The Iraq Effect: The War in Iraq and Its Impact on the War on Terrorism – Pg. 7

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The Data:
The Iraq
War and Jihadist Terrorism

Period 1:
September 12, 2001, to March 20, 2003 (invasion of Iraq): 18.25 months

Period 2:
March 21, 2003, to September 30, 2006: 41.33 months

Increase
in Suicide Bombing Attacks

The Iraq
front is where suicide bombing is employed most frequently.
There
have been 148 suicide bombing attacks in Iraq (43 percent of total Iraq
attacks) post-March 2003.
For the
rest of the world there have been 47 suicide bombing attacks since the
Iraq War began (13.5% of total attacks) whilst there were 6 in the period
before. This corresponds to a 246% rise in the rate of suicide bombing
attacks by jihadist groups. And the rate of those killed by suicide
attacks rose by 24%.
If Afghanistan
is also excluded, there is a 150% rise in the rate of suicide attacks
and a 14% increase in those killed in such attack