CIA Official: Iraq War Helping al-Qaida

[MrBishop]

LONDON - A CIA (news - web sites) official who claims in a book that the West is losing the war on terror said in an interview Tuesday night that the war in Iraq (news - web sites) was actually helping al-Qaida.

The 23-year veteran of the CIA, who also has spoken with the U.S. media, is releasing the book anonymously and has not identified himself.


"Iraq was a gift of epic proportions to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) and those who think like him," the man said, his face hidden during the interview on the British Broadcasting Corp. "Newsnight" show.


The CIA veteran's claim comes at a time when British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) is facing the prospect of another potentially critical report to be released on Wednesday on Britain's participation in the war in Iraq.


The book, "Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror," is to be released next month in the United States.


In the BBC interview the official dismisses two arguments that have been made by the Bush administration: that bin Laden and al-Qaeda are "on the run" and that the Iraq invasion has made America safer.

"Currently, we're in a lose-lose situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we stay, we bleed. If we go, the problem festers even worse."

Source

 

[ris]

an mp select commitee in the uk said the same thing before troops entered iraq - that action there would act as a casting call for extremists. sadly now iraq and terrorism will be forever linked in a way that they weren't before.

 

[Gonz]

who claims in a book

A friend of Richard Clarke I presume. He's selling a book. He has no credence.