Report: Iraq War Inspiring Terrorists

Declassified Intel Report Calls Iraq War A 'Cause Celebre' For Islamic Extremists

(CBS/AP)  A declassified government intelligence report says the war in Iraq has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic extremists, breeding deep resentment of the United States that is likely to get worse before it gets better.

In the bleak report, released Tuesday on President Bush's orders, the nation's most veteran analysts conclude that despite serious damage to the leadership of al Qaeda, the threat from Islamic extremists has spread both in numbers and in geographic reach.

"If this trend continues, threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad will become more diverse, leading to increasing attacks worldwide,' the document says. "The confluence of shared purpose and dispersed actors will make it harder to find and undermine jihadist groups."

The former director of the CIA’s National Counterterrorism Center, John Brennan, told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric that intelligence community analysts are concerned that the conflict in Iraq is "fueling the fires of Islamic extremism inside Iraq and outside.

"There is just a ready propaganda tool that the Islamic extremists use by showing the footage of the continuation of the struggle inside Iraq," he said.

---

Read the declassified parts of the National Intelligence Estimate report here (.pdf)

---

Mr. Bush ordered a declassified version of the classified report released after several days of criticism sparked by portions that were leaked. Asked about the leaked portions Tuesday, Mr. Bush said critics who believe the Iraq war has worsened terrorism are naive and mistaken.

Mr. Bush, who is known for aggressively guarding government secrets, took the extraordinary step of declassifying part of the report to prove his point that a selective leak distorted the study, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Mr. Bush also said that the timing shows that the leak was motivated by pure politics, Axelrod adds.

"Here we are coming down the stretch in an election campaign and it's on the front page of your newspapers. Isn't that interesting?" Mr. Bush said at a news conference.

The intelligence assessment, completed in April, has stirred a heated election-season argument over the course of U.S. national security in the years following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Mr. Bush and his top advisers had said the broad assessment on global terrorism supported their arguments that the world is safer. But more than three pages of stark judgments warning about the spread of terrorism contrasted with the administration's glass-half-full declarations.

The report said:

The increased role of Iraqis in opposing al Qaeda in Iraq might lead the terror group's veteran foreign fighters to focus their efforts outside the country.

While Iran and Syria are the most active state sponsors of terror, many other countries will be unable to prevent their resources from being exploited by terrorists.

The underlying factors that are fueling the spread of the extremist Muslim movement outweigh its vulnerabilities. These factors are entrenched grievances and a slow pace of reform in home countries, rising anti-U.S. sentiment and the Iraq war.

Groups "of all stripes" will increasingly use the Internet to communicate, train, recruit and obtain support.

The assessment also lays out weaknesses of the movement that analysts say must be exploited if its spread is to be slowed. For instance, they note that extremists want to see the establishment of strict Islamic governments in the Arab world — a development they say would be unpopular with most Muslims.

"Exposing the religious and political straitjacket that is implied by the jihadists' propaganda would help to divide them from the audiences they seek to persuade," the report says.

It also argues that the loss of key leaders — Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — in "rapid succession" would probably cause the group to fracture.

Al-Zarqawi was killed in June, but the top two al Qaeda leaders have remained elusive for years.

The declassified summary of the report was only four pages long, Axelrod reports, and Democrats are clamoring to see its entire 30 pages.

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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by drgoodwin12 September 27, 2006 6:01 PM EDT

A premediated war without jiustification planned 11 days into Bush's first term.That any idiot could see beforehand was going to make terrorism worse.Gslinger3 it is individuals like you who have so much wax in thier ears it prevents them from thinking,walking or talking with intelligence.Read AGAINST ALL ENEMIES AND THE PRICE OF LOYALTY both written by prominent republicans and never rebuked.

