*Bush* Lied? Architect of NIE Nonsense Testified *Five Months Ago* That Iran Was Pursuing The Bomb

The new meme from the MSM is that Bush has been lying about Iran's nuclear ambitions, as he knew all about this NIE report long ago (and, presumably, believed this load of crap to be true).

This narrative, so convenient to the political agenda of the liberal MSM, is, alas, not true, though I'm not sure that matters anymore.

July 11, 2007: Thomas Fingar, one of the main authors of the NIE l.i.e., delivers this testimony to Congress:

Iran and North Korea are the states of most concern to us. The United States’ concerns about Iran are shared by many nations, including many of Iran’s neighbors. Iran is continuing to pursue uranium enrichment and has shown more interest in protracting negotiations and working to delay and diminish the impact of UNSC sanctions than in reaching an acceptable diplomatic solution. We assess that Tehran is determined to develop nuclear weapons--despite its international obligations and international pressure. This is a grave concern to the other countries in the region whose security would be threatened should Iran acquire nuclear weapons.

Two points: This reversal by the "intelligence" (giggle) community was quite recent and Bush cannot be charged with "lying" for not precognitively glimpsing the future of their sudden changes in heart.

More importantly: This means the entire NIE is based on quite recent "intelligence" which I have to doubt has been vetted all that well.

Sketchy evidence. Recently obtained. Quickly vetted. And that leads to this overstated nonsense of "high confidence" of an Iranian nuclear freeze.

Who's the task manager for the NIE -- Franklin Foer?

Check out Hot Air for video of John Bolton ripping this piece of shit to shreds. Also be sure to check out the sort of glaring error that typically finds its way into what is supposed to be the best and most accurate product of the "intelligence" (titter) community.

Clarification: My source requests I omit a part of this post. I'll do so.

posted by Ace at 05:07 PM

| Access Comments