An annual report on the state of global terrorism released by the U.S. State Department on April 30 paints a bleak picture. If it could be used as a gauge of America’s progress in the war on terror, it shows that no headway has been made. In fact, it shows a backward slide in the success of efforts to thwart terrorism across whole sections of the globe—most particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Though the number of people impacted by violent terrorist attacks was much the same in 2006 as 2005—just over 74,000 individuals killed, injured or kidnapped—the frequency and deadliness of those attacks was far greater. The number of attacks increased by 25 percent to over 14,000; the number of civilian deaths rose by 40 percent to over 20,000; and the number of individuals injured rose by 54 percent to over 38,000. Only the number of kidnappings went down.

The “Country Reports on Terrorism 2006,” compiled using data collected by the National Counterterrorism Center, documents an almost doubling of total numbers of people killed, injured or kidnapped in both Iraq and Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006. Across the Middle East and South Asia, a 91 percent increase in attacks occurred.

The report acknowledged, “Iran remains the most significant state sponsor of terrorism and continues to threaten its neighbors and destabilize Iraq by providing weapons, training, advice and funding to select Iraqi Shia militants.” No surprise there.

The report also pointed out that well over half the victims of terrorism last year were Muslims—without drawing attention to the reality that the overwhelming majority of these terrorist attacks were also carried out by Muslims.

For as long as the West fails to confront Iran, and refuses to acknowledge the nature of the terrorist beast, terrorism will continue to thrive.