Reply to this comment

by omicronthree September 27, 2006 3:36 PM EDT

Have you noticed? The sign of a mature, thinking individual is, when confronted with the facts, he/she adjusts his/her opinion accordingly. ie: If I say the sky is green and I go outside and see that it's blue then I'm a fool to continue thinking it's green. All these little Bushies in here continue their small minded propaganda filled rants because they are incapable or unwilling to see the truth. They are quite simply impossible to get through to. If Georgey boy says go die for Jesus and free Iraqis they get all weak in the knees. Does anyone honestly believe that lil' Georgey boy gives a rat's a_s about free Iraqi people?? Any war, and I do mean ANY war engaged in by this nation, has always been for power, influence, and money. However, you can't tell someone that their loved one died to make the politicians rich. That's poor taste. So you fold up a nice flag, shed some fake crocodile tears and tell them that their loved one died DEFENDING FREEDOM!! Then you hop back on your jet have an extravagant meal with wealthy powerful pals and prepare to fold up some more flags. If lil' Georgey boy believes in this holy struggle so very, very much, why aren't his children fighting beside ours?

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad September 27, 2006 3:07 PM EDT

Your credibility is seriously limited if you support the war in Iraq, the bungling administration%u2019s execution of the war in Afghanistan and its so called %u201Cwar against terror%u201D if you have never served in the military, or even registered for the draft. I agree most Americans are Terrorized at the thought of this administration running politically unchecked for another two years, so much so that in America there is a huge wave of rebellion to that possibility. The American People will execute their own war against Terror this November 7th and vote out of office all those rubber stamp politicians that supported sending our children to fight in a bungled neo-con expedition while those so eagerly supporting the war have never had the courage to serve in combat themselves.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad September 27, 2006 2:19 PM EDT

American Iraq Policies Decisions Abdicated to Osama bin Laden
President Bush and the Administration Supporters have once again dodged their responsibilities for making poor decisions in the War in Iraq. They are now grasping at any straw to support staying in Iraq and pursuing these failed Policies. Now the American People are suppose to believe that Iraq is the Central Front on the War on Terror instead of Afghanistan because of statements supposedly made by Osama Bin Laden from his cave hideout. Of course Bin Laden wants America bogged down in Iraq expending resources, troops and blood anywhere but hunting him in Afghanistan. It is deeply disconcerting that a sitting American President would reference an outlaw hiding in a cave as the supporting source for his administrations policy decisions. They are now saying we must stay in Iraq because %u201CBin Laden says it is the Central Front on the War on Terror%u201D. This administration has lost the initiative on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now its policies are being driven by statements from a fugitive hiding in a cave.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

Reply to this comment

by meboard September 27, 2006 1:35 PM EDT

grumpas--right on track with you! I grew up watching the antics of the Bush brothers. Running the S and L's into the ground. Trying to play big oil man. "Owner" of the Texas Rangers (scewed that up too). Why, he can't even get a conviction on the guy "who tried to shoot my Daddy!" And he ownes the court room! He's ended up reversing himself on vertually every policy intiative he launched. What a jock. I don't have any complaint when it comes to competent Republicans (Warner, McCain, etc.). But I have to wonder how Republicans can continue to support W. He's a looser par excellence!

Reply to this comment

by grumpas September 27, 2006 1:18 PM EDT

Anyone with a gram of intelligence knew it was going to be an unmitigated disaster before he ever started it! Terrorist are a loose knit group of people bent on imposing their idea's on other people by using terror to get their point across (the extremist's who bomb abortion clinic's are in the same catagory). The only way to defeat them is the same way the British did it a few months ago! So therefore, what earthly good would it do to invade Iraq?????? This President obviously doesn't have a clue what a terrorist really is or doesn't care! He used the opportunity to further his agenda in the middle east! This is why his war hasn't done a thing to curb terrorism! We all knew it wouldn't! He went after the completely wrong group of people! This is only one of a thousand reasons this President needs to be gotten out of office while we still have a country! He obviously isn't capable of making a sound rational decision!

Reply to this comment

by jbb2213 September 27, 2006 1:17 PM EDT

The NIE report is nothing but opinion. Note how many times the words "might" and "could" are used. Also, "we judge" meaning "in our opinion." Cause and effect are very difficult to prove. This report proves nothing.

Reply to this comment

by meboard September 27, 2006 12:50 PM EDT

rsoxfan1123--thank you. You just made my day. Great minds think alike!

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 27, 2006 12:39 PM EDT

I recognize you meboard. you bring some good points to these discussions.

Reply to this comment

by meboard September 27, 2006 12:36 PM EDT

Oh I know what you mean rsoxfan1123, people confuse me and shutupmartha all the time!

