The 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran has been a thorn in both the Bush and Obama Administration’s side since its release two years ago. The report noted that Iran hasn’t had any nuclear weapons program at least since 2003.
Not that this has stopped the respective administrations from claiming repeatedly that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, but it has certainly made the rhetoric far less credible.
Even today intelligence officials defend the 2007 report, but growing pressure from abroad, notably Israel, is leading to calls for an official repudiation of the report.
There is new evidence, according to officials, but nothing to lead them to abandon their conclusions. Likewise, the IAEA has insisted there is absolutely no evidence that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.
This is leading to pressure for the intelligence community to pen a new report, largely for political reasons, to skirt the question of Iran’s nuclear program and to prevent nations from, according to one European official, “hiding behind the NIE” in their opposition to action against Iran.
It remains to be seen how willing the intelligence community is going to be to abandon what it believes to be the truth for the sake of currying political favor with nations looking for excuses to move against Iran. But with both the Bush and Obama Administrations taking an official line directly in conflict with the evidence they have, the pressure to do so must be enormous.
Once again, if the facts don't match the policy, they want to change the facts instead of the policy. Let's hope the intelligence community learned their lesson from Iraq and sticks to their guns. After all, what's the point of having intelligence agencies if you just want to be told what you want to hear? Any yes man can do that for you for a lot less money!
Peace Prize Winner Obama has repeatedly stated, "Iran is developing nuclear weapons". He knows better than his own 16 Intelligence Agencies. Is President Obama mad – or what´s going on ? And where are Saddam´s WMD ? In Syria ? In Washington-and in Israel-they learned something from Dr. Joseph Goebbels.
Thanks Jason for your relentless efforts for disclosing the lies of those who are in power.
I read your posts everyday.
I salute you, as I have done so for so many other civilized peace-lovers who, by their writings have shown that they were always thinking ahead of their time.
US congress pretends to be doing something useful for USA which is more war a country that has never stopped being at war legit or illegit now they have three war in hands yet that is not enough.
Bush started his own wars without UN approval and Obama will do his bits the same way.
US congress should be handed to the war crime tribunal for the countless death of childrens men and women many don't even know if the earth floats.
animals are more human than US congress.
Afghanistan is the poorest nation on earth yet the richest and most powerful country can't understand that occupation will not last USA wants to win the war……. MY ASS….. A chicken knows that she is powerless in front of a human yet if you get close to her chicks she will attacks you again and again…….
For the last 62 years the Israeli lobby has taking the America hostage, and dictating bouth the American domestic, and foreign policies.Knowing the fact that our politicians are political prstitutes, and the Israeli lobby is controling them.We have an enemy within,and none dare to call it treason. Obama is contoled by two Israeli agents,David Axelrod,and Rum Emmenual who is an Israeli citizen, and he has fought for Israel, in many wars, and he holds a rank of lutanent in Israeli army and he is an active member of Israeli army reserve.As an American I am disturbed to see that our country has become a colony of the ziononist gang, draging us to many wars to benefit them.
Absolutely
The American "intelligence community" lied the last time about Iraq. What happened? Nothing. Of course nothing is always half the story. Most of them were rewarded handsomely and are enjoying the intelligence afterlife to the full. This "resisting" bull..t about their report and sticking with it, is nothing but negotiating a higher price. If there was a lesson in 9/11 for the American "intelligence community", is that George Tenet sold himself and the company too cheap. Now, they are going for it. the real slam dunk, the real American goodness slam dunk, that is. That's all.
Guest and Ali. I'm sorry, but your posts don't seem to have a lot of facts. There is not a conspiracy in charge of the American government, and you do yourselves no credit to claim so. The idea of the US being a subordinate state to Israel is ridiculous. Yes, Israel has some influence, but so do many other parties.
We might all argue against the policies of Israel as a state, but there should be no acceptance, by anyone, of racist, fascist, or any other discriminatory beliefs. It is accetable, and right, to denounce Israel for their policies, but any inflammatory statement about "Jews" should be rightly viewed as racist and intolerable.
canadaguy,
Your Pavlovian reaction to anything critical of America, and your invocation of Israel and Jews and conspiracies says a lot. The fact that you are not crying 'anti Semites' and only 'racists' tells a lot too about you. Where did I say Israel and where did I mention a conspiracy. Get your facts straight canadaguy. I did not mention even once Israel and Jews in that post. Not that I would particularly mind to, mind you. But, CIA did lie about Iraq, and no action was taken to correct the course that CIA was taking. In America, intelligence has become a tool of politics and the current holder of the seat of government. What's more, there is no hard evidence that CIA itself is trying to correct the course, and abide by the oat that holds its offices standing. In that environment, personal interests, vendettas, and finally petty politics takes over the whole idea of intelligence. That can lead to hundreds of thousands if not millions of casualties around the world. The net result of what CIA has been doing so far IS hundreds of thousands of casualties so far. And the way things are going it seems that CIA is bent on staying the course. You may not care if your intelligence is downright stupid and cowardly, but for now we have to count on that. Otherwise I personally would be happy to share in with your general positive views of things in general.
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