By host Tom Ashbrook:

What began as a leak over the weekend has exploded into a full-fledged new chapter in the grinding debate over America’s war in Iraq. Under intense pressure on the home stretch to midterm elections, the President yesterday ordered the release of excerpts of the National Intelligence Estimate’s classified assessment of the global terrorist threat.

And now the public has to decide what it means. The report clearly says that Iraq has become a huge rallying point and training ground for global terrorism. This is not what the country was promised. On the other hand, it says losing in Iraq could make things worse.

Hear about the battle over American public opinion on Iraq.

Guests:

Mark Mazzetti, National Security Correspondent for The New York Times

Christopher Gelpi, Professor of political science, Duke University. He is co-author of “Choosing Your Battles: American Civil-Military Relations and the Use of Force.”;Dominic Johnson, fellow, Society of Fellows at Princeton University. His new book is “Failing to Win: Perception of Victory and Defeat in International Politics.”;
Vincent Cannistraro, former CIA counterterrorism chief and 27-year CIA veteran. He is former director for Intelligence programs at the National Security Council under President Reagan.

Daniel Goure, vice president of the Lexington Institute
Daniel Goure, vice president at the Lexington Institute, a think tank based in Arlington, Virginia.