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 27, 2006 12:19 PM EDT

btw, for those of you who follow these boards, any weirdo postings by rsoxfan1122 is not me. note my log in, 1123. it was some wacko idiot pretending to be me.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 27, 2006 12:17 PM EDT

Once again, this is similar to Viet Nam. The government kept telling us about all the progress we were making, how we were going to spread democracy (commies then, terrorists now)and help Viet Nam while they complained about the undermining liberal press. (Haliburton Oil was also brought up on war profiteering charges during Viet Nam-that's Cheney's ex-oil company, btw). Prior to going into Iraq, I distinctly remember reporters asking Bush how we could be sure he wasn't leading us into another Viet Nam. He got really angry and rather than answering the question, he began describing how patriotic he was, implying that they were unpatriotic for even asking the question. I'd love to hear him answer it now- wait, I think I already have.

Reply to this comment

by meboard September 27, 2006 11:58 AM EDT

Many of you may remember the National Security Estimate released durig the 04 campaign stated the BEST we could hope for out of Iraq would be civil war (looks like they were right). Now we get told that Iraq is fuling the terrorist movement. We've seen nothing come from Iraq as promised by this administration. Sure, they held an election, they adopted a constitution (all with the help of the US military close at hand). But I've seen no tangble indication that the current Iraq government can sustain itself without us there for 10 to 20 years. And what do we get for our investment? Another pupet strong arm government bought and paid for by uncle sucker. (We've been setting those up for decades and getting zero back.) In fact, their PM has been negotiating with Iran--another fine middle east democracy.

Reply to this comment

by energyecon September 27, 2006 11:48 AM EDT

If winning in Iraq is truly critical to reducing the terror threat to American lives and interests, LET'S GET SOMEONE COMPETENT INSTEAD OF THE BONEHEADS WE HAVE IN CHARGE NOW!

Long past time for a change.

Reply to this comment

by midwestview September 27, 2006 11:47 AM EDT

Wow. Some of you just won't get it until you face head first yourself. Law enforcement to combat terrorism? Sure in addition to stopping them anyway you can before they get us here first. Do you really think they care about any of the issues the way you do? I have been there, seen it happen, and pray we stop them before they accomplish all they intend to. I don't condem you for your points of view I just sadly think your wrong and is dangerous.

Reply to this comment

by meboard September 27, 2006 11:34 AM EDT

Sorry Midwestview, dreamwvr1955 has a vaild point. To continue a blind war simply to hunt and kill is NOT the answer. You can't bomb people into a democracy and you definitely can't shoot them into being your friend. Yes, there are activists that are bent on harming Westerners and they need to be delt with through law enforcement means. Our actions up to this point have fulled their cause not lessened it. We've made more terrorists than we've killed. We're headed in the wrong direction!

Reply to this comment

by midwestview September 27, 2006 11:13 AM EDT

Really, how biased and political can many of you be? I still have a hard time trying figure out what it is many of you actually beliive in. Isn't it remotely possible that the terrorist may have gained strength by listening to all the complaigning and wringing of hands by many of our own Americans and press. I still don't get it. Maybe when it actually affects you personally,like one of your own family dead from a terrorist action you will open your eyes to the real world and not some "let's all get along" attitude that you may have. By the way dreamwvr1955, please go chant over your crystals for us...

Reply to this comment

by abbe7 September 27, 2006 10:27 AM EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF0LPthw2eI&eurl=

Reply to this comment

by gslinger3 September 27, 2006 10:00 AM EDT

George Bush has been saying all along that we are fighting the terrorists on thier front and not our own, and low and behold a government intellegence report comes out and confirms that! And you dems thought it was another one Bush Lie, shame on you!!!!!

Reply to this comment

by drgoodwin12 September 27, 2006 6:32 AM EDT

Hey ShutupMurtha you and I have agreed on many things,however this is where we part views.The Democratic Party reaizes that stay the course is as bad as cut and run.That is why they have come out with a tougher,smarter program to combat terrorism, one that deters individuals from becoming terrorist and maintains military options where needed.Vote for a change in Congress and elect democrats. If they fail to live up to their promises then we will have plenty of time to develope a third party that represents the peoples intrest. The republican party for the most part has not. We need a party that is a melting pot of the best of the two parties to take this country forward. Until then I will have to cast my votes for Democrats.

