Report: U.S. global influence waning due to failures in Iraq

[ck4829]

A respected think tank concluded Wednesday that the United States has lost influence as a result of failings over the Iraq war, encouraging its detractors — including Iran and Russia — and jeopardizing stability in Asia and the Middle East.

In its annual report on global security, the International Institute of Strategic Studies painted a bleak picture of conflict in the Middle East, an emboldened al-Qaida and growing Islamic radicalism across Europe. New European leaders offer hope of a fresh approach in the fight against terrorism, the report said, but success is unlikely with the White House struggling to command global respect.

With weak leadership from Washington, "the risk is that simmering international tensions will spill over and endanger global prosperity," the report said.

The institute warned that a string of thwarted terrorist plots in Europe highlights the increased radicalization of Islamic communities on the continent — and a wider failure to disable Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

"The United States and its allies have failed to deal a deathblow to al-Qaida; the organization's ideology appears to have taken root to such a degree that it will require decades to eradicate," the report said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_re_eu/security_report

[EFerrari]

1. Good. I don't want these criminals influencing anybody. n/t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

2. Something that we could have all predicted.....

Thank You BushCo.

[cliss]

3. It was a no-win situation for the U.S.

They knew that oil supplies would start running low. That's supplies of the GOOD stuff; light sweet crude. As the supplies started running low, our economy would start to deflate, like a balloon s-l-o-w-l-y start running out of steam. We are helplessly dependent on foreign oil.

They invaded Iraq. They knew it was a wild, crazy gamble but it was their best hope. They gambled with the mortgage money - and they lost. Simple as that. So now we've lost our magnificent standing in the world. Well, it was inevitable either way.

Through their stupid moves, they just accelerated our demise by about 10 years. Thanks Paul Wolfowitz.