planning, days, perhaps, that, that the, that this particular group, and, and Ansar al-Sunnah has claimed responsibility. Have no reason to doubt that.
graphics: "portland press-herald"/gregory roc
JOHN COCHRAN
(Voice Over) Today, investigators were trying to determine who the bomber was. It has been difficult because many workers at Mosul do not show up everyday.
graphics: mosul base workers
graphics: many do not show up everyday
graphics: it has been impossible to identify the bomber
JOHN COCHRAN
(Voice Over) So, it has been impossible to identify the bomber by checking who failed to turn up today. Those who did show up have been questioned. And with security tightened, some are not permitted to enter the base.
JOHN COCHRAN
(Off Camera) Officials say they are caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, they need the help of Iraqi civilians and soldiers. And they do not want to alienate more Iraqis by turning away innocent ones. But they are not sure they can trust all of these Iraqis, even those who have passed background checks.
JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG
This is, basically, driving a wedge between the Americans and the Iraqis because the Americans are going to be much more suspicious of all of the Iraqis. And that's going to make it very difficult to build a, an Iraqi force that's going to be loyal to the new Iraq.
graphics: mosul bombing
JOHN COCHRAN
(Voice Over) One more concern for American officials.
graphics: coordinated with terrorists outside base
JOHN COCHRAN
(Voice Over) The bombing may well have been coordinated with terrorists outside the base.
graphics: two hours after explosion, mortar attacks targeted hospital
JOHN COCHRAN
(Voice Over) ABC News has been told that two hours after the explosion, mortar attacks targeted the base hospital, where the wounded had been taken. Fortunately, the mortars missed the hospital. John Cochran, ABC News, the Pentagon.
graphics: friend or foe?
BOB WOODRUFF, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) US soldiers are working alongside Iraqi security forces more and more, potentially creating new opportunities for insurgents to attack. More from ABC's David Wright in Baghdad.
Copyright © 2004 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
