Terrorist Attacks Triple in 2004

The State Department no longer tracks terrorism in terms of incidents for financial costs and has handed off the responsibility to the National Counterterrorism Center. Congressional aides were told the 2004 increase was a result of violence in India and Pakistan, where the two countries continue to dispute ownership of bordering Kashmir territory.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) e-mailed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying, "The large increases in terrorist attacks reported in 2004 may undermine [the] administration claims of success in the war on terror, but political inconvenience has never been a legitimate basis for withholding facts from the American people."

Attacks in India and Pakistan totaled approximately 300, with an additional 350, or more, attacks throughout other countries. Iraq reported 198 terrorists attacks in 2004, up from 22 in 2003.

Congressional aides on the Republican side told reporters the change in number is only due to better calculations and in no way reflects poorly on President George W Bush's administration policy to end terrorism. There was no baseline aides said, therefore it is impossible to conclude whether or not terrorism is growing worse or is better under control.