(September 24, 2006)—A new, classified report says the nation’s spy agencies don't think the Iraq war has reduced the threat of terrorism.
In fact, they concluded that the war has contributed to an increased threat.
The assessment comes in a National Intelligence Estimate, which represents a consensus view of the 16 spy services inside the government.
It's classified, but an intelligence official is confirming reports of the account published Sunday in the New York Times.
The report finds that the war helped create a new generation of Islamic radicalism, and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the 9/11 attacks.
In a statement, Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy says the report "should put the final nail in the coffin" for what he calls "President Bush's phony argument about the Iraq war."
But the Senate's top Republican, Bill Frist, told ABC Sunday that Americans understand the US must keep fighting terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere.
He echoed an argument frequently made by Mr. Bush, saying, "Either we are going to be fighting this battle, this war overseas, or it's going to be right here in this country."
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Sunday he did not agree with an intelligence leak in the New York Times Sunday saying that the war in Iraq was hindering the war on terrorism.
He said the President had made clear that the war in Iraq was not without problems and agreed with the President that they must prevail in securing democracy for that country.
“The best way to combat terrorism and the recruitment of these young people who are willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to others is an opportunity, is a free and open society,” McCain said.
“And the longer that there are these conditions that prevail, the more likely they are to have more recruits.”
