This is one of several articles I downloaded recently. Someone
 cited the International Instutite for Strategic Studies as a
 source on criticism of the Obama administration. I went looking
 to see just how unbiased the IISS really is. It's pretty good at
 laying it on the Bush administration, and generally down on the
 Iraq war, but also pretty conservative in general.


 **************************************************************************

 BBC NEWS
Al-Qaeda 'spurred on' by Iraq war
* The occupation of Iraq has helped al-Qaeda recruit more members,
according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic
Studies. *

The influential group's annual report says the network has reconstituted
itself after losing its Afghan base.

It adds that Osama Bin Laden's followers have set their sights on
attacking the US and its close allies.

They would ideally like future operations to make use of weapons of mass
destruction, it reports.

The institute quotes conservative intelligence estimates as saying that
the group has 18,000 potential operatives and is present in more than 60
countries.

 ...

The institute says the war in Iraq has focused the energies and
resources of al-Qaeda and its followers, while diluting those of the
global counter-terrorism coalition.

 ...

US forces in Iraq present al-Qaeda with what the report calls its most
attractive "iconic" target outside the US itself.

 ...

To win hearts and minds, the report says, the appearance of American
unilateralism needs to be tempered.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/3746205.stm

Published: 2004/05/25 17:55:38 GMT

 **************************************************************************

BOB KLAHN bob.klahn{at}sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

... Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.
 * Silver Xpress V4.5/P [Reg]
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5a