Experts Say U.S. Losing the War on Terror

Iraq war puts U.S. in more danger, experts say
Terror fight going poorly, survey finds

A poll of 100 foreign policy heavyweights Monday showed most believe we're losing the war on terror, we're less safe because of Iraq, and that Islamic fanatics will mount another U.S. strike. ...

Nine out of 10 of the former top government, military and intelligence leaders surveyed warn that Americans now face greater danger and anticipate a new spectacular attack in the next decade, Foreign Policy magazine and the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress found. ...

Most of those surveyed – including prominent conservatives – blamed the Iraq war for increasing perils at home and its negative impact worldwide. ...

Despite GOP presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's belief the troop surge in Baghdad was a wise move by Bush, 64 percent of conservative experts disagree with him. Bush's handling of the war fared even worse, with 84 percent of conservatives decrying its "negative impact" and barely rating the effort a three on a 10-point scale.

Only 20 percent of conservatives in the survey believe the U.S. is winning the overall war on terror. Most agreed we're losing and the terror threat keeps increasing.

Half the experts said that al-Qaida had not staged another attack because their capabilities are overrated or U.S. intelligence has succeeded in thwarting it. Only 2 percent said Bush's counterterror strategy deserves credit for keeping America safe. ...