"There were no international terrorists in Iraq until we went in. It was we who gave the perfect conditions in which Al Qaeda could thrive"

In this quote, Robin Cook is suggesting that the existence of global terrorists in Iraq was a direct result of the actions taken by the United States and other countries in getting into the nation. He argues that prior to the invasion, there were no recognized terrorist groups running in Iraq, but it was the intervention of foreign powers that developed the perfect environment for groups like Al Qaeda to flourish. This declaration highlights the unintended effects of military intervention and the function that external forces can play in destabilizing a region. Cook's words function as a cautionary pointer of the possible repercussions of foreign intervention in other countries.