SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's defence force chief at the time of the invasion of Iraq said in remarks published Sunday that he now believes the war has increased the threat of Islamic militancy.
The comments by retired general Peter Cosgrove come just days after Britain's army chief caused a furore by saying British troops in Iraq were exacerbating security problems around the world.
"If people say that there has been an energising of the jihadist movement through the protracted war in Iraq -- well that's pretty obvious," Cosgrove told the Sunday Telegraph, using the Islamic term for "holy warrior".
The highly respected Vietnam veteran, who retired last year, said he had apologised to national police chief Mick Keelty for criticising his comments that the Iraq war had inspired the 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid.
"Things have moved on. I have got no reason to argue the weighty assessments that I am seeing," Cosgrove said.
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