Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) issued the following statement in response to various news reports concerning the partially leaked and 2006 National Intelligence Estimate on Global Terrorism:

 

"Using carefully selected excerpts of the 2006 National Intelligence Estimate on global terrorism, the national media and Washington pundits have painted a distorted picture of the status of the War on Terror to serve political purposes.

 

"Here is the report's bottom line:  a victory against Islamic terrorists in Iraq would reduce and discourage the number of future terrorists and attacks, while abandoning the mission in Iraq would only embolden these mad men to take more action.

 

"Has Iraq been a recruiting tool for radical Islamic terrorists? Yes.  But so have the attacks of 9-11, Afghanistan, the Danish cartoons, the Pope's recent comments - and more than 20 years of terrorist attacks against the United States without serious recourse.

 

"The report also describes Iraq as only one of several factors fueling the spread of the jihadist movement - alongside corruption and a lack of economic opportunity in their own Muslim majority nations. 

 

"Terrorists didn't need a reason when they attacked us on 9-11 and they don't need the excuse of Iraq to do it now.   The NIE underscores that Iraq is a crucial battleground against terrorism. An American defeat or premature withdrawal would only ignite the terrorists more."