NEW YORK -- Recent revelations in The New York Times on the fight against terrorism and the war on Iraq present a differing view on the problem worth pondering about. According to classified information in the National Intelligence Estimate leaked to the Times, the American invasion and occupation of Iraq, rather than lowering the threat of terrorism worldwide, has actually increased it.
The intelligence estimate, titled Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States, states that Islamic radicalism has metastasized and spread across the globe, and has made the problem of terrorism much worse. This view represents the consensus of 16 spy agencies in the government, and is in stark contrast with White House documents and statements by U.S. President George W. Bush on the effect of the Iraq invasion on the war on terror.
Clearly unhappy with the findings of the report, Bush stated, "I think it's naive. I think it is a mistake for people to believe that going on the offense against people that want to do harm against the American people makes us less safe."