Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Worsens Terrorism Threat

A classified National Intelligence Estimate, published on the basis of leaked information on 9/24/06, has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism. The project to assess the matter began in 2004 and was delayed until April of this year because some government officials were unhappy with earlier versions. National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative documents that the intelligence community produces on a specific national security issue.
The most saddening aspect of this story is that it has taken so long to say what has been so evident in the course of events. And it is not really news: it has been said before: a National Intelligence Council report completed in January 2003, two months before the Iraq invasion, said that "the approaching war had the potential to increase support for political Islam worldwide and could increase support for some terrorist objectives." The House Intelligence Committee released [9/20/06] an even more "ominous report about the terrorist threat" based on unclassified materials. It said that the jihadi movement is growing: Al Qaeda leaders are waiting "patiently for the right opportunity to attack.'" So the news is not news. For anyone paying attention to affairs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan it simply says what one could surmise from the daily reports of violence. How many more "news" reports of this sort will it take for the reality of the monstrous loss of respect for Americans to sink in?
RLC


Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Worsens Terrorism Threat
By MARK MAZZETTI
Published: September 25, 2006 (The New York Times)

A stark assessment has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks.
more…