[jrooney]

A long read but worth it. Very interesting ties.

[jveritas]

John Bolton said tonight on the O’Reilly factor that he thinks that there is a agenda in this latest NIE report and he knows the people with agenda who wrote this report.

[REDWOOD99]

I read AJ daily. Good stuff!

[OCC]

“The Iranians change their stories to fit the facts.” He added, “I think it’s striking that the more the agency learns, the more the Iranians have to change their stories,” and he predicted the IAEA would have to deal with Iran “for many years to come.”

[Old Sarge]

Not your typical NIE??

[keat]

What a huge and worthless embarrassment the CIA has become.

[nuconvert]

Why wouldn’t the Bush administration or other Republicans ‘finger’ Fingar?

[Mr. Mojo]

...written by former State Department political and intelligence analysts

Not exactly a surprise to learn that Foggy Bottom Arabists - redundant, I know - are found at the bottom of this manure pile.

[icwhatudo]

I think we will find there are more dem plants in this NIE than in that GOP debate on CNN.

[GOPJ]

Is the timing of these old Clinton hands coming out with this stuff tied to the coming election? Hmm,….

My guess? Yes.

[familyop]

"A highly controversial, 150 page National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran’s nuclear programs was coordinated and written by former State Department political and intelligence analysts — not by more seasoned members of the U.S. intelligence community, Newsmax has learned."

Oh, really?

International Security Advisory Board (ISAB)

The Secretary of State's International Security Advisory Board (formerly called the Arms Control and Nonproliferation Advisory Board (ACNAB)) provides the Department with independent insight and advice on all aspects of arms control, disarmament, international security, and related aspects of public diplomacy. The ISAB is sponsored and overseen by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. The Board provides its recommendations directly to the Secretary of State. The Board currently has 18 members and is chartered to have up to 25. Board members are national security experts with scientific, military, diplomatic, and political backgrounds. The Board meets in a plenary session on a quarterly basis.

Updated: August 13, 2007

Former Board Members
* Mr. Stephen Kappes, Member, September 2005 -- December 2006
* Dr. Amy Sands, Member, September 2005 -- June 2007
* Sen. Fred D. Thompson, Chairman, September 2005 -- July 2007

[SCHROLL]

thls thing is a joke. State has zero business dealing with Intel matters. The sooner they are taken out of the loop the better.

[SoldierDad]

I didn’t trust the information being reported regarding this alledged NIE in the first place. Too many enemies of Bush and his administration looking for any way to take him down and not caring about the damage they will do to our national security along the way.

[familyop]

The Administration has the appointees that it and its import/merchant constituency leaders want. Apparently, so will the next one—Democrat or Republican.

I want a government that obeys its duty to defense of our Nation—not one that is obsessed with very personal/familial considerations about oil, money and classical amenities.

[Brad from Tennessee]

From Atlantic Online:

[All this begs the question: If Iran were really succumbing to international pressure in halting its weapons program, why would it not do so in a way that would benefit the country? If it were to take the measures of ceasing enrichment and adopting transparency, the numerous sanctions and restrictions against it would be lifted. A key moment would have been nine months ago, when the UN Security Council enacted tough new sanctions against the country for failing to cooperate with the IAEA. But Iran made no concessions. So what has it gained in all this by the logic of U.S. intelligence? The NIE essentially claims that Iran has created for itself a lose-lose situation, where it has stopped its nuclear weapons program without reaping any of the benefits. Why would Iran have any interest in such a scenario? It is a question the NIE summary fails to address, and one that should keep us wondering about Iran’s true intentions and capabilities.]

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712u/nie-iran

[Ben Hecks]

For what it’s worth, Ann Pincus, wife of Walter Pincus, worked at the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) during the Clinton administration. Walter/Ann Pincus were friends of Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame.

[cookcounty]

The Dems don’t realize that if they are WRONG, war becomes MORE likely, because the steam is now let out of any diplomatic pressure. Stupid, stupid.

[Lancey Howard]

DNI Negroponte surrounds himself with old Clinton State Department hacks, huh?
Negroponte was appointed by Bush. Another nice job, Bush.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. when Reid says, “We asked for this report” .. a big red flag went up - and I was wondering if the Clinton leftovers in the CIA had put their heads together to see what they could come up with.

Then I hear Rush say there are suspicions that this report was dredged up in order to keep Bush from attacking Iran.

I don’t think that will stop him.

[Deathmonger]

So why did the White House allow this to be published? It totally confuses the message. Bush looked surprised and blindsided, saying “well, they could restart it”. It was either a lame way to execute a policy change or Bush has no control over the executive branch.