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Iraq war fuels terror - US report Iraq war fuels terror - US report
(about 1 hour later)
The Iraq conflict has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic militants worldwide, declassified parts of a US intelligence report say.The Iraq conflict has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic militants worldwide, declassified parts of a US intelligence report say.
It has been "cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement," the National Intelligence Estimate says. The war has helped recruit "supporters for the global jihadist movement," the National Intelligence Estimate says.
President George W Bush promised to release parts of the report following earlier leaks to the US media. President George W Bush had promised to release parts of the report following earlier leaks to the US media.
Mr Bush said he strongly disagreed with his opponents who thought "going into Iraq was a mistake".Mr Bush said he strongly disagreed with his opponents who thought "going into Iraq was a mistake".
The report states that "United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of al-Qaeda and disrupted its operations". The key judgements contain ammunition for both sides in the debate over Iraq, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington notes.
Key parts of it however, confirmed the media leaks. He says the White House can point to a finding that "should Jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on."
The Iraq conflict had bred "a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world, the report said. Jihadists, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion National Intelligence Estimate href="/1/hi/world/americas/5383614.stm" class="">Declassified excerpts href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5381140.stm" class="">Terror tops Bush-Karzai talks This is in line with what the president says about the need to stay the course in Iraq.
Jihadists, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion National Intelligence Estimate href="/1/hi/world/americas/5383614.stm" class="">Declassified excerpts href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5381140.stm" class="">Terror tops Bush-Karzai talks However the report also says "the Iraq Jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives".
"Perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere," it said. It adds that the conflict had bred "a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world".
"Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight." "Perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere," it says.
Other key points in the report include: Other key points of the report include:
  • Militants, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion
  • Militants, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion
  • If this trend continues, threats to US interests globally will become more diverse leading to increased attacks worldwide
  • If this trend continues, threats to US interests globally will become more diverse leading to increased attacks worldwide
  • Militants consider Europe an important venue for attacking Western interests
  • Militants consider Europe an important venue for attacking Western interests
  • The loss of key leaders in rapid succession would probably fracture al-Qaeda into smaller groups that would pose, at least for a time, a less serious threat to US interests.
  • The loss of key leaders in rapid succession would probably fracture al-Qaeda into smaller groups that would pose, at least for a time, a less serious threat to US interests.
    • The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says the conclusions will be uncomfortable reading for the Bush administration. Critics 'naive'
    The leaked excerpts from the report were first published by the New York Times on Sunday.The leaked excerpts from the report were first published by the New York Times on Sunday.
    Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Bush condemned the leak, which he said was intended to influence Congressional elections due in November.Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Bush condemned the leak, which he said was intended to influence Congressional elections due in November.
    He also called his critics "naive" and said declassification would let people judge the document for themselves.
    HAVE YOUR SAY The invasion has given a huge impetus to a global jihad Harun Ali, London Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The invasion has given a huge impetus to a global jihad Harun Ali, London Send us your comments
    He also called his critics "naive" and said declassification would let people judge the document for themselves.
    "I think it's a mistake for people to believe that going on the offence against people that want to do harm to the American people makes us less safe," he added."I think it's a mistake for people to believe that going on the offence against people that want to do harm to the American people makes us less safe," he added.
    Mr Bush has consistently dismissed such reasoning in the past, arguing that Islamic militants had hated the US long before it invaded Iraq or Afghanistan.Mr Bush has consistently dismissed such reasoning in the past, arguing that Islamic militants had hated the US long before it invaded Iraq or Afghanistan.
    After Mr Bush spoke, a Democrat proposal for a secret session of the House of Representatives to give lawmakers the chance to discuss the report was voted down.After Mr Bush spoke, a Democrat proposal for a secret session of the House of Representatives to give lawmakers the chance to discuss the report was voted down.
    House Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi proposed the special session, which would have been the first such meeting since 1983. She said that the entire report should be declassified.House Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi proposed the special session, which would have been the first such meeting since 1983. She said that the entire report should be declassified.
    "Quite frankly, my view is that any responsible declassification will change the course of this debate on Iraq," she told the Associated Press news agency."Quite frankly, my view is that any responsible declassification will change the course of this debate on Iraq," she told the Associated Press news agency.
    On the ground in Iraq at least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in a series of blasts in and around Baghdad on Tuesday.On the ground in Iraq at least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in a series of blasts in and around Baghdad on Tuesday.