NIE: US Actions Spawn Terrorists

According to published reports, the April National Intelligence Estimate -- developed by US intelligence agencies -- "has found that the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped to spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the attacks of 11 September, 2001."

The new National Intelligence Estimate was overseen by David Low, an intelligence officer for transnational threats, who commissioned it in 2004 after he took up his post at the National Intelligence Council.

The estimate concludes that the radical Islamic movement has expanded from a core of al-Qaeda operatives and affiliated groups to include a new class of "self-generating" cells inspired by al-Qaeda's leadership but without any direct connection to Osama bin Laden or his top lieutenants.

The LA Times reports that White House spokesman Peter Watkins said "that much of the radicals' rage at the United States and Israel goes back generations and is not linked to the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq."

The New York Times revealed the report Sunday -- it quickly moved to the newswire and international media outlets. Republicans are divided in their response to the report. For example, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA) conceded that the war in Iraq has intensified Islamic fundamentalism and radicalism." However, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) repeated the oft-heard claim that "either we are going to be fighting this battle, this war overseas, or it’s going to be right here in this country."

It remains to be seen how US media will report the story on Monday.