随着入侵后委派的调查人员认定伊拉克并未储存大规模杀伤性武器，情报部门现在认定：伊拉克战争的实际效果无非是给基地组织在整个伊斯兰世界的招募活动注入了一针强心剂。 在这样的情况下，布什政府也就自然而然地强调所谓的民主化作用。
With post-invasion inspectors concluding that no WMD stockpiles existed, and intelligence agencies now convinced that the Iraq war’s net effect has been to boost al‑Qaeda recruitment throughout the Islamic world, the Bush administration is understandably emphasizing the claim about democratization.