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[drgoodwin12]

A premediated war without jiustification planned 11 days into Bush's first term.That any idiot could see beforehand was going to make terrorism worse.Gslinger3 it is individuals like you who have so much wax in thier ears it prevents them from thinking,walking or talking with intelligence.Read AGAINST ALL ENEMIES AND THE PRICE OF LOYALTY both written by prominent republicans and never rebuked.

[omicronthree]

Have you noticed? The sign of a mature, thinking individual is, when confronted with the facts, he/she adjusts his/her opinion accordingly. ie: If I say the sky is green and I go outside and see that it's blue then I'm a fool to continue thinking it's green. All these little Bushies in here continue their small minded propaganda filled rants because they are incapable or unwilling to see the truth. They are quite simply impossible to get through to. If Georgey boy says go die for Jesus and free Iraqis they get all weak in the knees. Does anyone honestly believe that lil' Georgey boy gives a rat's a_s about free Iraqi people?? Any war, and I do mean ANY war engaged in by this nation, has always been for power, influence, and money. However, you can't tell someone that their loved one died to make the politicians rich. That's poor taste. So you fold up a nice flag, shed some fake crocodile tears and tell them that their loved one died DEFENDING FREEDOM!! Then you hop back on your jet have an extravagant meal with wealthy powerful pals and prepare to fold up some more flags. If lil' Georgey boy believes in this holy struggle so very, very much, why aren't his children fighting beside ours?

[bluestardad]

Your credibility is seriously limited if you support the war in Iraq, the bungling administration%u2019s execution of the war in Afghanistan and its so called %u201Cwar against terror%u201D if you have never served in the military, or even registered for the draft. I agree most Americans are Terrorized at the thought of this administration running politically unchecked for another two years, so much so that in America there is a huge wave of rebellion to that possibility. The American People will execute their own war against Terror this November 7th and vote out of office all those rubber stamp politicians that supported sending our children to fight in a bungled neo-con expedition while those so eagerly supporting the war have never had the courage to serve in combat themselves.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[bluestardad]

American Iraq Policies Decisions Abdicated to Osama bin Laden
President Bush and the Administration Supporters have once again dodged their responsibilities for making poor decisions in the War in Iraq. They are now grasping at any straw to support staying in Iraq and pursuing these failed Policies. Now the American People are suppose to believe that Iraq is the Central Front on the War on Terror instead of Afghanistan because of statements supposedly made by Osama Bin Laden from his cave hideout. Of course Bin Laden wants America bogged down in Iraq expending resources, troops and blood anywhere but hunting him in Afghanistan. It is deeply disconcerting that a sitting American President would reference an outlaw hiding in a cave as the supporting source for his administrations policy decisions. They are now saying we must stay in Iraq because %u201CBin Laden says it is the Central Front on the War on Terror%u201D. This administration has lost the initiative on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now its policies are being driven by statements from a fugitive hiding in a cave.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[meboard]

grumpas--right on track with you! I grew up watching the antics of the Bush brothers. Running the S and L's into the ground. Trying to play big oil man. "Owner" of the Texas Rangers (scewed that up too). Why, he can't even get a conviction on the guy "who tried to shoot my Daddy!" And he ownes the court room! He's ended up reversing himself on vertually every policy intiative he launched. What a jock. I don't have any complaint when it comes to competent Republicans (Warner, McCain, etc.). But I have to wonder how Republicans can continue to support W. He's a looser par excellence!

[grumpas]

Anyone with a gram of intelligence knew it was going to be an unmitigated disaster before he ever started it! Terrorist are a loose knit group of people bent on imposing their idea's on other people by using terror to get their point across (the extremist's who bomb abortion clinic's are in the same catagory). The only way to defeat them is the same way the British did it a few months ago! So therefore, what earthly good would it do to invade Iraq?????? This President obviously doesn't have a clue what a terrorist really is or doesn't care! He used the opportunity to further his agenda in the middle east! This is why his war hasn't done a thing to curb terrorism! We all knew it wouldn't! He went after the completely wrong group of people! This is only one of a thousand reasons this President needs to be gotten out of office while we still have a country! He obviously isn't capable of making a sound rational decision!

