New data, released by the State Department to correct serious mistakes in the initial Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 report, shows a major increase in deaths and injuries in terrorist attacks in 2003, with “significant” attacks reaching a 20-year high.

Rep. Waxman issued the following statement:

I commend Secretary Powell for correcting the flaws in the 2003 Patterns of Global Terrorism report. He has shown strong leadership in admitting there was a mistake and in taking prompt action to fix the errors. This kind of leadership too often has been lacking in this Administration.

The new data shows that significant terrorist attacks – attacks that cause injury, loss of life, and serious property damage – are increasing. In fact, significant terrorist attacks are at a 20- year high. The new data also shows that al-Qaeda is playing an increasing role in international terrorism.

Although the revised report is a major improvement, I believe it continues to undercount worldwide terrorism. It fails to count hundreds of terrorist attacks that have occurred in Iraq against oil pipelines, electricity plants, and other infrastructure and facilities that the U.S. is funding and building. The revised report also appears to undercount other terrorist events, such as potentially hundreds of incidents against U.S. interests in Colombia.

There is a clear message in the new data: measured by the number of incidents, major terrorist attacks are increasing. We need to be smarter and more effective to win the war on terror.