Australian PM rejects report that Iraq war raised terror threat

[Barrett808]

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has dismissed a leaked US intelligence report that found the US-led Iraq war increased the global threat of terrorism, rather than diminishing it.

Howard, a staunch Washington ally who has committed Australian troops throughout the Iraqi campaign, rejected the report's conclusion that the war had raised the terror risk and boosted recruitment to Islamic extremist groups.

The Australian leader said terrorism was a global threat long before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, in which some 2,000 Australian troops participated, pointing to the first Bali bombing in 2002, where scores of Australians died.

"There are many theories about the origins of terrorism and the factors that bear on terrorism," Howard told reporters when asked about the report.

"One fact is absolutely certain, and that is that Australia and the United States and many other countries were terrorist targets long before the military operation in Iraq.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060925/wl_mideast_afp/usattacksiraqintelligenceaustralia

[Donnachaidh]

1. goose-stepping *ally*

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Oh, yeah. Australia is fearing for its life because American went into

Iraq. Big dummies. They're coming after us, not you!

[sabra]

3. wow, he uses the WH exact response, what a surprise

:sarcasm: One problem, no one is saying that Iraq "started" terrorism, the report indicates that it has increased and spread because of it.

[KurtNYC]

4. RW headlines -- even when they tell the truth they lie

"...Iraq war raised terror threat"

Since the war continues why is this written in past tense? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say:

"Australian PM rejects report that on-going Iraq war is raising terror threat"

[sui generis]

5. oh yeah, and black is white and up is down and

his brains are where his ass should be.

"al qaeda" was just a few hundred (or fewer) strong six years ago. Now it is many many thousands strong, AND growing, and predominatantly with "terrorists" from Iraq. I mean, that's where we're fighting this war on terror, isn't it? Why else would we even be there?

[ck4829]

6. Keep thinking that, you lunatic

[EarlG]

7. This drives me nuts

"There are many theories about the origins of terrorism and the factors that bear on terrorism," Howard told reporters when asked about the report. "One fact is absolutely certain, and that is that Australia and the United States and many other countries were terrorist targets long before the military operation in Iraq."

Er, yes. Obviously.

But what does that have to do with the NIE? Howard would have us believe that the NIE says that terrorism wasn't a problem before we invaded Iraq. In fact it says that things have gotten WORSE since we invaded Iraq.

Nobody's saying that terrorism didn't exist before the invasion, yet this BS strawman argument is rolled out daily by Bush and Friends.

[sui generis]

9. actually that's a straw man we can hang them with

Of course terrorists have existed forever. Predators hunt prey, sharks bite, and terrorists terrorize. But it's not the FACT of terrorism that is the issue - it's how well we deal with it, or rather how poorly this administration has dealt with it.

Losing two skyscrapers and a chunk of the pentagon to terrorists after receiving a PDB that said Bin Laden was about to fly airplanes into buildings -- not dealing with it so well.

This administration is marvelous with their 20/20 hindsight. All of a sudden now five years later we're worried that someone is going to smuggle draino and ammonia and diesel oil and very very cold acetone on board in baby bottles to make enough explosive in the bathroom over eight or so hours to barely blow the lid off the toilet, but "of course they knew about" binary explosives all along because they're so strong on security.

The key thing is, this administration is NEVER speaking to us with these absurdities. They're merely applying the First Law of Political Science - tell your base what they want to hear, followed by its corollary "Who Cares What Anyone Else Thinks"

[0007]

8. 'Ya know things are going badly when they have to trot out

John Howard.......Even Henry A. Kissinger has to hide his fucking ugly face these days.

[RethugAssKicker]

10. He's just a shit head Bushbot !

[LynnTheDem]

11. Alternate Reality; it's a rightwingnut way of life.

Aussies, Brits, Italians say Iraq war increased terrorism
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1576/5027215.html

UK Government; Iraq war 'increased terror threat'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3451239.stm

US State Department Corrects Report to Show Rise in Terrorism
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5264512 /

Global terror attacks triple
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0428/dailyUpdate.html

Worldwide terrorism-related deaths on the rise
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5889435%20 /

US Losing the War on Terror in Iraq; The invasion of Iraq has increased, not decreased, the threat of terrorist attack
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article2629.html

Occupation Made World Less Safe, Pro-War Institute Says
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/terrorwar/analysis/2004/0526iissreport.htm

Iraq Invasion Hurt War on Terror
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0719-10.htm

Musharraf: World more dangerous because of Iraq War
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/25/03544/7945

Terrorism threat worse in wake of Iraq war
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1543486.htm

Iraq War Blamed for Increased Terrorist Threat
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/11107

Iraq War Increased Terror Threat: Global Poll
Most people in 33 out of 35 countries worldwide believe that the US-led invasion of Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism,
http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/02/1805227.php

US: Three Years On, War on Terrorism Looks Like a Loser
http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=25437

[ProfessorGAC]

12. The NIE Doesn't Say Terrorism Originated In 2003!

What an idiot! Of course, everyone knows that there was terrorism before the Iraq invasion. The NIE says it's now likely to get worse! Geez, who in Australia voted for this cretin?
The Professor

[Vidar]

13. Howard should hang from the same gallows as Bush & Blair.

[FiveGoodMen]

14. John Hunt is a Coward!

Saw this on a t-shirt a guy was wearing on SorryEverybody.com.