[jbb2213]

The NIE report is nothing but opinion. Note how many times the words "might" and "could" are used. Also, "we judge" meaning "in our opinion." Cause and effect are very difficult to prove. This report proves nothing.

[meboard]

rsoxfan1123--thank you. You just made my day. Great minds think alike!

[rsoxfan1123]

I recognize you meboard. you bring some good points to these discussions.

[meboard]

Oh I know what you mean rsoxfan1123, people confuse me and shutupmartha all the time!

[rsoxfan1123]

btw, for those of you who follow these boards, any weirdo postings by rsoxfan1122 is not me. note my log in, 1123. it was some wacko idiot pretending to be me.

[rsoxfan1123]

Once again, this is similar to Viet Nam. The government kept telling us about all the progress we were making, how we were going to spread democracy (commies then, terrorists now)and help Viet Nam while they complained about the undermining liberal press. (Haliburton Oil was also brought up on war profiteering charges during Viet Nam-that's Cheney's ex-oil company, btw). Prior to going into Iraq, I distinctly remember reporters asking Bush how we could be sure he wasn't leading us into another Viet Nam. He got really angry and rather than answering the question, he began describing how patriotic he was, implying that they were unpatriotic for even asking the question. I'd love to hear him answer it now- wait, I think I already have.

[meboard]

Many of you may remember the National Security Estimate released durig the 04 campaign stated the BEST we could hope for out of Iraq would be civil war (looks like they were right). Now we get told that Iraq is fuling the terrorist movement. We've seen nothing come from Iraq as promised by this administration. Sure, they held an election, they adopted a constitution (all with the help of the US military close at hand). But I've seen no tangble indication that the current Iraq government can sustain itself without us there for 10 to 20 years. And what do we get for our investment? Another pupet strong arm government bought and paid for by uncle sucker. (We've been setting those up for decades and getting zero back.) In fact, their PM has been negotiating with Iran--another fine middle east democracy.

[energyecon]

If winning in Iraq is truly critical to reducing the terror threat to American lives and interests, LET'S GET SOMEONE COMPETENT INSTEAD OF THE BONEHEADS WE HAVE IN CHARGE NOW!

Long past time for a change.

[midwestview]

Wow. Some of you just won't get it until you face head first yourself. Law enforcement to combat terrorism? Sure in addition to stopping them anyway you can before they get us here first. Do you really think they care about any of the issues the way you do? I have been there, seen it happen, and pray we stop them before they accomplish all they intend to. I don't condem you for your points of view I just sadly think your wrong and is dangerous.

[meboard]

Sorry Midwestview, dreamwvr1955 has a vaild point. To continue a blind war simply to hunt and kill is NOT the answer. You can't bomb people into a democracy and you definitely can't shoot them into being your friend. Yes, there are activists that are bent on harming Westerners and they need to be delt with through law enforcement means. Our actions up to this point have fulled their cause not lessened it. We've made more terrorists than we've killed. We're headed in the wrong direction!

[midwestview]

Really, how biased and political can many of you be? I still have a hard time trying figure out what it is many of you actually beliive in. Isn't it remotely possible that the terrorist may have gained strength by listening to all the complaigning and wringing of hands by many of our own Americans and press. I still don't get it. Maybe when it actually affects you personally,like one of your own family dead from a terrorist action you will open your eyes to the real world and not some "let's all get along" attitude that you may have. By the way dreamwvr1955, please go chant over your crystals for us...

[abbe7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF0LPthw2eI&eurl=

[gslinger3]

George Bush has been saying all along that we are fighting the terrorists on thier front and not our own, and low and behold a government intellegence report comes out and confirms that! And you dems thought it was another one Bush Lie, shame on you!!!!!

[drgoodwin12]

Hey ShutupMurtha you and I have agreed on many things,however this is where we part views.The Democratic Party reaizes that stay the course is as bad as cut and run.That is why they have come out with a tougher,smarter program to combat terrorism, one that deters individuals from becoming terrorist and maintains military options where needed.Vote for a change in Congress and elect democrats. If they fail to live up to their promises then we will have plenty of time to develope a third party that represents the peoples intrest. The republican party for the most part has not. We need a party that is a melting pot of the best of the two parties to take this country forward. Until then I will have to cast my votes for Democrats.