Page:The Report of the Iraq Inquiry - Executive Summary.pdf/52

The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

342.  The JIC judged in October 2002 that “the greatest terrorist threat in the event of military action against Iraq will come from Al Qaida and other Islamic extremists”; and they would be “pursuing their own agenda”.

343.  The JIC Assessment of 10 February 2003 repeated previous warnings that:

344.  Addressing the prospects for the future, the JIC Assessment concluded:

345.  In response to a call for Muslims everywhere to take up arms in defence of Iraq issued by Usama Bin Laden on 11 February, and a further call on 16 February for “compulsory jihad” by Muslims against the West, the JIC Assessment on 19 February predicted that the upward trend in the reports of threats to the UK was likely to continue.

346.  The JIC continued to warn in March that the threat from Al Qaida would increase at the onset of military action against Iraq.

347.  The JIC also warned that: Rh