Following the invasion of Iraq, terrorism has increased

2.58.21pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Sep 2004

Additionally, the price of oil has rocketed and global economies have shown signs of slowing.

In June, the US State Department acknowledged it was wrong to report that terrorism declined worldwide in 2003. Instead, the number of incidents and the toll in victims increased sharply, the department admitted.

In March, Hans Blix - Former UN chief weapons inspector - stated "the terrorism threat has not abated" adding that the Madrid train bombings were "clearly an increase in terrorism."

In July, a majority of U.S. voters said the threat of terrorism against the U.S had increased because of the war in Iraq, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC news poll.

Since George W. Bush spoke on an aircraft carrier under a banner declaring "Mission Accomplished", there have been 867 American casualties.

There have also been 65 British casualties. In total there have been 7,012 Americans wounded.

At the same time, as attacks on oil pipelines in Iraq have intensified, the price of crude oil has rocketed to nearly $50 a barrel. On the 9th September, October crude traded at $44.61.

As the price of oil has an economic impact, global economies appear to have slowed.

Last week, the Financial Times reported "Global manufacturing activity cooled in August with a synchronised slowdown in all leading economies, survey data suggested. Following unexpected declines in Japan on Tuesday, purchasing manager indices in the US, the eurozone and the UK all fell by more than the market expected." ( 2nd September 2004 p.1).

Now we face the prospect of higher unemployment and higher energy and heating costs.

Additionally, in a worrying new development Russia has now stated that it is willing to make unilateral, pre-emptive strikes against terrorists anywhere in the world.