US intel: water a cause for war in coming decades Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 07:47 a.m., Thursday, March 22, 2012 WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence agencies predict that floods and a lack of fresh water could lead to instability and conflict in the coming decades in countries that are critical to American foreign policy.