NY Times:
A stark assessment of terrorism trends by American intelligence agencies has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks.
And by the way, Frank Rich’s column for Sunday (sorry, subscribers only) recounts how our allowing the looting of the museum of antiquities in Baghdad set a tone for Iraqis that continues today, with the remains of that once great museum in the hands of a radical Shiite cleric. Rich recounts how the right-wing press eagerly pitched in to support Bush administration lies that attempted to minimize the mass looting. Stuff happens, Rummy sniffed as he dishonestly claimed the media was making a big fuss about a guy with a vase. 14,000 or so, actually.
Yes, of course, the Democrat-Gazette editorial page joined the Bush spin cycle back then. It called the looting of the museum, now well established, in a June 11, 2003 harrumph ” the biggest media myth to come out of the Iraq War and its messy aftermath.”
Some aftermath. Some mess.