First they struck the UN, and the UN left Iraq. Then they struck the Red Cross, and the Red Cross left Iraq. Now they've struck Italy. As well as our Ukrainian, Spanish and Polish allies.
The attacks are isolating the US:
Guerrillas are now regularly targeting international aid groups, American allies, U.S. soldiers and Iraqis who cooperate with coalition forces.
The attacks have had an impact: Hope has faded at the Pentagon that other nations will contribute troops to Iraq. The United Nations, Red Cross and other international organizations have scaled back their presence in Iraq. And some supporters of the U.S. effort, such as Spain, Bulgaria and the Netherlands, have reduced their diplomatic missions in Iraq.
Japan has shelved plans for a significant contribution to the effort, and Turkey's was killed by the IGC. The US had placed much hope in a Pakistani contingent, but that's dead as well.
And given that the international contingents are only committed until spring, there's a good chance they'll cut and run then with that diplomatic cover. The US and UK can't hold the fort on their own. As dKos community member and blogger Fester notes,
Currently there are five foreign brigade groups. One is British, while Spain, Poland, the Ukraine and Italy all lead the other brigades. I believe that Blair is as committed to "winning" in Iraq as Bush is. However the other four brigade committments are far more tenous.
If the guerillas continue to operate in the so far effective strategic manner and continue to raise the cost of cooperating with the United States to Iraqi citizens, non-governmental organizations and foreign allies, it is likely that next spring, the US will face a crisis. After a short time period where there are at least 23 brigades and more likely 28-30 brigades with 160,000-190,000 Coalition soldiers in country due to the troop rotation, up from the present 150,000 or so, these numbers could drop to seventeen or eighteen brigades with 115,000 soldiers. At that point the US and the UK will be screwed.
Attacking non-US coalition forces now makes good military sense for the resistance.