The White House says it will not release the full intelligence report that says the situation in Iraq has become a rallying point for jihadists.

Tony Snow holds a copy of national intelligence assessment at White House briefing, Sept. 27, 2006

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday that releasing the entire National Intelligence Estimate would put lives at risk and compromise the independence of intelligence analysts.

The Bush administration released portions of the report Tuesday, after leaked excerpts of the classified document appeared Sunday in American media.

The report calls the Iraq war a "cause celebre" for jihadists, breeding resentment against the United States for its involvement in the Muslim world.  It says jihadists are increasing in number and geographic reach.

The report, compiled from analysts from 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, also says that if jihadists are perceived to have failed in Iraq, fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.

George Bush

President Bush Tuesday alleged that the report was leaked for political purposes ahead of November's mid-term elections. 

He said terrorists are exploiting the situation in Iraq and using it as a recruiting tool, but he said he disagrees with critics who say the war was a mistake.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.