Posted on 12/07/2007 12:28:36 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
*********************EXCERPT*********************
Meanwhile some Republicans are pushing back themselves:
Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as well as the specific intelligence that went into it, according to congressional sources.
The move is the first official challenge, but it comes amid growing backlash from conservatives and neoconservatives unhappy about the assessment that Iran halted a clandestine nuclear weapons program four years ago. It reflects how quickly the NIE has become politicized, with critics even going after the analysts who wrote it, and shows a split among Republicans.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he plans to introduce legislation next week to establish a commission modeled on a congressionally mandated group that probed a disputed 1995 intelligence estimate on the emerging missile threat to the United States over the next 15 years.
"Iran is one of the greatest threats in the world today. Getting the intelligence right is absolutely critical, not only on Iran's capability but its intent. So now there is a huge question raised, and instead of politicizing that report, let's have a fresh set of eyes -- objective, yes -- look at it," he said in an interview.
Ensign's proposal calls for Senate leaders to put an equal number of Republicans and Democrats on a panel to study the NIE and report back in six months. "There are a lot of people out there who do question [the NIE]. There is a huge difference between the 2005 and 2007 estimates," he said. The 2005 intelligence estimate reported that Iran was still working on a clandestine military program, and the new assessment basically says the previous judgment was wrong on a key point.
"If it's inaccurate, it could result in very serious damage to legitimate American policy," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). As recently as July, he noted, intelligence officials said in congressional testimony that they had a high degree of confidence that Iran was intent on developing the world's deadliest weapon. "We need to update our conclusions, but this is a substantial change," he said in an interview.
~~~
Critics of the NIE have seized on the fact that career government officials who had battled with conservatives earlier in the administration on policy issues have now migrated to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which coordinated the writing of the estimate.
"The problem is not the nature of the intelligence, it's the nature of the presentation. This NIE was presented with a clear intention to deceive and to redirect foreign policy," wrote Danielle Pletka, vice president for foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, in an e-mail. "I have no doubt that these people believe they are protecting the nation from the President, but our constitution doesn't contemplate the non-proliferation center at the ODNI governing U.S. national security policy."
“”Iran is one of the greatest threats in the world today. Getting the intelligence right is absolutely critical, not only on Iran’s capability but its intent. So now there is a huge question raised, and instead of politicizing that report, let’s have a fresh set of eyes — objective, yes — look at it,” he said in an interview.”
Amen! The Bush haters who wet dreamed this report are dangerous people.
***************************************
Critics of the NIE have seized on the fact that career government officials who had battled with conservatives earlier in the administration on policy issues have now migrated to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which coordinated the writing of the estimate.
"The problem is not the nature of the intelligence, it's the nature of the presentation. This NIE was presented with a clear intention to deceive and to redirect foreign policy," wrote Danielle Pletka, vice president for foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, in an e-mail. "I have no doubt that these people believe they are protecting the nation from the President,
but our constitution doesn't contemplate the non-proliferation center at the ODNI governing U.S. national security policy."
Maybe Israel “ain’t” buying this bs.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936399/posts
Israel Considering Strike On Iran Despite US Intelligence Report
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 12-7-2007 | Rory McCarthy
Posted on 12/07/2007 3:43:43 PM PST by blam
Israel considering strike on Iran despite US intelligence report
Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem
Friday December 7, 2007
Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Senior Israeli officials warned today they were still considering the option of a military strike against Iran, despite a fresh US intelligence report that concluded Tehran was no longer developing nuclear weapons. Although Israel argues that it wants to see strong diplomatic pressure put on Iran, it is reluctant to rule out the threat of a unilateral military attack. Matan Vilnai, Israel’s deputy defence minister, told Army Radio today: “No option needs to be off the table.”
Avigdor Lieberman, the hard-right deputy prime minister, said Israel should be ready to act if sanctions did not work. “If they don’t, we will sit and decide whatever we have to decide,” he told the Jerusalem Post in an interview today. Several of Israel’s Iran experts say the American rethink on the threat posed by Iran had ruled out a US military strike and probably an Israeli strike too, at least for now. However, Israel’s political hawks continue to keep the threat of action alive.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the popular rightwing opposition leader, was asked whether Israel should launch its own military operation. “We always prefer international action, led by the United States, but we have to ensure that we can protect our country with all means,” he told the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz today.
The repercussions of the new US intelligence assessment are consuming Israeli politicians, analysts and the press. Although Israeli leaders had been briefed in advance, the national intelligence estimate (NIE) which was declassified and published on Monday, brought surprise and frustration in Israel’s defence establishment.
In a marked shift from earlier assessments, the NIE said Iran had halted its nuclear weapons programme in autumn 2003
Yeah plus what ahMADinejad has said himself on the subject should also put this in a badlight also.
here is a link from Rush on it also
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_120507/content/01125109.guest.html
So the new NIE says Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 but continues its efforts to enrich uranium.
Maybe Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 because they were more/less done. Just waiting to add the weapons grade enriched uranium(when ready) and serve.
Agree, the President wants to tell those NIE political hacks to go and pound sand but of course he is doing it in his usual gentleman way.
Saddam regime built all the Precursors required to build Chemical Weapons and all these precursors can be hidden under the pretext civilian uses, and they could have assembled the final CW in matter of weeks if not days when the moment is opportune.
The Iranians are doing the same regarding their nuclear weapons programs, build the most important ingredient for the weapons which is enriched uranium and claim it is for civilian use. Fortunately our President did not fall for these lies.
Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought ( Republicans pushing for a Review )
Don’t matter. High confidence (against Bush) = absolute truth to the DBM.
Thanks Ernest for the ping. I am off tomorrow, shall give some closer attention to recent pings.
Thanks Ernest.
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